I have a friend, he's mostly made of pain. He wakes up, drives to work, and then straight back home again. He once cut one of my nightmares out of paper. I thought it was beautiful, I put it on a record cover. And I tried to tell him he had a sense of color and composition so magnificent. And he said "Thank you, please, but your flattery is truly not becoming me. Your eyes are poor. You are blind. You see, no beauty could have come from me. I am a waste of breath, of space, of time." I knew a woman, she was dignified and true. Her love for her man was one of her many virtues. Until one day, she found out that he had lied and she decided the rest of her life, from that point on would be a lie. But she was grateful for everything that had happened. And she was anxious for all that would come next. But then she wept. What did you expect? In that big, old house with the cars she kept. "Oh!" and "such is life," she often said. With one day leading to the next, you get a little closer to your death, which was fine with her. She never got upset and with all the days she may have left, she would never clean another mess or fold his shirts or look her best. She was free to waste away alone. Last night, my brother he got drunk and drove. And this cop pulled him off to the side of the road. And he said, "Officer! Officer! You have got the wrong man. No, no, I'm a student of medicine, the son of a banker, you don't understand!" The cop said, "No one got hurt, you should be thankful. And your carelessness,it is something awful. And no, I can't just let you go. And though your father's name is known, your decisions now are yours alone. You're nothing but a stepping stone on a path to debt, to loss, to shame." The last few months I have been living with this couple. Yeah, you know, the kind who buy everything in doubles. They fit together, like a puzzle. And I love their love and I am thankful that someone actually receives the prize that was promised by all those fairy tales that drugged us. And they still do me. I'm sick, lonely, no laurel tree, just green envy. Will my number come up eventually? Like Love is some kind of lottery, where you can scratch and see what is underneath. It's "Sorry", just one cherry, "Play Again." Get lucky. So I have been hanging out down by the train's depot. No, I don't ride, I just sit and watch the people there. And they remind me of wind up cars in motion. The way they spin and turn and jockey for positions. And I want to scream out that it all is nonsense. All your lives one track, can't you see it's pointless? But then, my knees give under me. My head feels weak and suddenly *it is clear to see* *that it is not them but me,* *who has lost my self-identity.* *As I hide behind these books I read,* *while scribbling my poetry,* *like art could save a wretch like me,* *with some ideal ideology* *that no one can hope to achieve.* *And I am never real; it is just a sketch of me.* *And everything I made is trite and cheap* *and a waste* *of paint,* *of tape,* *of time.* So now I park my car down my the cathedral, where floodlights point up at the steeples. Choir practice was filling up with people. I hear the sound escaping as an echo. Sloping off the ceiling at an angle. When voices blend they sound like angels. I hope there is some room still in the middle. But when I lift my voice up now to reach them. The range is too high, way up in heaven. So I hold my tongue, forget the song, tie my shoe and start walking off. And try to just keep moving on, with my broken heart and my absent God and I have no faith but it is all I want, to be loved and believe in my soul, in my soul.

One of the most honest, truely brilliant songs EVER written.

I remember watching this exact video 15 years ago in 2007 back when KZfaq was an infant and this video was the first I had ever heard of bright eyes. I was 15 and now 30. since then I've always mentally associated this song with this paintbrush image as if it was synesthesia. weirdly moving to see that this video is still up here.

The only thing I want to do when I'm depressed is drink and listen to bright eyes. They just go together.

His voice, and his rhyming, and that repetitive meter. All perfect.

"And try to just keep moving on, with my broken heart and my absent God and I have no faith but it is all I want, to be loved and believe in my soul, in my soul..." *sighs* gives me chills every damn time.

I can't wait for the day this song doesn't perfectly reflect myself, so I can listen to it as a dizzying memory of what this pain is. I hope by now when Connor plays this song its a long past patch of his soul

as a heart broken artist...i love every bitter sweet tune from that voice and guitar. Always feeling worthless but trying and getting pushed down by terrible people..Feeling like a waste. And seeing lovely people..makes you hope even though it hurts.

the 1st verse and the last is how i feel each day of my life...he articulates the words in a way i could never image

Still his most raw, honest song from his best album

I'm 25. My wife won't take me back. I'm a raging alcoholic. I'm severely depressed. And a waste of paint. Cheers.

