Bright Eyes - Poison Oak

[tzohfeld]

I always thought about the line about the person's brother's tears was a nod to a funeral. I think this song is about losing a girl you loved when you were a teenager, and then learning that the person had died after drifting away from them for years.

[NatalieXCash]

@tzohfeld This song is about Ian's brother/Oberst's cousin, Collin McElroy, who committed suicide after battling a meth addiction and sexuality issues

[RoxieEmm]

I'm glad tomorrow I get my first tattoo, and it's going to be Bright eyes lyrics. 

[BridgetD96]

i always saw this song like it was about a rebellious older sibling that conor admired.

[inearthsorbit]

that slide guitar chokes me up everytime

[kdkb3]

WHERE THE FUCK IS MY YELLOW BIRD!? I know we don't know each other but I'm missing you like hell...

[gianmaria548]

beautiful song, very beautiful song!

[Floydthefuckbag]

The yellow bird is a reference to the works of Simon Joyner. He was one of Conor's biggest influences. If you don't know Simon's work and you love Bright Eyes you should definitely look into it.

[MrAlexFlynn]

@Floydthefuckbag iv allways thout it was in reference to the canaryes they used in mines to save lives. am i wrong?

[sherrysbrood]

Brilliance.

[eocine]

Yellow Bird has been mentioned in multiple songs of his, especially this and "We are no where, and it's now".

It has a multitude of meanings, from luck, to true love,etc.

[reehleal]

amazing lyrics...... and music. 

[DeathSwagForCutie]

"you're the yellow bird I've been waiting for"

What exactly does he mean by this?

c:

[jebas1322]

@DeathSwagForCutie yellow bird as in luck ? just a guess

[TheMaddiesaurus]

@DeathSwagForCutie yellow bird means the love of your life

[karenaurlin]

i miss him so much

[nessallamaaa]

@karenaurlin i get you.. :(

[summerfireflywishes]

I cant' help but think of you when I listen to this. I thought what we had was real. You changed everything for me. you gave me everything I didn't know I was looking for. you changed things. I never thought this life was possible...But now....where did you go? Why did you leave me? I don't think I ever loved you more than when you turned away.

[felixundxilef]

well... the best friend of my brother got blood cancer the third time i admit that i can only cry. my clothes are soaking wet from yours brothers tears!!!!!

[Kourchenkod]

Any way you could make this song for mobile version?

[musicalmotive420]

. A lot of them are under the age of 18. Sometimes, they don't even know their last name, where their parents are or what town they came from. The prisons themselves have no incentive to let them out because they're making money off of them every day they're there. So what happens to them? They just sit there unless people go and say, "No, this is not f---ing cool. This is not how we do things in this country."

[BRIANNA4422]

@musicalmotive420 This Is Intresting, What Made You Write A Comment Like This On Here?

[55jacos]

@BRIANNA4422 Why Do You Type The Beginning Of Every Word With An Upper Case?

[musicalmotive420]

These prisons are for-profit prisons. Kids ride on the tops of trains from Guatemala, go through persecution all through central Mexico and finally cross into America to be locked up in a prison with no legal representation.

[ngohpx]

yay all the crazy shit whackjobs who are quarreling over a song, wasting their time, finding songs they think are BETTER than this. -____________-

[Princessassley]

i haven't listened to alot of bright eyes cause Im still widening my musical interest but this song is absolutely brilliant.

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

@acu1lucky congratulations, i'm glad that makes you feel so much better about yourself.. something has to, i guess

[ScreamingSilence101]

once i am of age i will be getting a tattoo of a yellow bird, with the words "the end of paralysis" beside it.

sometimes just thinking of getting that tattoo done is all i live for.

[ittyx3]

stfu, and listen to this beautiful song. there's no reason to argue, just enjoy the music. [:

[luckyacu1]

First off !! mind your own fucking business and secondly , i wasnt mad at everyone DUH! i was mad at the troll , stalking my vids and comments. so mind your own shit , you caught the ass end of the whole conversation. mind your own fucking business...i simply stated the song was about his cousin , i would personally know what the song is about. and i bet you dont even have his unreleased tracks or toured w him now did you ...NO stfu!

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

@luckyacu1 oh my god SHUT UP i watched your videos and you're like 30 years old, quit acting like such a baby you fucking pussy no one cares that you went to a god damn bright eyes concert, I HAVE TOO and you dont see me bragging about it in every comment

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

@luckyacu1 and you did not tour with bright eyes. pretty sure they don't tour with the mentally handicapped.

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

to everyone who thinks he's bi because this song is about a guy, even if he IS bi, this song is about his cousin or something so stfu pervs

[luckyacu1]

@MinecraftSMPminenu DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH i just stated that it's bout his cousin..it's also in empathetic terms..which means he can relate to him more..bec he's bi and his cousin is sexually confused...he can relate to him in his eyes. which is empathy so stfu yourself biotch

[briahnanicole]

@luckyacu1 you're an idiot, you're arguing with everyone on this video, even someone who commented and wasn't even wrong. you call other people trolls but YOU'RE the worst kind of troll, stalking the same video and arguing with every single comment. that person wasn't even disagreeing with you, they were simply telling people this song isn't about a lover it's about a family member. fucking idiot

[alinealows]

i realy realy think it ses i stil belived in more?

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

@alinealows it says "believed in war"

[spidermonkeykid95]

Points are pointless. Miss the Point? say good bye to your baby! What's more important ............. Cable?

[spidermonkeykid95]

If I played the banjo, I'd swing my legs!

[BeginXtheXBegin]

Oh my god. This song speaks straight to your soul

[TheAmberChannel2010]

He is sooo Cute ♥

[heyjude97]

I'm sure Conor would disapprove of all of your comments about his sexuality, I mean, the man's, what , 31? You don't have to worry about him. He can fuck whoever he wants! He's Conor fucking Mullen Oberst!

[thedoc56]

@acu1lucky hahahahaah aw why u mad though. yeah and just cuz you like cock doesnt mean conor does

[thedoc56]

@acu1lucky conor isnt bi

[brettyp21]

And when i press the keys

It all gets reversed

The sound of lonliness

Makes me happier

Poetry^^^

[I8RICKROLLERS]

@acu1lucky sanity not included

[dayawakesupexhausted]

@acu1lucky who is bec?

[punkrocky9]

@dayawakesupexhausted it is an abbreviation for because

[MinecraftSMPminenu]

@dayawakesupexhausted i think it means "because" lol

[mexifrida]

this is just amazing and i'm glad we can all appreciate that

[I8RICKROLLERS]

the sound of lonelyness make me happier

best line ever!

[krustynhell]

like this if you've been listening to this for all those 6 years

[MissHardyOfficial]

he's a poet; omg killing me.

[kayyocep]

You're the yellow bird I've been waiting for...

[Biverix]

@kennygr8 I'm actually listening to this in 1829. Problem?

[CraftyGamer]

@Biverix LOL omg I laughed so hard XD

[YourBleedingViolet]

@Biverix <3 Oh god yes.

[mattycave1]

This album is so beautiful

[Amer1canBaby]

wow i love this

[Porojukaha]

I don't get it. It's ok. I mean I like it enough to put a like on it. But I don't get why people think this is the best BE song. Its about a specific event in Conor's life that has nothing to do with me, so its hard to relate. This so far was one of my least favorite songs by him. Maybe its that I can't really relate with his misanthropy. I mean personally I am one of the most optimistic people I have met. His songs like At the Bottom of Everything, Bowl of Oranges etc. SOO much better IMO

[OBLIVIONMASTER94]

i can easily go scrolling down and thumbs up everyones' post. everyone loves Bright eye's. i bet i can thumbs up everybodys post without even reading it, thats how confident i am about positivity on bright eyes vids :)

[Porojukaha]

@OBLIVIONMASTER94 you shouldnt be so confident

[stephensemora]

It doesn't matter what time of the year, month, or day it is. Conor Oberst has the lyrics to fit your situation. :)

[RachelleFromTheEast]

I can't even.. describe this song.

[futuredust1994]

I keep living just to listen to his music

[xXTarepandaXx]

Bright eyes takes my sadness and turns it into something beautiful.

