At fourteen years of age, Oberst became singer and guitarist of Commander Venus, an indie rock band. The former members of Commander Venus, Tim Kasher of Cursive, Robb Nansel (who now runs Saddle Creek), and Todd Fink of The Faint, would later go on to feature in many Saddle Creek recording groups. Conor was also a member of the band Park Ave, which he joined after terminating the difficult relationship he had with Megan Saienni, due to an affair with Maria Pantin.
Oberst was also guitarist and singer for the band Desaparecidos. The music and lyrics of Desaparecidos differ greatly from Bright Eyes, having more in common with punk rock than folk. The lyrics are generally social and political commentary on the state of affairs in America, the pitfalls of the suburban lifestyle, and America's love of capitalism as opposed to the more introspective lyrics of Bright Eyes.
Oberst is one of the founding members of the independent record label Saddle Creek Records, which hosts and has hosted bands including Cursive, Desaparecidos, The Faint, Rilo Kiley (who left to start their own label Brute/Beaute Records), Bright Eyes, Son Ambulance, Azure Ray, The Good Life, and Sorry About Dresden, among others.
Oberst is currently involved in a boycott of Clear Channel Communications. His broadcast television performances include a spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in March 2005, which sparked controversy with his performance of the incendiary "When the President Talks to God", The Late Show with David Letterman, on which he performed "The Trees Get Wheeled Away", and his guitar-smashing performance of "Road to Joy" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Oberst was a member of the Vote for Change tour in 2004 with Bruce Springsteen and REM. He has recently started his own label, Team Love, which is currently hosting bands such as Tilly and the Wall, M. Ward, Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins, A Weather, Capgun Coup, and David Dondero.
Bands:
Commander Venus from 1995-97
The Magnetas in 1996
Park Ave. from 1996-98
Desaparecidos from 2001-2
Bright Eyes since 1995
Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band since New Year's Weekend 2007
Monsters of Folk since 2009
Better Oblivion Community Center since 2019
Counting Sheep
Conor Oberst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gun in my mouth, trying to sleep
Everything ends, everything has to
Get well balloons, going insane
Weight of the world, papier-mâché
Gone with the wind, out into nothing
Just trying to be easy, agreeable
Little Louise drowned in a pool
Billy got killed walking to school
Hope it was quick, hope it was peaceful
Life is a gas, what can you do?
Catheter piss, fed through a tube
Cyst in the brain, blood on the bamboo
Highway to hell's littered with signs
Every last thing they advertise
I want to buy, I want to sell, too
But I don't want to seem greedy, I'm generous
I just wanna be pleasing to everyone, including you
Tomorrow is shining like a razor blade
And anything's possible if you feel the same
Early to bed, early to rise
Acting my age, waiting to die
Insulin shots, alkaline produce
Temperature's cool, blood pressure's fine
One twenty-one over seventy-five
Scream if you want, no one can hear you
I'm just trying to be easy, acceptable
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, especially you
Especially you
Especially you
Especially you
The opening lines of Conor Oberst's "Counting Sheep" portray a dark and disturbing image of the singer who is struggling with suicidal thoughts. As the song goes on, he talks about the pain of existence, with lines like "Hope it was slow, hope it was painful" referring to death. The use of imagery in the song plays an important role in illuminating the theme of the song, each verse paints a bleak and vivid picture of the singer's state of mind. The line "Closing my eyes, counting sheep, gun in my mouth" is a powerful and vivid image of a person at their breaking point. It reflects the singer's feeling of overwhelming despair and hopelessness.
The singer seems to be going through a personal crisis, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, and struggling to find a reason to live. The line "Life is a gas, what can you do?" shows that the singer is questioning the point of life and finds it absurd. The song's theme is that of existential crisis, that life is burdensome, and death may provide a release. Overall, the lyrics explore themes of depression, mental illness, and the fragility of human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Closing my eyes, counting sheep
I am trying to sleep, but I am still awake and restless
Gun in my mouth, trying to sleep
I am so desperate to end my suffering that I have thought about killing myself
Everything ends, everything has to
All things come to an end eventually
Get well balloon, going insane
Despite the positive message of the balloon, I feel like I am losing my mind
Weight of the world, papier-mâché
I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, but it is as fragile and meaningless as a papier-mâché sculpture
Gone with the wind, out into nothing
Everything eventually disappears and becomes nothing
[?] drowned in a pool
I am haunted by the memory of someone who drowned in a pool, which makes me think about mortality
Nearly got killed walking to school
I have faced danger and death in my life
Hope it was slow, hope it was painful
I feel so much pain and hopelessness that I wish the suffering on others too
Life is a gas, what can you do?
