Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh

Album: Fevers and Mirrors (2000)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dealing with a relationship's end that has made claims of lifelong faithfulness invalidated, Connor Oberst may be at his emo-est on this track. The song's poetry is remarkable, and it both captures and inspires teenage heartbreak powerfully.
  • The arrangement is sparse. Oberst's lyrics draw on his recurring theme of linking the death of relationships with physical death: "thank you and hang up the phone, let the funeral start, hear the casket close. Let's pin split-black ribbon to your overcoat."

    His warbling, breathy voice over the acoustic guitar make it sound as though he and the band are in mourning. The song manages to accomplish what many Bright Eyes tracks thematically attempt: to put breakups and the end of love on the same scale as the end of life itself. Hence, the 'emo' for 'emotional' tag the band was stuck with for much of the 2000s.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.