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
Milk Thistle
Conor Oberst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me down slow
Help me go slow
I've been carrying on
I'm not scared of nothing
I'll go pound for pound
I keep death on my mind
If I go to heaven I'll be bored as hell
Like a little baby at the bottom of a well
Fair child, fair child
How are you man?
Did you fix that store front?
Did you start that band?
Don't be scared of nothing
You go pound for pound
You bring peace to midnight
Like a spotted owl
I'll be rooting for you like my favorite team
If somebody sweats you, you just point them out to me
All the sights and sounds
This little world's too crowded now
And there's only one way out
An elevator ride,
Through the tunnel, towards the light
And I'm nowhere bound
Keep going up and down
Up and down
Newspaper, newspaper
Can't take no more
You're here every morning
Waiting at my door
I'm just trying to kiss you
And you stab my eyes
Make me blue forever
Like an island sky
And I'm not pretending that it's all OK
Just let me have my coffee before you take away the day
Lazarus, Lazarus
Why all the tears?
Did your faithful chauffeur
Just disappear?
What a lonesome feeling
To be waiting round
Like some washed up actress
In a tinsel town
Before the record I'd come pick you up
We'll head for the ocean
Just say when you've had enough
All the light and sound
This little world's too fragile now
And there's only one way out
But if you let me slide
I'll do my best to make things right
And I'm nowhere bound
Just going up and down
Up and down
Milk Thistle, milk Thistle
Let me down slow
Just help me go slow
I've been hurrying on
I was poised for greatness
I was down and out
I keep death at my heels
Like a Bassett hound
If I go to heaven I'll be bored as hell
Like a crying baby at the bottom of a well
The song "Milk Thistle" by Conor Oberst is a melancholic, introspective piece that deals with the themes of mortality, loneliness, and finding hope amidst the struggles of life. The milk thistle, a garden plant known for its medicinal properties, acts as a metaphor for the slow and painful process of healing and self-discovery that the singer is going through. The first stanza expresses the singer's desire to slow down and let his troubles ease away. He's "been carrying on" with his struggles for too long, and he wants some respite from it all. However, he's not afraid to face death, which he sees as a heavy crown that he continuously wears.
The song turns towards addressing a friend, someone who's also fighting his own struggles under the heavy burden of life. The singer encourages him to keep soldiering on, to be brave like a fighter in a ring. The friend is a source of comfort, bringing peace to midnight like a spotted owl. The singer pledges his support to his friend, promising to help him out if someone tries to trouble him. The third stanza brings in the theme of the media, represented by the newspaper that's waiting at the singer's door every morning. The singer is frustrated with the news, which seems to be all doom and gloom, taking away the joy of the day before it even begins.
The song ends with the singer coming back to his own struggles. He compares himself to Lazarus, the Biblical figure who was brought back to life by Jesus. However, he's still mourning his chauffeur who disappeared, bringing him back to the loneliness and sorrow of his existence. He recalls a happier time when he and his friend would "head for the ocean" and forget about their worries. The song's final refrain brings back the milk thistle metaphor that was introduced in the beginning. The singer wants to "go slow" and heal his wounds, which he's been ignoring for too long. He knows that he'll be "bored as hell" if he ever reaches heaven because he won't find any peace there. The only way out is to keep moving up and down, finding hope in the darkness and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Milk Thistle, milk Thistle
Addressing the milk thistle plant, which is often used for medicinal purposes
Let me down slow
Asking for a gentle decline rather than a sudden drop
Help me go slow
Asking for assistance in slowing down
I've been carrying on
Been continuing despite challenges
I'm not scared of nothing
Not afraid of anything
I'll go pound for pound
Willing to face any challenge equally
I keep death on my mind
Constantly aware of mortality
Like a heavy crown
A weighty burden
If I go to heaven I'll be bored as hell
Heaven may not be as exciting as one may expect
Like a little baby at the bottom of a well
In a dark and isolated place with nobody around
Fair child, fair child
Addressing someone affectionately
How are you man?
Asking about the person's well-being
Did you fix that store front?
Asking if the person repaired the damaged storefront
Did you start that band?
Asking if the person formed a music group
Don't be scared of nothing
Encouragement to be fearless
You bring peace to midnight
Calming presence in the dark hours
Like a spotted owl
Referencing the bird's calm nature
I'll be rooting for you like my favorite team
Offering support and enthusiasm
If somebody sweats you, you just point them out to me
Willingness to confront and defend
All the sights and sounds
Overwhelmed by the commotion of everyday life
This little world's too crowded now
Feeling suffocated by the pressures of society
And there's only one way out
The inevitable end
An elevator ride,
Metaphor for the journey to the afterlife
Through the tunnel, towards the light
The light symbolizes the end of life
And I'm nowhere bound
Without direction
Keep going up and down
Stuck in a cycle with no progress
Newspaper, newspaper
Addressing the daily news
Can't take no more
Unable to handle it any longer
You're here every morning
The news is ever-present
Waiting at my door
It's impossible to avoid it
I'm just trying to kiss you
Expressing affection
And you stab my eyes
The news is depressing
Make me blue forever
Feeling sad perpetually
Like an island sky
A cloudy and gloomy world
And I'm not pretending that it's all OK
Not pretending to be unaffected by the negative news
Just let me have my coffee before you take away the day
Asking for a moment of positivity before being bombarded with negativity
Lazarus, Lazarus
Referring to the biblical figure who was brought back to life by Jesus
Why all the tears?
Asking why the grief
Did your faithful chauffeur
Referring to a personal attendant
Just disappear?
Asking if the attendant vanished
What a lonesome feeling
A pitiful and solitary experience
To be waiting round
Waiting aimlessly
Like some washed up actress
Feeling worthless and disregarded
In a tinsel town
In a place of superficiality
Before the record I'd come pick you up
Before the music was even recorded
We'll head for the ocean
Going on a trip to the sea
Just say when you've had enough
Stopping when the person is content
All the light and sound
Overwhelmed by the stimulation of the world
This little world's too fragile now
The world is becoming more vulnerable and delicate
But if you let me slide
If you allow me to make mistakes
I'll do my best to make things right
I will try to resolve any issues
And I'm nowhere bound
Without a particular destination
Just going up and down
Going through the motions with no direction
I was poised for greatness
Anticipating a prosperous future
I was down and out
But then fell into misfortune
I keep death at my heels
Mortality lingers near
Like a Bassett hound
The hound follows closely behind like a reminder of mortality
If I go to heaven I'll be bored as hell
Heaven may not be as thrilling as anticipated
Like a crying baby at the bottom of a well
Isolated and alone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind