| Bright Eyes – Jejune Stars Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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There's a great deal of circular imagery/references in this song. For instance; "new day" "the wheel I'm becoming" love is the "way to return" "nostalgia" "it starts again" and of course, the more covert mention of the circular cycle of life---in the "essence of life" is perhaps this repetition. This all takes a turn with "we kissed as the band marched/everything fell into line" Of course, the image of a band marching into formation as the lovers did metaphorically as well is great. But this line, stands in stark contrast to the rest of the song. This is the ONLY line, where the rest is circular--a line brought on by love. Leaving me to wonder--is love the only way to progress? Can't forget "A Line Progresses, a Circle Does Not." Even if it's referring to cocaine use. The weather imagery is also essential--with "inside's so cloudy, nostalgia." If we are looking at "ourselves througha porthole" we can assume that this inside is not referring to the inside of a house/structure, but rather, the inside of our mind/intentions. In his mind/memories is where he sees the memory of the kiss. This is where the chorus repeats that the speaker is going knowingly into that storm of nostalgia. Because somewhere after that moment the speaker was "lost" and "afraid" of love. This calls to mind songs like "Take it Easy, Love Nothing" with lyrics like "I do as I please and lie through my teeth, someone might get hurt but it won't be me" where Conor refuses to get close or sincerely love anywhere. Innocent love (kiss under the bleachers) vs. Surface love/sexual love "How'd it get so dark in the day?" To paraphrase; How did something so innocent of love turn so nefarious? |
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| Bright Eyes – Happy Birthday to Me (Feb. 15) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| A horrible feeling, needing someone to talk to and having to fight the guilt at assaulting a friend with your own despondence. | |
| Bright Eyes – Theme from Pinata Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| I think out of all Conor's lyrics, these are the only set that have ever made me cringe. It reads like a bad pick-up line, and somehow the whole song seems phoned in/insincere. I'm glad that you all seem to appreciate it, but I have to pass on this song. | |
| Bright Eyes – Falling Out of Love at This Volume Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| The speaker in this song is obviously done with the relationship, to the point that they couldn't care one way or the other if it ends. The most charged part of the song, for me is "you always say that anyone could be just like me". What more is needed to convey what an unhealthy relationship this is. | |
| Bright Eyes – Touch Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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To me "you" in this song is someone that the speaker is in love with, but that they've accepted they will never be with romantically. "You" is constantly searching, outside of the speaker, for some sort of idealistic love. The speaker, cynically believes this love will never be found. The speaker talks at length of the innocence and brillance of a first-time romance as a teenager, when everything could be easily felt and experienced. The song hinges on this image of "a touch you can really feel", which the speaker believes can never be found. That said, "and there is nothing more I want than just one night that's free of doubt and sadness" is an amazing line. |
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| Bright Eyes – Coyote Song Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I know that this song is obviously trying to drive a point home about immigration reform. Yet, I feel that it can translate into any long-distance relationship. The line "it's hard our plans are stalled on calling cards" sums up the main point of the song for me. The speaker has to hold onto the faith of their partner while they can't even see their face. |
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| Bright Eyes – Black Comedy Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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To me this song has always been about the speaker trying to win over a love interest in such a way that it is completely depleting them. They knew (predictable ending) that things weren't going to work out, but it was somehow destined to fail. The entire experience is being viewed from the present, where the speaker is entirely depressed and looks back on the experience in embarrassment. The real genius of the song comes here: But the actors did their best To lay some worth on every word like coffins dropped into the earth In other words, every forced word between the speaker and their love interest was burying this relationship/or chance of the relationship to ever come to be. |
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| Bright Eyes – A Few Minutes on Friday Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I love the way this song captures the sort of godlike importance of being alone with whomever you have feelings for. It's like those moments become electrified with weight. That said, "it just hurts too much" cements the self-aware pointlessness of this all-consuming obsession. |
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| Bright Eyes – When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| They can land that plane on my heart I don't care = best line. | |
| Bright Eyes – I Know You Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| This song is about someone who keeps telling the speaker (ie Conor) that they have changed or are going to change for the better. Perhaps, love has changed them, or they're just all around idealistic. The speaker is cynical, perhaps this person has failed before, or habitually lets the speaker down. The sincerity Conor speaks "I know you want to" makes me think that this song isn't intended to cut. It's just a graveled honesty. | |
| Bright Eyes – Shell Games Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Any Bright Eyes fan will know that Conor is pulling in his handful of hang-ups/images/go-to obsessions. SUCH AS: -Machinery "Distorted sounds on oscilloscope". An oscilloscope is a machine that creates images of sound waves. 'Course Conor cites machinery used depicting/representing a function that is alien to it, such as in "Danny Callohan" "whose heart beats electrical". -Cocaine references "I was dressed in white, touched by something pure" -Elliott Smith references "Slipping steadily into madness, now that's the only place to be free" and an echo of "distorted" twice in another verse. vs. "A distorted reality is now a necessity to be free" which is the name and chorus of an ESmith song. ETC ETC ETC. That aside, I'm not sure what heavy love is referring to. Could it be... 1. A relationship that requires two people to be equally committed? That seems to ignore the rest of the lyrics perhaps. But may make the most sense when the chorus stands alone. 2. The necessity of Conor to have his bandmates help him put his emotions/experiences to music. 3. Conor's relationship with his fans, who rely on his music to connect to their own lives. But what's the namesake, "Shell Games" for which he says "it's a shell game" It being... 1. The music industry/Bright Eyes itself as a project? 2. Love itself, involving oneself in a relationship? 3. The fulility of trying to connect your life to music or art, which could, perhaps never be enough to get you through. |
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