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
NYC
Conor Oberst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gone, gone from New York City
Where you gonna go with a head that empty?
Gone, gone from New York City
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
Down, down to Mexico City
Got myself a lady, she know how to treat me
Got myself a lady to lay me down, lay me down
All my friends, want you to know
I'm gonna miss you when I go
But I'll see you down the road
Meet me at the station way down low, way down low
[Chorus]
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
[Chorus]
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
The song "NYC" by Conor Oberst displays a longing for a fresh start, a new beginning in a place far away from the chaos and the memories of the past. The chorus repeating "Gone, gone from New York City, where you gonna go with a head that empty?" reveals the emptiness and the confusion one feels while leaving what's familiar behind. The lines "All my friends, want you to know, I'm gonna miss you when I go, but I'll see you down the road, meet me at the station way down low" indicate that Conor is not leaving for good and that he'll come back one day, but right now all he needs is a break.
The second verse talks about his journey to Mexico City where he plans to start anew, leaving behind the miserable memories and finding comfort in a new relationship: "Down, down, to Mexico City, got myself a lady, she knows how to treat me, down, down, to Mexico City, got myself a lady to lay me down, lay me down". He seems to have found new hope and joy in this new place where he can perhaps start again.
In conclusion, "NYC" is a song about finding a new beginning in a faraway place when one's heart is gone. The lyrics connect with those who have experienced a similar situation where they’ve left all their sorrows and troubles behind with uncertainty and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone, gone from New York City
Leaving New York City
Where you gonna go with a head that empty?
Questioning where someone will go with a lack of direction or purpose
Gone, gone from New York City
Repeating the departure from New York City
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
Asking where someone will go with a heart that feels emptiness or loss
Down, down to Mexico City
Going to Mexico City
Got myself a lady, she know how to treat me
Finding someone who knows how to care for and treat him well
Down, down to Mexico City
Repeating his trip to Mexico City
Got myself a lady to lay me down, lay me down
Having found someone to intimately comfort him
All my friends, want you to know
Telling his friends that he is leaving
I'm gonna miss you when I go
Expressing the feeling of missing his friends
But I'll see you down the road
Looking forward to seeing his friends in the future
Meet me at the station way down low, way down low
Inviting his friends to meet him at the train station
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
Repeating the question of where someone will go with a heart that feels emptiness or loss
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Where you gonna go with a heart that gone?
Repeating the question of where someone will go with a heart that feels emptiness or loss
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CONOR OBERST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind