The band's moniker comes from a discarded coat James saw while walking through the remains of his favorite bar the morning after it burned down. The coat had the letters "MMJ" embroided on it. The band has released seven albums so far: "The Tennessee Fire" (1999), "At Dawn" (2001), "It Still Moves" (2003), "Z" (2005), "Evil Urges" (2008), "Circuital" (2011) & "The Waterfall" (2015). The band's breakthrough came when their 2003 single "One Big Holiday" became one of the most played songs on college radio that year. 2008's "I'm Amazed" was also a sizable hit, peaking at #6 on Billboard's Triple A (adult album alternative) Singles chart.
The Circuital songfacts reports that "Circuital" was recorded inside a church’s converted gymnasium in the band's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Said frontman Jim James: “I hate the phrase ‘going back to our roots’, but for this record we came home and made it in Kentucky. And it just felt a lot like it did when we were first starting out.”
James co-produced the record with Tucker Martine. The pair first worked together when James appeared on Laura Veirs ' album "July Flame" in 2010, which Martine, Veirs’ husband, also produced.
My Morning Jacket guest stared in the American Dad Episode "My Morning Straitjacket" where Stan Smith becomes obsessed with them and decides to become a groupie. The edisode was first aired November 22 2009.
Butch Cassidy
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
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And rode with you and the Sundance Kid
We'd laugh awhile and we'd smile a bit
'Cause crimes like ours aren't counterfeit
They say you never even killed a man
Till it came right down to your final stand
Bullets flyin' and the wounded cryin'
Get lower and the feelin's showin
And you gave off the final sound
'Cause a soldier's death is so much better than
Defeat just hangin' around. Defeat just hangin' around
The lyrics of My Morning Jacket's Butch Cassidy are a reflection on the romanticized portrayal of outlaws and the consequences of their actions. The song is inspired by the infamous American bank and train robber named Butch Cassidy, who was known for being charismatic and having a Robin Hood-like character. The songwriter, Jim James, imagines what it would have been like to be friends with him and ride with him and his partner, The Sundance Kid.
The chorus is a reflection on the tragic end of their story and Cassidy's final stand against the authorities. The feelings of desperation and the sound of gunfire are portrayed as he goes down with his friend. The lyrics suggest that Cassidy would rather die fighting than be captured and face defeat. The song compares his death to that of a soldier who died for something they believed in rather than a defeatist who settled for less than they deserved.
In summary, the lyrics of Butch Cassidy by My Morning Jacket are a reflection on the romanticism of outlaws and the consequences of their actions. The song imagines what it would have been like to be friends with the notorious bank and train robber and reflects on the tragedy of his final stand against the authorities.
Line by Line Meaning
Butch Cassidy, I could've been your friend
I empathize with Butch Cassidy and could have easily been his friend
And rode with you and the Sundance Kid
I would have joined Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on their adventures
We'd laugh awhile and we'd smile a bit
We would have enjoyed life and all its experiences to the fullest
'Cause crimes like ours aren't counterfeit
We know what we are doing is illegal, but we do not feel guilty about it.
They say you never even killed a man
Rumors say that Butch Cassidy never killed a man himself
Till it came right down to your final stand
Until the final moment when he had to defend himself against his enemies.
Bullets flyin' and the wounded cryin'
The chaos of battle and the pain that comes with it
And your buddy, he's goin' down
Sadly, Butch Cassidy's friend is dying in the fight
Get lower and the feelin's showin
As the end approaches, Butch Cassidy's emotions start to come to the surface
And you gave off the final sound
The last noise in the fight comes from Butch Cassidy
'Cause a soldier's death is so much better than
In Butch Cassidy's mind, dying in battle is a more honorable way to go
Defeat just hangin' around. Defeat just hangin' around
Butch Cassidy would rather die fighting than be captured and spend years in jail in defeat
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIM JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message