Conor Oberst - Cape Canaveral, Vancouver July 2008

[deepakalypse]

rad

rad song

[deepakalypse]

sucha good song... I dont have much of his stuff but this one I had to grab

[naturistica]

And watch the migrants smoke in the old orange grove

And the red rocket blaze over Cape Canaveral

You've been a father to me

In 1960's speak

Gives me comatose joy like rerun TV

While the mountain's side was shining

Wild colors of my destiny

... I wish I could say you did forgive. You've been a father to me in 1960's speak... and always will be.

[AlyssaJaneVolta]

No words to describe how this song makes me feel. There are no words.

[Sitoutvabien]

Notice the change, "You told me victories sweet, even deep in the cheap seats" to "you wished that victory is sweet even deep in the cheap seats." Seems to me Conor was trying to get clean, or ATONE himself, as said in the song-with the assistance of a friend/lover, and changed his mind. Interesting... You know, getting off drugs may not be front row business to a lot of people.. Other than one's self.

[PearlOvaries]

@Sitoutvabien "you WHISPERED victory is sweet even deep in the cheap seats."

[BrightEyesAtheist]

This gets me teary eyed. Wish I was there!

[mmmmmmusic]

just shh... there's no need to talk, there isn't anything you can say. simply listen.

[stuffhobbes]

Wow, an artist with substance abuce problems?! What is happening to america? Gosh i hope he sings some nice duwap songs about lovin' Jesus and drving a pickup while discovering the characteristic traits that might make him a redneck.

[musicforchewfaygs]

he may be a drunken coke head, but he's one hell of a song writer.

[anotherjoshua]

why the fuk is everybody talking?

[OneDrinkForMankind]

He's just so amazing, it's almost unhuman.

[Dynamicdistiller]

This was so amazing lastnight<3

[4eversims2]

I seriously get butterflies whenever I wtch videos of Conor playing live; it's strangly odd. I just love him soooo much :]

[crazybeauty86]

This song makes me cry every single time.

[JazzBandRock]

how many times have you listened to it?

[furlong1018]

haha, thats a pretty cool response to that. haha

[crazybeauty86]

more than a thousand times. <3

[bustingupastarbucks]

npr live concerts from 11/12/08 podcast has the best version of this song its perfect on there with haunting reverb free podcast check it out cape canaveral starts around minute 36 ish

[billymisfits]

one of his best songs in my opinion

[princesstomato22]

there is so much in this song. he is a MASTER of words, imagery, symbolism, alliteration. this song rocks!

[princesstomato22]

part2: Then, as highways, rockets, moon travel, etc play their parts we have become even more self-absorbed and wasteful... (freon escaping from the hotel door), as the waterfalls send symbolic signals of our destiny. Complacent and lazily drinking lemonade while the earth continues to give us her resources. We r tiny specks on this grand earth, and even the earth will become as tiny diamonds one day...as seen from the cheap seats, perhaps, as seen, from the bottom of the totem pole.

[Talonplz]

The problem with people today is that they think there is an answer in poetry. I love your interpretation of it. And its well founded. But its not the answer of "What does this song mean" because every song and every poem means everything to anyone. The only answer is all the answers. To me this song really represents a separated family.. but that's me, and that's why its my song, and my answer =P

[princesstomato22]

Yep, that is what makes some songs, poems, books even more beautiful and meaningful/personal...when we are each able to bring our own experiences and interpretations to them. I think this song is a perfect example of that. I can definitely see a "separated family" as a theme for this beautiful song. :)

[Talonplz]

Wow, I didnt expect a nice response. Im glad you agree. I say this to everyone - read Steinbeck.

[princesstomato22]

This is such a poetic, beautifully written song. He is amazingly talented.

The song has several themes, one being very prevalent:

the "drum" beating all the way through sets the tone for the Native American/Mother Earth theme to ring throughout. He is talking about the earth and how we as humans have wasted it in many ways, even stolen from it like petty thieves, not taking the time to realize it or care, yet the earth does not judge us for it. part2 follows in next post:

[Isterya]

i love this song and i love conor oberst *ç*

[gooseCha]

sick song!! wow i just have no idea what cape canaveral is

[wariogamer35]

cape canaveral is were Kennedy Space center is located and the town has a classic Florida feel; very nostalgic

[papercutsmetal]

oh man... this is such good video quality. best song off the album for sure.

[mellse]

Thanks for uploading, this is great quality. Love this song its my fav from the new album

[nhakemi]

cape canaveral is one of the symbols of 1960's american prestige...to him it is synonymous with his child complete with rerun tv and gives him a sense of comatose joy...think the days of tv dinners and apple pie post ww2. the red rocket blazing represents the open ended nature of life, as he discusses his destiny among other things in this great song.

[saffronskies17]

Conor Oberst is 28 years old. He was born in 1980. How is a relic of the 60's space race "synonymous with his child" if he was born just about 20 years later?

[nhakemi]

I meant synonymous with a childhood, borne out of apple pie, watching those first american apollo missions on an old tv. i understand he had a very troubled adolescence, yet seems to find solace in those images of the "nuclear" family that bleed pure americana. Its not a literal take, its just my take on his vision behind the song. besides i was at this show and that hit me as especially potent

[xlyricallies7x]

i love how he uses his guitar as a percussion instrument.

conor oberst is an incredible artist.

[nisif321]

He gives me the impression he had a sort of artistic maturation with this album. it's like watching the boy becoming a man. This song is a real masterpiece.. out of time.

[soupswimmer]

i think this song matches some of the best ouf of Digital Ash, which was already a masterpiece

[shye112]

best song in the album

[linnabut]

I dig this song...you're hot too

[teuesden]

Can someone explain the meaning of the lyrics? I know cape canaveral is where the rockets go off from, but that's about it!

[PolarOpposites12]

he his hair?

[unburdenunbound]

unbelievable. perfectly simple song. the lyrics are out of this world.

[switchedseats]

it is absolutely horrid not being able to see this show because i am not legal drinking age!!

jealousy. this is beautiful

[Rabb1thole]

Poor Conor

[Candyann22]

I wish I could have went to the Vancouver show instead of the calgary show, looks like a better performance, although I cant blame him, most people at the folk fest had no idea who he was, it would be hard to play to a crowd that has no idea.

[stemuse]

that was such a good performance of that song !

[nhakemi]

i was there...he played little to no bright eyes. it was kinda funny...most people we taken aback by the new stuff it almost didn't matter. you will be able to see bright eyes tour in a few years...but this stuff is really special i think.

[girliehun]

lucky!i wish hed come to toronto. did they play and older bright eyes stuff or just the new cd?