When I was 14 Someone told me to look up Bright Eyes, this was the first song I heard. From the moment I heard this I was like, this isn't just regular music, this was art.

I can easily say Bright Eyes is my favorite band for the simple fact that I am in love with every song because each song affects me in such a way.

I heard this song when I was 13 and it changed my life. My dad was like "What the heck are you listening to?" and I said "I don't know, but it must not be the same as what you're hearing" He wont ever understand.

I don't remember ever getting chills listening to a song. Simply amazing.

The second verse really makes you think. Just how many wives have just given up and kept their silence? Finally free from the judgment of society and they wear it proudly in revenge, in rebellion. How many others just give up but don't want to be alone?

This song hurts. It's pain. It's sharp. It's rust.

I heard this song a few months ago, and I really liked it, but it was so sad and beautiful I didnt want to listen to it again for a long time, and then a few weeks ago I remembered it, but all I could remember was that the picture had a paintbrush with colors, so I started going through all of my history trying to find it, but I couldnt, and I was all sad. Then, today, Im scrolling through my dash, and someone posted a link to another song, and this was in the suggestions. I was so happy I cried

I love how each one of his songs is a story. They never get boring. He's one of my favourite artists I can always listen to him. His voice is perfection... with all of it's flaws. He's a wonderful poet, so very talented.... I was so glad when I discovered his music, it was exactly what I was looking for.

2022, and still relate to this so much, sadly ….

And I love their love and I am thankful that someone actually receives the prize that was promised by all those fairy tales that drugged us. And they still do me. I'm sick, lonely, no laurel tree, just green envy.

*Lyrics* I have a friend, he's mostly made of pain. He wakes up, drives to work, and then straight back home again. He once cut one of my nightmares out of paper. I thought it was beautiful, I put it on a record cover. And I tried to tell him he had a sense of color and composition so magnificent. And he said "Thank you, please but your flattery is truly not becoming me. Your eyes are poor. You are blind. You see, no beauty could have come from me. I am a waste of breath, of space, of time." I knew a woman, she was dignified and true. Her love for her man was one of her many virtues. Until one day, she found out that he had lied and she decided the rest of her life, from that point on would be a lie. But she was grateful for everything that had happened. And she was anxious for all that would come next. But then she wept. What did you expect? In that big, old house with the cars she kept. "Oh!" and "such is life," she often said. With one day leading to the next, you get a little closer to your death, which was fine with her. She never got upset and with all the days she may have left, she would never clean another mess or fold his shirts or look her best. She was free to waste away alone. Last night, my brother he got drunk and drove. And this cop pulled him off to the side of the road. And he said, "Officer! Officer! You have got the wrong man. No, no, I'm a student of medicine, the son of a banker, you don't understand!" The cop said, "No one got hurt, you should be thankful. And your carelessness, it is something awful. And no, I can't just let you go. And though your father's name is known, your decisions now are yours alone. You're nothing but a stepping stone on a path to debt, to loss, to shame." The last few months I have been living with this couple. Yeah, you know, the kind who buy everything in doubles. They fit together, like a puzzle. And I love their love and I am thankful that someone actually receives the prize that was promised by all those fairy tales that drugged us. And they still do me. I'm sick, lonely, no laurel tree, just green envy. Will my number come up eventually? Like Love is some kind of lottery, where you can scratch and see what is underneath. It's "Sorry", just one cherry, "Play Again." Get lucky. So I have been hanging out down by the train's depot. No, I don't ride. I just sit and watch the people there. And they remind me of wind up cars in motion. The way they spin and turn and jockey for positions. And I want to scream out that it all is nonsense. All your lives one track, can't you see it's pointless? But then, my knees give under me. My head feels weak and suddenly it is clear to see that it is not them but me, who has lost my self-identity. As I hide behind these books I read, while scribbling my poetry, like art could save a wretch like me, with some ideal ideology that no one can hope to achieve. And I am never real; it is just a sketch of me. And everything I made is trite and cheap and a waste of paint, of tape, of time. So now I park my car down my the cathedral, where floodlights point up at the steeples. Choir practice was filling up with people. I hear the sound escaping as an echo. Sloping off the ceiling at an angle. When voices blend they sound like angels. I hope there is some room still in the middle. But when I lift my voice up now to reach them. The range is too high, way up in heaven. So I hold my tongue, forget the song, tie my shoe and start walking off. And try to just keep moving on, with my broken heart and my absent God and I have no faith but it is all I want, to be loved and believe in my soul, in my soul...

