Saddle Creek also released Letting Off the Happiness in November 1998, a ten-track record that boasted a much more focused and clear sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Of Montreal. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha on an analog eight track reel to reel; with some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster's Athens, GA studio. Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, June on the West Coast is performed with only acoustic guitar and vocals. Padraic My Prince gives a dramatic fictional account of the death of Oberst's imagined baby brother.
In 2000 Bright Eyes released Fevers and Mirrors, a demonstration of the immense improvement in production quality and musical vision of the band. New instruments such as flute, piano, and accordion were introduced into the song arrangements. After An Attempt to Tip the Scales, a mock radio interview takes place. The mock radio interview features Todd Fink of The Faint doing an impression of Conor Oberst while reading a script that Oberst wrote. The man interviewing is Matt Silcock, a former member of Lullaby for the Working Class. In this interview, the fake Oberst intentionally presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music. The interview acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. In a 'real' interview with KittyMagik.com, Oberst stated about the mock one: "It was a way to make fun of ourselves because the record is such a downer. I mean, that's one part of who I am, but I also like laughing and fucking around."
2002 saw the release of Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, and since then Oberst has released an almost constant stream of new material on collaborative EPs, split singles, tribute albums, and charity records. He ventured into the studio with Nebraska folk-pop outfit Tilly And The Wall, co-producing their debut album Wild Like Children and released it on his newly established record label, Team Love.
January 2005 saw the release of two albums: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, which is a country-tinged mélange of Conor’s finest acoustic songs, featuring guest vocal appearances from Emmylou Harris and Jim James of My Morning Jacket; and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, which is a more produced, electronic album featuring cameo appearances by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
One single from each album, Take It Easy (Love Nothing) from Digital Ash and Lua from I'm Wide Awake took the top two slots on Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, the first time for any artist since 1997.
As had become expected of Bright Eyes recordings, the albums feature an array of talented comrades including members of Rilo Kiley, Tilly And The Wall, Cursive, Now Its Overhead, The Good Life, Azure Ray, The Faint, The Bruces, Neva Dinova, The Postal Service and Audrye Sessions.
In October 2006, Bright Eyes released a compilation of rare tracks called Noise Floor: Rarities 1998-2005.
Bright Eyes released their sixth studio album called Cassadaga on April 9, 2007, preceded by an EP entitled Four Winds on March 6, 2007.
A further 25-30 tracks have been recorded in Portland, Oregon and New York City, with another session planned in Omaha, Nebraska. Some of these tracks had already been performed at live shows.
On February 15, 2011, the band released their seventh studio album, The People's Key.
On June 22, 2020, they released Down In The Weeds Where The World Once Was, their first album on Dead Oceans after a long history with Saddle Creek.
bright eyes
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floating out on the tide
Following the river of death downstream
Oh, is it a dream?
There's a fog along the horizon
A strange glow in the sky
And nobody seems to know where you go
Oh, is it a dream?
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Is it a kind of shadow
Reaching into the night
Wandering over the hills unseen
Or is it a dream?
There's a high wind in the trees
A cold sound in the air
And nobody ever knows when you go
And where do you start
Oh, into the dark
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
"Bright Eyes" by Bright Eyes is a song that seems to be questioning the nature of life, death, and dreams. The song starts with the singer asking whether what he is experiencing is a dream, floating out on the tide, following the river of death downstream. He is unsure about what is happening, and the fog on the horizon and the strange glow in the sky only add to the mystery. The singer then sees "Bright Eyes," and the bright light that used to burn so intensely suddenly burns pale. The singer is left wondering how something that was so bright and alive can disappear so suddenly.
The second verse seems to continue with the questioning of life, death, and dreams. The singer ponders over whether the shadow he sees is real or just part of a dream. He sees a high wind in the trees and feels a cold sound in the air, and again he is left wondering where all of this is leading. The song ends with the repetition of "Bright Eyes" and the question of how something so bright can suddenly become so pale. The song leaves the listener with the impression that the mysteries of life and death are endless and elusive.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it a kind of dream
The author is unsure if what they are experiencing is a dream or reality.
Floating out on the tide
The author feels like they are being carried on a flow beyond their control.
Following the river of death downstream
The author feels like they are being pulled towards something ominous and final.
Oh, is it a dream?
The author is still questioning the reality of their experience.
There's a fog along the horizon
The author cannot see far ahead and feels uncertain.
A strange glow in the sky
The author sees something unusual in the distance that they cannot explain.
And nobody seems to know where you go
The author feels lost and unsupported.
And what does it mean
The author is looking for answers and understanding.
Bright eyes, burning like fire
The author is using the metaphor of bright eyes to represent hope and passion.
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
The author is questioning how something so strong and powerful can suddenly weaken or disappear.
How can the light that burned so brightly
The author is referring to their metaphorical 'bright eyes' and their intense emotions.
Suddenly burn so pale?
The author is shocked and confused by how quickly their emotions have changed.
Is it a kind of shadow
The author is again questioning the reality of their experience and wondering if what they see is just a figment of their imagination.
Reaching into the night
The author feels like they are seeking something in darkness and uncertainty.
Wandering over the hills unseen
The author feels lost and alone, searching for meaning without guidance or support.
Or is it a dream?
The author is still unsure of the reality of their experience.
There's a high wind in the trees
The author is experiencing something unsettling and unsettling environment around them.
A cold sound in the air
The author hears something eerie and unsettling in the atmosphere.
And nobody ever knows when you go
The author feels unseen and unimportant.
And where do you start
The author is lost and seeking direction.
Oh, into the dark
The author describes their journey as one of uncertainty and danger.
Bright eyes, burning like fire
The author returns to their metaphor of bright eyes to represent hope and passion.
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
The author repeats their question about what causes intense emotions to suddenly abandon them.
How can the light that burned so brightly
The author is still puzzled by the sudden disappearance of their emotions.
Suddenly burn so pale?
The author's emotions have suddenly become weak and powerless, and they don't understand why.
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rbz60
Lyrics
Is it a kind of a dream
Floating out on the tide
Following the river of death downstream
Oh, is it a dream?
There's a fog along the horizon
A strange glow in the sky
And nobody seems to know where it goes
And what does it mean?
Oh, is it a dream?
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Is it a kind of a shadow
Reaching into the night
Wandering over the hills unseen
Or is it a dream?
There's a high wind in the trees
A cold sound in the air
And nobody ever knows when you go
And where do you start?
Oh, into the dark
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Songwriters: Mike Batt
@BROTHER-52
I loved this song as a 6/7 years old boy in..1978.. and the film. Watership down. Made me sad / cry..
Root for the hero/underdog...
Even at that young age.
...but....
I awoke before with Arts voice in my head.and had to immediately play it..and now at 50.and a not in great health man..
Arts words are now only just really
Understood
Properly..
And still moved me to
Tears ..
Amazingly
Moving
Lyrics..
@jreed210
Thank you Black Mirror for bringing this beautiful song back into my life....
@vinayakgoyal5330
Me too thanks black mirror
@anbalkeen
me too, the song that I used to hear in my childhood but I cannot remember now, thank to Black Mirror so I can find this song now, a beautiful songn❤❤
@artykohl1118
Thank you for bringing it to me for the first time, another one from a great artist.
@ebaby812
same here!
@nestyvillamayor1129
same
@sharonbland9061
Beautiful song, to with the beautiful Watership Down film. ❤❤❤❤
@phoebusmeticulous1790
Black Mirror bring you here to?
@namang.00
Yes 😅.
@shagulfuad8107
Yes😂