Bright Eyes - Beginner's Mind Lyrics

Connor has to be one of the best lyricists! I often thought along the principles of this song, When I first heard the song, I was like, how cool he put it into words and made a song! Then I learned it is a practice of Zen. So spiritual! The mind is awesome it has no limits. I love his lyrics!

Deep. If you think there's something here, you are on to something

Hold on tight beginners mind
The wheel is spinning too
Fast to make your move
The worst must be assumed
Oh how they'll try to pull and pry
Away what you know now
Beat and beat it out
Leave a drum that makes no sound
A snuff film on a jumbotron
For all the world to see
A cocktail napkin epitaph
Some psycho babel telegram
Message written in the sand
The tide rolls in
Swear you'll do the opposite
Of all those tangled hypocrites
Who say that the experiment has failed
Don't go there
You're getting nowhere
You're getting nowhere
Stay a while my inner child
I'd like to learn your tricks
To know what makes you tick
To nurse you when you're sick
Oh, how you've grown so cynical
Hard lines carved in your face
The sunshine's so cliche
Just like love and pain
You tried your best on the Rorschach test
But there's just nothing to see
Heard terabytes of a perfect pitch
Some universal elegance
Stack the seventh and the fifth
Along the grid
Swear you'll be the opposite
Of all the stilted hypocrites
You know what made you infamous to them, don't you
You keep starting over
You keep starting over
You keep starting over
You keep starting over
You keep starting over
You keep starting over
Hold on tight beginner's mind
The currents far too strong
It'll carry you along
'Til you're just like everyone
Stay a while my inner child
I'd like to learn your trick
To know what makes you tick
To nurse you when you're sick

I really just want to get together a lot of Bright Eyes fans for a huge sing-a-long to the most cathartic songs. I think it would be such a sweet release.

Joakim we could make a group chat? I'm a fan of another thing that did this and it was amazing! Just started listening to this guy and no one shares my taste in music

Joakim Urma A place where lots of fans get together and sing along to “cathartic songs.” Wonder why nobody’s ever thought of that before? Oh, wait... it’s called a concert.

can't wait to buy his records ⏺

❤❤✌

"swear you'll be the opposite, of all those stilted hippocrites"

Does anyone else feel a little bit of Letting off the Happiness on those few chord strums near the end? When it's just guitar and the rest of the music has faded out

Who says you can't escape your monotonous job? Go travel (and don't tell me you ain't got no money, you don't need nearly as much as you think)

Also, brilliant song.

I love how there's this mood of just giving up in the end

still the truth is out to be found, bob dean.

His albums keep getting better and better i swear.

:'D Ty!

I have the same job and do the exact same thing. Sometimes your're just on par with another.

When I was a pizza delivery driver in a big city last year, I used to relish getting out of the main parts and into the deserted suburbs on a night for a delivery. I used to drive around in circles in estates just so I had more time before I had to do the next delivery, time to turn this up and sing at my hearts content.

...

Have sex with me?

dahvie sent me too ;)

no wonder why dahvie loves this song :)

Skia Squid whom?

I believe he is trying to express that on the road to a higher state of being, one normally thinks cynically toward their environment. When someone can notice the beauty of their surroundings it truly shows that they've grown. Which is why one who thinks cynically toward the world, is just in the beginning. Because one will eventually gain knowledge, when one seeks it. And one normally does not retain knowledge, unless they have a reason.

Dahvie sent me here =].. I'm glad he did too!

@getup2727 Well, do whatever makes you happy of course, but that just seems like such a cookie cutter life style. I'd rather color outside of the lines.

@BTBAMlol people like to go to school and get job and marry and have a family it is meaningful to them

This song makes me want to cry. Life is so meaningless sometimes: you go to school, get a job, go to college, get married, then you die. How can someone live that way and not be cynical? All these things that add up and make us tick...

"Oh how you've grown so cynical, hard lines carved in your face."