How the hell is this guy not more famous? Oh, he's just the best poet of the last 50 years, sings with ACTUAL emotion, probably has an I.Q. of 150(ish), and is probably sending the most important message of our generation. But still I turn on the radio and hear..........kesha.....disgusting.

This is everything I've ever searched for...

I don't even know why I love this song so much. I don't even think I like his voice, or the music...But something about the lyrics just wrenches at my heart and I listen to it over and over again...

i think this song is basically a portrayal of many break-downs. everyone's world is crumbling down around them and no one is worthy or lucky or great. everyone is trying so hard and everyone is mediocre. and there comes a moment when you just open your eyes and realize that this is what's in front of you and your whole reality is tumbling down.

holy fuck the feels

poetry. pure, honest, painful, magical poetry.

This is the saddest song ever

I get chills when he says "Play again, get lucky." He's an extremely talented guy, Conor is.

If your listening to this on 2020 almost 2021 your a legend

Such HEAVY lyrics!!

can't explain this feel

I fell in love with this song.

This guy is just amazing. All his lyrics have such great flow. Inspiring. :)

Beautiful, just beautiful.

literally crying everytime

Am I the only one who can't hold in the tears when listening to this song?

This song not only reminds me of myself, but everyone I've ever known. I know someone from every verse, and I love them all. If you ever feel like a waste of paint, just know that we're all in this together, moving through life, finding ourselves. The person who hurt me the most once told me "It wasn't a waste of time," and I can feel it in my soul that she was right. Our fights were terrible, but our time together was beautiful, and it made me who I am. So it's never actually a waste of paint - just using a little bit more. So keep on painting, because I know if you're here, then you know love.

listening to this song at work, i actually started crying... without warning.... :|

love his poems of life

I always have this lump in my throat when I listen to this

This is really, honestly, one of the loveliest songs I've ever heard. I really love how it sounds like Conor is just adlibbing, like everything is so spur of the moment. Conor is such a genius. Really the greatest musician alive, I think.

Such an amazing song. Lyrics touch home for alot of people that may be struggling in life. Can listen to this song over and over again..

this is actually the saddest song ever

I LOVE BRIGHT EYES! And Im in love with this guys voice

I love their love and I am thankful!

"With my broken heart and my absent God And I have no faith but it's all I want To be loved, and believe In my soul, in my soul ." isn't the feeling of worthlessness a correlation you have the capacity to feel worthy. "When the voices blend they sound like angels" I believe he still has hope....Beauty is Truth and truth is Beauty and isn't that a reason to live.

At 19 I thought I understood this song but I didn’t. Now at 31, I do and I don’t what is more sad. The fact that I finally understand its poetry or the fact that it resonates with my present.

oh gosh ! sweet nectar of honey ! THE FEELS !!

Conor's voice and sense of feeling is absolutely amazing! People that like to be negative all the time just make me sad, let us be, if you don't like the music, don't comment. okay?

this song personifies why i love conor oberst so much. he is HONEST. he doesn't sugar coat things, he just comes out and says it. and it is beautiful

A amazing song from one the most amazing albums of my life (out of hundreds, it's easily top 20). Connor Oberst is a damn genius and poet.

There are days you can make it through to the night, but there are some days... and those days are the ones you listen to Bright Eyes the most with tears covering every inch of skin on your face.

Beautiful. Just, beautiful. I love you.

when he sings about the woman & her man, is basically my life story... thats y i love conor. i feel his music.

just enjoy the music, people. there's no point in arguing! just listen to the great music!