[rezager]

this is my all time favorite song. it speaks to me so much. every time i hear it i want to laugh and cry and die all at the same time.

[69TheHannibal]

tears....coming out of my eyes...

[Porojukaha]

@69TheHannibal its weird, his sad songs like this dont even make me cry. But then sad things rarely make me cry. The only tears I generally cry are tears of happiness or joy. Conor's exaggeratively sad songs just take away my happiness and I really dont like it. Bowl of Oranges though, THAT made me cry. That was AWESOME!!

[SilverPlatterProd]

this album is so amazing. it calms me down. put me right to sleep. iv listened to it a million times and it never gets old.

[mexifrida]

can't keep a tear from coming out at the end. beautiful.

[BurlesquexLove]

This song is absolutely amazing. I just want to live inside it.

[MissPinkSmiles]

This song sings to me... once again.

I wish you could favoritze playlists! I would favoritze the whole album... <3

[BenMichaelSmith]

Watching him perform this at Glastonbury was wonderful, quite fitting that it was pissing it down though no one seemed to mind throughout this song.

[dayawakesupexhausted]

@acu1lucky omg thats horrible.....

[cmrnfdz]

SDH. you showed me what it was like to be young and in love, i miss falling asleep on the phone as we talked, i miss your laugh; its almost as beautiful as you are, i miss drinking for my first time with you and telling you everything, I miss your lips and how the first time we kissed it was a half hour long, i miss how happy i could be with you by doing nothing at all, i miss how our bodies fit perfectly together,i miss your cry and how i felt like i could hold you forever. ill love you forever

[natsweeee]

this is music

[shaniaimaribourne]

@Belarde11 I like the font you used.

[NeverShoutKaila]

GOD DAMN. so beautiful<3

[lynch03]

this song is good. too good

[nickdog100]

poison oak sucks

[lynch03]

@nickdog100 did your dumb ass touch a tree.

[I8RICKROLLERS]

@nickdog100 send me a video of you singing etc etc a better song!

[junoskiner]

@nickdog100

Well, this is more directed at everyone else. None the less, don't get upset people, anyone who named himself Nickdog100 is probably a very poor judge of musical or lyrical intellect. Anything deeper then pop music probably has him fucked.

[nickdog100]

@junoskiner lmao i just had poison oak when I was listening to this (b/c my "dumb ass" went on a hike). It's actually brilliant song, though.

[Kyoukikira98]

i love conor's music its so powerful, beautiful, full of soul and passion. it always makes me cry.

[I8RICKROLLERS]

what is this song about???

[SeaDog910]

@I8RICKROLLERS It's about his cousin collin who commited suicide.

[iCIueIess]

@I8RICKROLLERS it's not about his cousin .. the beginning is about his brother .. and just listen to the lyrics, you'll find out what he's talking about

[osiris0413]

@I8RICKROLLERS When he performed live in New York, he said it was about his brother. "My clothes are soaking wet from your brother's tears" - who else's tears would be soaking his own clothes? Conor = "your brother" = the song is about his brother.

[I8RICKROLLERS]

@osiris0413 ok sorry dude alot of people said it was about his cousin but i didnt know. sorry bro

[osiris0413]

@I8RICKROLLERS Lol sorry man, I wasn't mad or anything.  Just wanted to let you know :)

[I8RICKROLLERS]

@osiris0413 ok bro thx i guess?

[MoonNymph775]

this man can tell a story.

[musicfreak11324]

Conor Oberst.<3

[xohaileexo3]

brb bawling my eyes out

[ReturdThreee]

I am so glad I found this. This is exactly my type of music

[BloomingWithJoy1]

I love this song... one of these days my compliments for ANY Bright Eyes songs will reflect even a iota of how much their music means to me.. <3 arg... so fantastic,

[BloomingWithJoy1]

@conorbravo you're unpleasant :/

[rockloover]

Everytime I listen to this song it gives me tingles and goosebumps.

[likeacannibal]

this song means so much to me.

[rockmunk]

my life!!!!!!!! let tho poet live

[abigailras]

speechless. 