The struggle I have is fitting such a philosophy into larger society, nearly impossible the way things are currently. The bright side is that society is quickly evolving due to mass communication. The world is getting smaller. People's worlds are getting bigger. Likewise, their perspective is broadening. Philosophers and artists like Conor are making more of a difference than ever before.

@The1Modern1Machine I don't see it as a struggle anymore. I've come to accept it, to balance heart and mind. Objectively, existence at its most fundamental level is pointless cruelty. But my heart suppresses such realizations when I lay comfortably with my girlfriend or watch a child at play. I've learned to lose myself in fleeting feelings--to lie to myself... and there's nothing at all wrong with that. It's all any of us have in the end. There is no answer to be found, but I'm fine with that.

I feel the same way now. I agree with your point that existence at its most fundamental is pointless, but I guess I have always been trying to find meaning in the meaninglessness. The knowledge that this is the only life I will get makes me extremely happy, and the more I have thought about it the more I come to realize--The transience gives us a more meaningful experience and the meaninglessness gives us the freedom to do as we please. It is easy to look at the overwhelming darkness these ideas bring, but there is beauty on the other side. Like you mentioned, simple pleasures, when viewed through a lens of transience exemplify themselves. Life is MORE beautiful when you know this moment, right now, is the last "that moment" you'll get. Every action is simultaneously pointless and the most meaningful thing you will ever do. What we choose today, determines our future, and we better choose wisely because once that moment is gone, and once that choice is made, you can't go back.

I guess what this means to me is be generous with your praise and be cautious with your criticism, we're all here to increase the overall happiness in the world, and guide everyone towards the best possible life.

This reply is six years late, but six years gives lots of time to live and learn. :) I hope the last six years have been kind to you.

Much love,
TheModernMachine

More than likely the case, but dont start thinking you know it all... there might be a point to everything and we wont understand until we finish this sojourn...

just got home from the bright eyes concert....it was AMAZING...best concert ever! i love conor :) he's not only a great musician he's also a really nice guy...really natural :)

i've been driving to this on the freeway with windows down every morning this summer, try it if you get the chance :)

Makes you want to keep trying when you don't think you can possibly take another step. Thanks Conor for your voice and words.

@SugarIsMyDrug oh shut up. I am a big fan of Coldplay, but after their 3rd album, they started making poor songs ( in my opinion ). I dont have the "must" or the "duty "to like those new songs. Im still one of the biggest fans of the band and that doesnt mean im gonna love all the bullshit they are making now. Dont come with this shit moral lesson of yours in youtube. Im still one of the biggest fans.

I am in this struggle as I speak. After you fall in love and lose it, watch a family member be blown away into the cold wind of history, to see the absurdity in your own life -- Your day-to-day struggle for happiness, going to a monotonous job you can't escape, living your life simply to survive. Realizing all of this and still trying to smile, to be yourself, to not give up and become a cold cynic who has grown numb to the warmth that fills our bodies with every breath of life.

@SugarIsMyDrug Please stop talking about 'real fans' what does that even mean. If Bright Eyes, as great as they (especially conor) are, if they decided to write the worst songs ever, why should anyone be compelled to like them, just because they call themselves 'real fans'. I am by no means saying this is what Bright Eyes have done, yet again this album is incredible, but honestly, just shut up.

these lyrics explain my life.

this song is dedicated to one of conor oberst best friends, jim james, they would have conversations about budahh because jim was getting really into it, and one of the concepts of budahh is starting over with a clean slate, completly forgetting everything you might have learned or expericance and starting fresh....such a gorgeous song.

There is no such thing as "new" Bright Eyes people! It's the same band, making the same great music.

Conor Oberst was a fan of emo music as a kid, as said in interviews.

@mecantbreakdance You blow.

THE BEST SONG OF THE ALBUM

@theonlylonelymagi
mate, if you think emo kids listen to the cure nower days.... they are dummer than that, it's my chem and their rip offs or bust.

I was listening to the album after much anticipation and when this track came on I really felt like I was listening to Bright Eyes, amazing!

new bright eyes blows

sounds like coldplay

god this is so beautiful.