Jeeze, do people have to argue about religion right now? Just shut up and listen and whatever it means to you, just enjoy it and don't bother arguing about it because it will probably mean something different to someone else, and their leaning is probably different from Conor's when he wrote the song. That's the great thing about music. It doesn't matter. Just enjoy it for yourself.

This song makes me happy. Honestly. The beauty brings me joy.

Took on A new meaning,makes me imagine that somebody has showed much patience in me. I want to believe in that.

This reminds me of tunnels, top down convertible, bottles of wine, canvassing for equal rights, dancing with no regards for other people, and Jakie

Idk how i got here but i really like this :D this was posted when i was like 3 lmao

This song inspires me to smoke and right some poetry. And reconsider why I am on Earth.

conor oberst's voice is my favorite sound

every time i listen to this album i really feel like he just walked into the studio and just started playing whatever he felt like. and i love that. it all sounds so raw, and like it's improvised. fucking excellent. conor is such a genius.

I heard their new stuff. And I came immediately back here to remind myself of a time when Conor still wrote lyrics that were simple, yet meaningful; when he still told stories, and didn't just use excessive imagery.

Idk why bet Conor can channel all the depression I feel and make it better. I thank you for that. I would be in a pretty bad condition without you Conor.

Reminds me of an early Bob Dylan... very cool.

He is so artistic in his lyrics. I love it so much. They are really good titles for paintings, or good writing prompts.

this was the first bright eyes song i heard. that was a few years back, and i'm still hooked.

im so glad that someone actually realizes he sounds like daniel johnston and not the other way around

I believe that the imperfections of his voice makes it all the more perfect. If you listen to what he's talking about you'd completely understand. Conor Oberst is the most amazing man I've ever heard of.

This song was playing when I tried to kill myself by overdosing on heroin ... that was back in 2016. Sometimes I hate that I survived...

I love his way of singing... If you have ever asked yourself a question like: what is Art... Here you have the Answer... not much of today known music is art anymore... but there still seem to be people who do it...

I love your love - yes you, reading this - and I _am_ thankful.

My life is one dark room. Conor makes me realize darkness surrounds us and we should embrace it cause it ain't goin away :-)

I was so blessed to seee him perform this in a basement in Omaha 😢😮❤😂

I like about half a dozen songs by this guy and this is one of my favorites. If i wanted to introduce someone into bright eyes the songs would be This, road to joy, poison oak, land lock blues, at the bottom of everything.

Maybe he's saying that the creation of love was a waste of paint, because it's just fantasies and stories that put the image of love in our heads. You make this big beautiful painting of reality spiced up with all these beautiful colors, but the painting is still just a painting.

It's crazy I grew up listening to Conor and now that i'm 28 these songs hit so differently, so much more emotion.

this song can always make me cry

this song brought a tear to my eye, in a good way.

I listen to this when I feel like a waste of paint... Cheers me up strangly :)

this song covers so much beautiful!

I think its very tongue in cheek. Makes me realize just how silly worrying about the small shit really is. I love this man.

love the raw emotion of his voice....

"With my broken heart And my absent god" Beauty

Amazing song. =) And that image is genius; it really makes me smile.

His music is so self-indulgent.

Bright eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! inspiration from the soul, the purpose of like is to eat good food, dance, and to make music

Why do people insist on fighting on videos with music? Great song. Really meaningful lyrics.

Common chord patterns like this can't be tagged to the most famous song that uses it. Otherwise, every other band would be sued. Besides, this song is really about these AMAZING lyrics and the passion that seeps through in it.

Regardless of what the song means (Even though I think you're right), it's a work of art and gives me goosebumps every time. One of the most moving songs I've ever heard. :')

Ah here I am again after 9 years

First time I've came across this singer. And all I have to say is ... wow.

new fav Bright Eyes song i love the lyrics to this.

I can't even explain just how fucking amazing this is. The words, the emotion in his voice, the stories, the introspective-ness, god.

Conor is my favorite poet that can sing

I love this song , the lyrics are simple yet so amazing. I don't how he does it

I absolutely love this song.