[NancyBoyProductions]

When I first heard this song I cried so hard it was ridiculous. Like, I have never cried that hard in a while (probably since I was a kid shitting in my pants) because I'm not a very emotional person. At all. But this song. Dear Lord, it's so wonderful.

[boxerkid321]

What is the meaning of this song?

[Bexzors]

@boxerkid321 I think with most songs. It is open to you're personal interpretation. It's what ever it means to you, even if that is not what the artist intended it to mean.

[ElizabethLoves]

When I saw thenm live, this song was so powerful and beautiful and moved me.

[I8RICKROLLERS]

i wish chicks would stop covering this song

[11Jurriaan]

Sometimes these songs open my Bright Eyes. I think that might be why they're called so.

[M3Monica]

This song always gives me the chills.

[GiveMeDaffodils]

When I saw Bright Eyes live a few weeks ago, I was crying my eyes out during this song. So beautiful.

[mh3]

@GiveMeDaffodils Me too. I saw him in Cologne, it just made me well up. Such a sad song, and yet so much defiance in it.

[lundAbrudAr]

lalalala this song makes me cry

[Tasteodoom]

this song gives me one PHAT bonerrrr~

[IzzyHiHello]

I actually think it's you WERE afraid to die. Just sayin.

[bellzo3]

i love his voice :)

[WritingANewOne]

the sound of loneliness.. makes me happier~

[199510111011]

Two months, Rae. I'll never here these words without you behind them. I love you. I know you're happy. "I'm glad you got away." <3

[Ibadalu]

I get to see him this Saturday. Now if I can just get to see Sufjan next time he tours, my life will be complete.

[coolguyeli]

He is so cynical i love it.

[CatieIvy]

My God! Conor is a poetic genius and every one of his songs is full of emotion and truth! He tells it straight and yeah, not every song sounds flawless, but it's not going to if it's honest and true music. He's so full of brilliance and wonder and still, we turn on the radio and its....ke$ha. Damn.

[YourDemolisher420]

'In polaroid's you were dressed in women's clothes. Were you made ashamed? Why'd you lock them in a drawer? Well, I don't think I ever loved you more.' ..

So fukn' deep and beautiful. What a goshdamn, talented poet!

[YouAreMyYellowbird23]

@YourDemolisher420 yea, he's talking about a trans hiding himself out of shame. cute.

[YourDemolisher420]

@YouAreMyYellowbird23

It's so powerful without even being complicated. That's the pure beauty of it. Artistry.

[eoinluvsgrunge]

R.I.P Alex. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. You were like a big brother to me and I love you forever

[vampirekitty33]

I love his music most his songs are revolved around a relationship yellow bird hes mostly referring to a girl he uses it in a few of his songs like his song -We are no where and its now.

[annDgurrrl]

@vampirekitty33 i read that he was referring to his dead cousin

[Blueyejo7533]

@annDgurrrl Yup. R

[ShizuokaDolphin]

Awesomeness.

[199510111011]

R.i.p RaeRae <33

[annDgurrrl]

What a gorgeous song, stuffed with emotion at the same time being very simple and melodic. A masterpiece.

Can someone clarify this to me: when Conor says "There's a muddy field where a garden was," is he talking about a cemetery how the dirt gets upturned? That line kind of confuses me.

[technicolorgoose]

@annDgurrrl my take on it is that it's a metaphor for his current situation in general. it used to be a garden, but now the elements have turned it into a muddy field.

[annDgurrrl]

@technicolorgoose Ohhh, that makes sense. Ha

[zmoney616]

@annDgurrrl

A muddy field can be a simple reference to spring and when the rains come and the fields are plowed and furrowed, waiting for planting. Also, with the previous line about the serpent, it appears that this is a reference to the garden of eden, which is to say the loss of innocence, through the gaining of knowledge. I'd say that this song's lyrics place it in early spring, because of the yellow bird. A typical bird of spring is a warbler.

[MsMaryHarris]

Yellow bird can be taken as a "warning" or a "life saver" so to speak. Miners used to take canaries down into the mines and if the birds died it meant they were running out of oxygen, and needed to get out as soon as possible.

[xxLIFExx143]

Just something about his voice makes me find meaning in life again.

