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
Tachycardia
Conor Oberst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A dollar-fifty resting place
On the north face
It's a rope I've gotta climb
I'm a stone's throw from everyone I love and know
But I can't show up looking like I do
In an old suit my hair is slicked back nice and smooth
In a court room, sweat rolling down my back
I have it seven times a week
No it's not me
But I'm the one who has to die
Needs a cold draw to slow his tachycardia
In a dark bar the world just melts away
And you feel fine
Your feet can just lose track of time
It's a good sign when he can stay awake
On a slow day the rain against the windowpane of the cafe
She spills the coffee grounds
And the same thought hits her like a cinder block
Life's an odd job that she don't got the nerve to quit
Yeah it's just there
At the bottom of those spiral stairs
It's the world's fair
The future's on display
In the still night
They turned on the electric lights
And the crowd cried out
Everyone looks so amazed
In Conor Oberst's song Tachycardia, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a sense of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. The song starts with a somber and dark tone as the lyrics describe a metaphorical "mass grave." The character in the song is describing a place of rest that is cheap and unappealing, which could represent a mental or emotional state rather than a physical location. The "rope I've gotta climb" line is a metaphor for the character's struggle of dealing with their issues.
Throughout the song, the character seems to be dealing with personal turmoil and trying to maintain a certain outward appearance. They mention being a "stone's throw" from loved ones and familiar faces, but not wanting to show up "looking like I do." The character is trying to hide the sweat rolling down their back in a courtroom or showing up to a gathering without looking disheveled. It's evident in their language that they're trying to put on a front for others and mask their internal struggles.
The chorus mentions tachycardia, which is a medical term for an abnormally fast heart rate. It's not clear if the character is experiencing actual physical symptoms or if it's meant to describe the feeling of racing thoughts and anxiety. They find relief in a "dark bar" where the "world just melts away."
Overall, the lyrics of Tachycardia seem to be about dealing with personal struggles, anxieties, and the challenge of maintaining a certain image when facing the world. It's a reminder that we often have more going on internally than we show on the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a mass grave
The situation is grim and there are a lot of people affected.
A dollar-fifty resting place
The resting place is cheap and not of good quality.
On the north face
The location is difficult to access and is in a lonely or isolated area.
It's a rope I've gotta climb
The situation requires a lot of effort and perseverance to overcome.
I'm a stone's throw from everyone I love and know
The person is close to their loved ones, but still feels distant or disconnected from them.
But I can't show up looking like I do
The person is not confident about their appearance and feels like they have to conform to certain standards to be accepted.
In an old suit my hair is slicked back nice and smooth
The person is putting on a facade, trying to look presentable and professional.
In a court room, sweat rolling down my back
The person is under a lot of pressure and anxiety in a high-stakes situation, and is physically affected by it.
It's a bad dream
The situation is so unbearable that it feels like a nightmare.
I have it seven times a week
The situation is recurring and causing a lot of stress and anxiety.
No it's not me
The person feels like they don't belong in this situation, and it's not a reflection of who they truly are.
But I'm the one who has to die
The person feels like they have to suffer the consequences or face the brunt of the situation.
Needs a cold draw to slow his tachycardia
The person needs something to calm down and regulate their heartbeat, as they are experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety.
In a dark bar the world just melts away
The person is seeking solace or escape from the harsh reality of the situation by going to a bar.
And you feel fine
The person is able to momentarily forget their problems and feel at ease.
Your feet can just lose track of time
The person is able to relax and not worry about the passage of time.
It's a good sign when he can stay awake
The person is overcoming their anxiety and is starting to feel more alert and present.
On a slow day the rain against the windowpane of the cafe
The person is experiencing a quiet and peaceful moment, but it is contrasted with the chaos and stress of their usual life.
She spills the coffee grounds
The person is making a mistake, which highlights their imperfection and vulnerability.
And the same thought hits her like a cinder block
The person is struck with a sudden realization or epiphany that is overwhelming and heavy.
Life's an odd job that she don't got the nerve to quit
The person is unsure about their path in life and feels trapped, but doesn't have the courage to make a change.
Yeah it's just there
The object or situation is present and visible.
At the bottom of those spiral stairs
The object or situation is difficult to reach, as it requires going down a spiral staircase.
It's the world's fair
The object or situation is grand and impressive, like a world's fair exhibition.
The future's on display
The object or situation represents the future, and is being showcased for its potential and innovation.
In the still night
The scene is quiet and peaceful, with no disturbances or interruptions.
They turned on the electric lights
The event or situation is illuminated and becomes more visible or clear.
And the crowd cried out
The people observing the event or situation are amazed and excited, and show their enthusiasm.
Everyone looks so amazed
The situation is impressive and awe-inspiring, and causes everyone to feel wonder and amazement.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Conor M. Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jess Kunkle
It's a mass grave
A dollar-fifty resting place
On the north face
It's a rope I've gotta climb
I'm a stone's throw from everyone I love and know
But I can't show up looking like I do
In an old suit my hair is slicked up back nice and smooth
In a courtroom, sweat rolling down my back
It's a bad dream
I have it seven times a week
No it's not me
But I'm the one who has to die
Needs a cold draw to slow his tachycardia
In a dark bar the world just melts away
And he feels fine
If he can just lose track of time
It's a good sign when he can't stay awake
On a slow day the rain against the windowpane of the cafe
She spills the coffee grounds
And the same thought hits her like cinder block
Life's an odd job that she don't got the nerve to quit
Yeah it's just there
At the bottom of those spiral stairs
It's the World's Fair
The future's on display
In the still night
They turned on the electric lights
And the crowd cried out
Everyone looks so amazed
Jess Kunkle
It's a mass grave
A dollar-fifty resting place
On the north face
It's a rope I've gotta climb
I'm a stone's throw from everyone I love and know
But I can't show up looking like I do
In an old suit my hair is slicked up back nice and smooth
In a courtroom, sweat rolling down my back
It's a bad dream
I have it seven times a week
No it's not me
But I'm the one who has to die
Needs a cold draw to slow his tachycardia
In a dark bar the world just melts away
And he feels fine
If he can just lose track of time
It's a good sign when he can't stay awake
On a slow day the rain against the windowpane of the cafe
She spills the coffee grounds
And the same thought hits her like cinder block
Life's an odd job that she don't got the nerve to quit
Yeah it's just there
At the bottom of those spiral stairs
It's the World's Fair
The future's on display
In the still night
They turned on the electric lights
And the crowd cried out
Everyone looks so amazed
Matthew Sanders Wrobel
17 years or more.
Andrew D. Harris
You been following this cat for a long while?
christina hughes babb
This bittersweet track. A theme song from late stage addiction. Was a stone’s throw from everyone I love and know, but I couldn’t show up looking like I did. All I had was this harmonica and strange, mystical, empathetic voice
Matthew Sanders Wrobel
Perfect.
Matt Williams
And the crowd cried out, everyone looks so amazed
Chills. Such an incredible album
burdth
As I'm released from the hospital, you'll never read this or ever know. Those shivers you feel? That's me Conor. I want to thank you. I know it's tough. We all do. ❤️
Jena
More people need to appreciate this beautiful song.
Molly Emma Owens
"life's an odd job that she don't got the nerve to quit" ... he still knows how to stop me in my tracks. damn.
Lacey Nerness
That's the line that gets me, too.