Life is a temporary and meaningless existence, which leaves us with little control
Catheter piss, fed through a tube
I am sick and dependent on medical procedures to keep me alive
A cyst in the brain, blood on the bamboo
I am suffering from a serious illness, which makes me feel helpless and alone
Highway to hell's littered with signs
The path to destruction is clearly marked, yet we ignore the warning signs
Everything last thing they advertise
Advertisements are empty promises that never live up to our expectations
I want to buy, I want to sell too
I am as guilty as anyone else of perpetuating the cycle of consumerism
But I don't want to seem greedy, I'm generous
I am trying to balance my own desires with a sense of compassion and goodwill toward others
I'm just trying to be pleasing to everyone, including you
I am so concerned about what others think of me that I am sacrificing my own needs and happiness
Tomorrow is shining like a razor blade
The future is uncertain and full of dangers
And anything's possible if you feel the same
We can achieve great things if we work together and share a common vision
Early to bed, early to rise
I am trying to lead a healthy and disciplined lifestyle
Acting my age, waiting to die
I am trying to accept my own mortality and live each day to the fullest
Insulin shots, alkaline produce
I am taking care of my physical health by managing my diabetes and eating a healthy diet
Temperature's cool, blood pressure's fine
My vital signs are stable and within a healthy range
Scream if you want, no one can hear you
We are alone in our suffering and no one can truly understand our pain
I just want to be easy, acceptable
I am tired of struggling and want to be at peace with myself and others
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, especially you
I am afraid of being vulnerable and revealing my true emotions, especially to someone I care deeply for
Especially you
This line emphasizes the importance of the person addressed and the fear of losing their approval or love
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CONOR M. OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
My Name is SickBoy
"Counting Sheep"
Closing my eyes, counting sheep
Gun in my mouth, trying to sleep
Everything ends, everything has to
Get well balloon, going insane
Weight of the world, papier-mâché
Gone with the wind, out into nothing
I'm just trying to be easy, agreeable
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, including you
Little Louise drowned in a pool
Billy got killed walking to school
Hope it was slow, hope it was painful
Life is a gas, what can you do?
Catheter piss, fed through a tube
A cyst in the brain, blood on the bamboo
Highway to hell's littered with signs
Everything last thing they advertise
I want to buy, I want to sell too
But I don't want to seem greedy, I'm generous
I'm just trying to be pleasing to everyone, including you
Tomorrow is shining like a razor blade
And anything's possible if you feel the same
Early to bed, early to rise
Acting my age, waiting to die
Insulin shots, alkaline produce
Temperature's cool, blood pressure's fine
One twenty-one over seventy-five
Scream if you want, no one can hear you
I just want to be easy, acceptable
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, especially you
Especially you
Especially you
My Name is SickBoy
"Counting Sheep"
Closing my eyes, counting sheep
Gun in my mouth, trying to sleep
Everything ends, everything has to
Get well balloon, going insane
Weight of the world, papier-mâché
Gone with the wind, out into nothing
I'm just trying to be easy, agreeable
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, including you
Little Louise drowned in a pool
Billy got killed walking to school
Hope it was slow, hope it was painful
Life is a gas, what can you do?
Catheter piss, fed through a tube
A cyst in the brain, blood on the bamboo
Highway to hell's littered with signs
Everything last thing they advertise
I want to buy, I want to sell too
But I don't want to seem greedy, I'm generous
I'm just trying to be pleasing to everyone, including you
Tomorrow is shining like a razor blade
And anything's possible if you feel the same
Early to bed, early to rise
Acting my age, waiting to die
Insulin shots, alkaline produce
Temperature's cool, blood pressure's fine
One twenty-one over seventy-five
Scream if you want, no one can hear you
I just want to be easy, acceptable
I don't want to seem needy to anyone, especially you
Especially you
Especially you
Jane M
rDieGoGuti thanks!
Sabu Reznor
Most depressing yet beautiful song I've heard in a long time. You'll never agree with this but Conor you're amazing.
Robert Lopez
Always beautiful
Gustavo Burciaga
That blood pressure line is a low key flex.
Tflofasho
Thanks for the work put into composing this. Being younger than you, it gets to me we're all aging and not getting younger. Aging sucks. I like how there's the want to try to appeal to as many listeners as possible, knowing it can't be done. It's like Fever and Mirror's but 16 years later at an older age. You can tell there's a difference between what's being worried about back then up to now, though not much has changed other than the tone and drive. The control in composition is differently mastered differently compared to then.
Tyler Mills
It's beautiful that Conors music can still touch me even after all these years. This song is a masterpiece. Yet another from him. Conor is truly timeless.
Esteban B
It took me too long to understand how talented this guy is.
Lamuel J Sackson
Takes me back to some bad times back in 16'... it's funny that I find myself here again having not fully escaped the darkness.. maybe it'll never go away it's just something I'll have to prepare for when i feel it come crawling back
Jeff Langenberg
conor continually touches me in that 'special place'