Conor Oberst is an American singer-songwriter born February 15, 1980 in Oma… Read Full Bio ↴Conor Oberst is an American singer-songwriter born February 15, 1980 in Omaha, Nebraska. He began his recording career in 1993 at the age of 13 and has since produced an enormous amount of material. Conor was deeply influenced early on by singer-songwriters David Dondero and Simon Joyner. His first two albums "Water" and "Here's to Special Treatment" were both released in 1994. Rolling Stone referred to him as "rock's boy genius." His project Bright Eyes, with Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, produced several critically-acclaimed records. Oberst also serves as the frontman to Desaparecidos (a punk-oriented side project). In August 2008, Oberst released his eponymous solo album, recorded with the Mystic Valley Band (Taylor Hollingsworth, Macey Taylor, Jason Boesel, Nik Freitas, and Nate Walcott), on Merge Records. Together, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band went on to release 2009's Outer South. Oberst remains a prolific songwriter, releasing Upside Down Mountain in 2014, Ruminations in 2016, and Salutations in 2017. In 2019, Oberst collaborated with Phoebe Bridgers to release a record under the name Better Oblivion Community Center.

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

LAX
Conor Oberst Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll pick you up, just tell me when you land
It's raining in L.A., and everyone's gone mad
I'd love to take you to the desert, but you hate makin' plans
I'll pick you up, just tell me when you land

All my songs are soundin' out of tune
The ocean's just a trinket, a gift from me to you
And I want to sing your praises 'cause you've been feelin' blue

But all my songs are soundin' out of tune

Your drag queen's dress, your plastic knife
You're pretty dangerous and so untrue
Now it's all been said couple million times
But why'd you make me fall in love with you?

So when I drop you off at LAX
I'll kiss you on the forehead and wish you all the best
I learned you never stay put the last time that you left
The last time I dropped you off at LAX

But if you wanna come back in the spring
We could go to the movies, we could do anything
It's all within reason, it's all been in my dreams
If you wanna come back in the spring

You're a toy I like, you're a traffic light
You're the thing I stop or go for when I move
I will never know if it's wrong or right
But why'd you make me fall in love with you?

Yeah, I'll never know if it's wrong or right
But why'd you make me fall in love with you?

Overall Meaning

In Conor Oberst's 'LAX,' the singer offers to pick up a lover at the airport and laments his ragged emotional state. He imagines taking his lover out to the desert but notes they hate making plans. He is frustrated that his songs are sounding out of tune and he cannot find the right words to sing his lover's praises on this rainy day in Los Angeles. He describes his lover's drag queen's dress and plastic knife, acknowledging their danger and insincerity. He questions why his lover would make him fall in love with them, as he drops them off at LAX knowing they will likely leave again. However, he holds out hope for the future, suggesting they could reconnect in the spring and enjoy the simple pleasures of going to the movies.

The song is heavy with the pathos of a love that cannot seem to work out despite the singer's best efforts. The distorted, slightly offbeat guitar sound underscores the singer's inner turmoil and frustration. The reference to the ocean being a "trinket" captures the sense that nothing is quite as it seems in L.A., and that the glittering lights of the city are not enough to heal the singer's deep emotional wounds.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll pick you up, just tell me when you land
The singer is willing to be the responder and go out of his way to pick up someone from the airport. He requires a hint as to the time when they will be landing.

It's raining in L.A., and everyone's gone mad
It is uncharacteristically rainy in Los Angeles, and it seems to be having an unusual effect on everyone's moods, causing them to be angry or upset.

I'd love to take you to the desert, but you hate makin' plans
The singer would like to take their companion to the desert, but they do not like scheduling or organizing anything in advance, so it may be difficult to do so.

All my songs are soundin' out of tune
The artist is feeling particularly uninspired with their music, as if they are writing or performing poorly in comparison to their usual skills.

The ocean's just a trinket, a gift from me to you
The artist regards the ocean as a minor present to be given to their companion, almost like a trinket, indicating that they value their partner's company very highly.

And I want to sing your praises 'cause you've been feelin' blue
The singer wants to do something special for their companion to help their downhearted mood, such as singing a song in their honor or doing something nice to make them feel better.

Your drag queen's dress, your plastic knife
The singer describes their partner's unique fashion sense, including their drag queen attire and plastic cutlery, which sets them apart from other people and makes them all the more alluring.

Now it's all been said couple million times
The artist feels like the same thing has been said or done several times in the past, which makes it difficult to express the originality and truth of their feelings towards their partner.

But why'd you make me fall in love with you?
The artist wonders why their partner has allowed themselves to get too close and fall in love with them, despite all the difficulties they have faced or are continuing to face in their relationship.

So when I drop you off at LAX
The artist describes the event of going to the airport and dropping their partner off there, indicating that it is a significant moment between them and perhaps signalling the end of a period of closeness.

I'll kiss you on the forehead and wish you all the best
The singer shows affection by kissing their partner on the forehead and wishing them the best luck and outcome in their future actions or endeavors.

I learned you never stay put the last time that you left
The artist reflects on the fact that their partner never stayed still or in one place the last time they parted ways, implying that they may be constantly moving, leaving, or changing.

But if you wanna come back in the spring
The singer suggests that their partner could come back and see them in the spring, indicating their desire to continue seeing them, even if it may not happen for a while.

We could go to the movies, we could do anything
The singer proposes a future plan or event they could do together in the future, perhaps as an offering to their companion to convince them to stay or see them again.

It's all within reason, it's all been in my dreams
The singer implies that there is nothing odd or unreasonable about the suggestion they have made and that it has all been previously depicted in their fantasies.

You're a toy I like, you're a traffic light
The artist describes their companion as both a toy they admire and a traffic light that directs the artist's movements and feelings, indicating that their partner has an effect on them that is both enjoyable and controlling.

You're the thing I stop or go for when I move
The artist describes their partner as the factor that obstructs or encourages their movements, indicating that they are deeply affected by their companion's influence over them.

I will never know if it's wrong or right
The singer is unsure if their feelings and attachment towards their partner is ethical or moral, as there are several instances where it may be considered wrong.

Yeah, I'll never know if it's wrong or right
The singer reiterates their uncertainty towards their feelings towards their partner and whether it is appropriate or not.

But why'd you make me fall in love with you?
The artist repeats their question as to why their partner allowed themselves to be close and vulnerable with the artist, indicating their confusion and desire for deeper understanding.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Conor Oberst

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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