Not The Smartest

”Sooo, I’ve thought about this a lot and I came to a decision. I’m going to list the 15 saddest song Conor has ever written with Bright Eyes. And I’m not mentioning the “ended love” ones, I mean those about life and everything. Of course is my opinion, but I would like to know if you agree or not with me. So, here we go:

1. Lime tree -Cassadaga. 

“So pleased with a daydream, that now living is no good”. 

The songs maybe refers to an abortion, or something like that. The crushing moment it’s when Conor quotes his friend at the phone “It’s done.”

2. Ladder Song-The people’s key.

“No one knows where the ladder goes, you’re gonna lose what you love the most.”

A song about self acceptance, relieve and the mysteries of what life can lead us too.

3. The center of the world - Fevers and mirrors.

“Into the endlessness of blue, into the horror of the truth”

Despite “Fevers and Mirrors” is one of his saddest album, I find this song centered on the topic of loss and death, especially in the part of the carving tombs for remembering all the love we lost and we gained.

4. Approximate Sunlight - The people’s key

“Now you are how you were, when you were real”.

The whole song seems to talk about the world, the wars and how they ended up. The crushing of simple dreams because of mankind’s rage.

5.No lies, just love - Don’t be frighted of turning the page.

“ So please forgive what I have done,no you can’t stay mad at the setting sun”.

I’ve never understood if Conor really tried to take his life but this song is so powerful, with his promise and everything, that clarifies most doubts about suicide and what implies to those who try.  

6. Poison Oak - I’m wide awake, it’s morning

“ And I don’t think that I ever loved you more “.

His cousin got his life and he’d never accepted his own sexuality. A clear scream in the dark, the song reflects all his doubts about the sexuality and how everyone lives it.

7. Padraic my prince - Letting off the happiness.

“In a coma you don’t dream, you just hope someone sits with you”

As “No lies, just love”, his analysis of the suicide and what led to. 

The lyric refers to a personal experience, since we still aren’t certain about the mental state of a person in a coma.

8. Down to the rabbit hole - Digital Ash in a Digital urn.

“ If your thoughts should turn to death,gotta stomp them out like a cigarette”

A song about drugs abuse and how they change your life’s perception. The last part may refers to some suicidals thoughts.

9. A spindless, a darkness, a fever and a necklace - Fevers and Mirrors.

“ Don’t destroy yourself  like those cowards do”.

Adolescence was hard for everyone and since the start of the song, with the book read aloud by the child, we learn that we can’t be forever those we love. The first time I’ve heard the song, I was 15 and totally wasted with my sadness. Don’t wanna say he saved me but was a good big brother with this album.   

10. Amy in the white coat - Noise Floor

“ You look like your mother, in that thin disguise. Your parting mouth, your shining eyes”

Ah, this one. I always liked this one for the mood, ‘til I found out it was about child abuse and rape. The sweetness of his voice strikes again the heaviness of the lyric.

11. Motion Sickness - Noise Floor

“ So I want to get myself attached to something bolted down, so that these winds of circumstance won’t keep blowing me around”.

The uncertainty of a life around the world could hit everyone, especially when you have to go far from home and settle down again. Tried for myself, this song is dedicated to everyone who struggles against the nostalgia.

12. Landlocked blues

“I’ve found a liquid cure, for my landlocked blues.”

As the previous song, this one speaks about leavings and missing. He’s dumping Laura and tells her to choose another path, he’s got too much from this relationship and his life and wants to move on.

13. Laura Laurent -Lifted

“But you should never be embarrassed by your trouble with living. Because it’s the ones with the sorest throats, Laura, who have done the most singing”

It’s not sad because of the lyrics but because it describes a real person, his friend Laura, who passed through tough times and she’s tired of living. If you are 16, this song is like an anchor.

14. Tourist Trap- Four winds EP

“’Cause I’m not sure if I live here anymore”.

Facing that your city has changed is always hard. You go away and after six months all has changed. It’s hard to accept that, even if you’ve got the habit.

15. No one would riot for less- Cassadaga

“ Little soldier, little insect, you know war it has no heart"

Conor explained this song like “the end of the fuels.” It’s set like a dystopic novel (not so right now) and how people tries to live or survive that. Just with their love.