Milk Thistle

Album: Conor Oberst (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Mike Norris of MTV News asked Oberst about the significance of the name "Milk Thistle." He replied: "That's an herbal supplement you take for liver protection. That's where it comes from. It's to promote liver health."
  • In the same MTV interview, Mike Norris asked if the lyric, "If I go to heaven, I'll be bored as hell," is an ongoing thing of not worrying about what happens next. Oberst responded: "Yeah, I guess the logical problem with the idea of heaven [is that] you can't really have infinite eternal goodness, 'cause you wouldn't understand it."
  • Oberst told The Sun newspaper August 1, 2008: "I occasionally get worried about my physical constitution and I had a very sweet tour manager one day that showed up with a bottle of milk thistle. He said: 'You're fine but take this and it will help you stop worrying.' I think it has a lot of healing qualities, particularly for the liver."

Comments: 1

  • Martina from Ottawa, OnAt a concert, he said "this song is about drinking yourself to death" right before he sang this.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.