SONGWRITERS SERIES

Here are glimpses of the world as seen through a songwriter's young and questioning eyes.

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Selected clips include commentary by Robert Hilburn.

1. 2005. From Oberst's upcoming acoustic album, this feels as sacred as a confession booth; a brilliant portrait of a young couple battling destructive ways.

2. 2005.Oberst isn't the first songwriter to explain the reasons behind all our restlessness, but he may just do it betterthan anyone. The rhythm of the road and the rails gloriously punctuates every second of this song, which too is due in the Januaryalbum.

3. 2002. There's not much melody to back the freewheelin' imagery and Oberst's earnest vocal, but there's triumph in the way the song presents the voice of youth demanding to be heard.

4. 2002. The folk backing again is minimal, but the power of Oberst's vision is engulfing as he touches on questions of faith, love and salvation. "I could do good with some explaining," he sings. "You know I want to understand."

5. 2002. There's a tambourine man lightness to the arrangement at the start, but things get darker quickly as Oberst struggles to find reasons to believe in a world that sometimes denies those reasons exist. One key line: "Meanwhile a coroner kneels beneath a great, wooden crucifix. / He knows that there are worse things than being alone."