[xwakingthefallenx]

The only song that gets to me everytime i listen to it no matter how many times i play it. "You said you werent afraid to die... Im glad you got away, but im still stuck out here... Now im drunk as hell on a piano bench." I dont know what the lyrics in this song exactly mean, but i had a close friend commit suicide recently, and this song just kills me

[PaulK92]

This song makes me cry. But it's a good kind of cry. The kind you have to let out about something really painful in your past - something you got over and accepted but would be impossible to forget. So you cry. That's what this song does to me.

[Reachthesky222]

ahh truely amazing song. Shakes me up every time I listen to it.

[MeMyselfAndIWIshYou]

All his songs make me think of a specific person....

[xxTheCatsMeow]

I love you conor, you're so beautiful.

[pridsters]

Let the poets cry themselves to sleep...

[ChrisVernayMusic]

EVERYONE PLEASE WATCH MY COVER AND COMMENT(: /watch?v=7R6RMhNRkF8&feature=c­hannel_video_title

[ifeelso182]

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER LOVED YOU MORE

[Aaronsayers420]

Fucking beautiful

[Blueyejo7533]

What idiot would ever dislike this song?

[Julianos99]

I LOVE THIS SONG

[maheegancellery]

absolutely beautiful in concert

amazing show

[l0lhahah]

"the sound of loneliness, makes me happier"

[BalladOfWar]

I will always love you,no matter where you are,no matter who you belong to,you saved me.

[Thehappypages]

"You're the yellow bird i've been waiting for." That line makes me tear up so badly. My ex girlfriend used to say that to me all the time.

[Jackie11227]

Cried when I saw this in concert so bad...

Love him so much.

This is my favourite song in the world.

[123haileylee]

This song makes it all worth it.

[kayyyyleexmmmmo]

When I feel really sad, I like to turn this song on and just..blast it and yell the lyrics. It makes me feel so good.

[Kredwerewolf]

People don't need to act like they're Conor Oberst's godchild or anything to argue songmeaning.

Songs can mean different things to different people, but he has discussed in a couple of interviews that this was about a band member's brother that overdosed on drugs and ended up dying. Which can be seen in the line "My clothes are soaking wet from your brother's tears".

The yellow bird line is a reference to the fact that this death showed Conor that he couldn't continue abusing drugs as he did.

[Riselee11]

@Kredwerewolf i just saw him on the 12th. he sad this song was about his gay friend

[meepmeepmeepjeep]

cunt cunt gyournmum has no fanny

[TaylorRockz3000]

It's very touching Like if you agree

[elizabethellen618]

Watching him play this live was mesmerizing. 

[AustinTCV]

Jenny, part of me will always remember. I think of you still.

[irishia101]

I can never get enough of this song.



[jesskaa1023]

conors the best. he puts so much of himself in his music. there arent many artists like him anymore. and i really liked this video btw.

--you're the yellow bird i've been waiting for<333

[EmilayBemilayDisaray]

You're the yellow bird I've been waiting for.

[yournamecarvedhere]

when it comes to "now im a single cell on a serpents tongue..." from that line onward,i scream out the lyrics almost bursting into tears from such emotion that he is able to share with all of us.

[smily114]

You're the yellow bird that I've been waiting for.

--best line in the song , in my opinion <3

[MrMackan86]

Makes me think of the most beautiful girl on the planet earth! God damn i love you, but you Will never be mine again.

[MilleniumKing13]

if i ever met conor in person, i'd probably cry like a little bitch with a skinned knee out of sheer joy

[irishia101]

this is so deep

gives me shivers.

[MrJkca]

this is the first track of a mix cd for my friend's birthday who i love so much. It's a shame she doesn't feel the same way.

[nevershoutduck33]

this, in my opinion, is the best bright eyes song..ever.

[adio1353]

I'm a guy and I'm gonna just straight up admit this song makes me fuckin cry.

[NotSoGracefulProd]

@adio1353 Implying that crying makes you less of a man?

[Thehappypages]

@adio1353 me too. every fucking time i listen to it. It's the only song that can have that kind trigger that kind of emotional response out of me.