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.
Climbing The Ladder
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still paying my dues
Don't wanna be headed anywhere, though
Except back to you
Don't know where I'm going
Don't know where I'm from
Can't hold onto anything, really
If it's already gone
Still climbing the ladder
Still paying my dues
Don't wanna get anywhere, really
Except back to you
Held on for so long
But now that it's gone, gone, gone
Still searching for something to replace it
Held out for too long
No one can believe it
Think it's for somebody else
But all of the hardest lessons
You gotta learn for yourself
Still climbing the ladder
Still paying my dues
Don't wanna get anywhere, really, yeah, yeah
Except back to you
Held out for so long
But now that it's gone, gone, gone
Still searching
Still searching
Still searching, yeah
Still searching
Held out for too long
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song "Climbing The Ladder" convey a sense of longing and yearning to return to a familiar and comforting place. The singer speaks of their continuous journey, still striving and working hard, paying their dues. However, they express no desire to be headed anywhere new or to achieve any specific goals. The only destination they truly crave is to be back with someone they hold dear, someone they are deeply connected to.
The lyrics emanate a feeling of uncertainty and confusion. The singer admits to not knowing where they are going or where they came from, as if they have lost their sense of direction and identity. They feel unable to hold onto anything that has already slipped away, indicating a sense of loss and longing for what they had before. The repetitive line "Still climbing the ladder, still paying my dues" emphasizes the ongoing struggle and effort, suggesting that the singer is persistently trying to find their way back to that special someone and recapture what they have lost.
The lyrics also imply that the singer held onto something for a significant amount of time, but now that it's gone, they find themselves searching for something to replace it. They held out for too long, perhaps hoping that what they lost would return or thinking they could endure the pain. They express the difficulty in accepting that some lessons in life can only be learned through personal experience, causing disbelief from others who may perceive their struggle as something meant for someone else.
In summary, "Climbing The Ladder" is a song about a person's relentless journey and continuous effort to find their way back to a loved one. It explores themes of longing, loss, uncertainty, and the difficulty of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Still climbing the ladder
Continuously striving for success and advancement in life
Still paying my dues
Continuing to fulfill obligations and take responsibility for my actions
Don't wanna get anywhere, really
Not seeking external achievements or recognition, but rather focused on personal connections and relationships
Except back to you
Desiring a return to a specific person or relationship that holds great value
Held on for so long
Maintained determination and commitment for an extended period
But now that it's gone, gone, gone
Now that what was cherished and valued has disappeared completely
Still searching for something to replace it
Continuing the quest for a substitute or alternative to fill the void
Held out for too long
Persisted in waiting or holding on for an excessive duration
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nothing Matters
When I hear this song, I imagine myself at a My Morning Jacket show dancing my ass off post-pandemic. I'm really looking forward to that day.
nCalzolaio
This song live will cure Covid.
Branden Bowman
Me too mate!
Paul Keevil
This album seems so grounded, natural ,flowing between different styles seamlessly. Can’t stop listening to it.
Paloma Jagger
this is my favorite song from the album!!!!! a love it!!! 🥰😍
M. Kubo
Seriously , just now was thinking, “what ever happened to MMJ.” So pleasantly surprised to find this recently released gem of an album. On first listen like all the songs so far!
Federico Nicolás Moreira
This band has an infinite potential to do amazing and astonishing things ♥ Thanks Jim and company for your music, from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hope in some years you'll come down here at South America...
Jessica O'Bryan
I love the change of tempo and how expressive the music is
michael6186
My fave of the new Jacket tunes. The guitar riff is one of their best.
Leon
I couldnt believe it but here i am life is so sync listen to the first album couple weeks ago and now this comes out.