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.
Compound Fracture
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sound a warning of what's to come
If we ain't careful as to where we step
Paradise calling or untimely death
Compound fracture gotta set the bone
Wrap it up let it heal on its own
Don't walk on it, give it time to rest
There's no evil, there's no good
Only people doing as they should
There is life in love and sound
Get as much as you can keep around
'fore they put you into the ground
For who knows how long? (paradise calling)
How long? (paradise calling)
I know you're young, that's the time to learn
If we're too soft on you, you will get burned
Fill your skull with what you want
There's no evil, there's no good
Only people doing as they should
Or as they shouldn't in the light of day
God and the devil were made up anyway
But their meaning's so real and so plain
There is life in love and sound
Get as much as you can keep around
Before they put you into the ground
For who knows how long? (paradise calling)
How long? (paradise calling)
For who knows how long? (paradise calling)
How long? (paradise calling)
'Til the next go round
'Til the next go round
Compound fracture gonna ring the gong
And sound a warning of what's to come
If we ain't careful as to where we step
Paradise calling or untimely death
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song Compound Fracture serve as a warning to the listener about being mindful of their choices and actions, as they can lead to either paradise calling or untimely death. The "compound fracture" mentioned in the lyrics serves as a metaphor for the potential harm that can be caused by careless actions. The lyrics suggest taking the time to heal properly, rather than rushing back into potentially dangerous situations.
The song also touches on the concept of good and evil, suggesting that these labels are not fixed, but rather determined by individual actions. The lyrics encourage listeners to prioritize love and sound in their lives and to make the most of the time they have before they are "put into the ground." The repetition of the phrase "paradise calling" throughout the song suggests that the ultimate goal should be to strive for a form of paradise or contentment in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Compound fracture gonna ring the gong
There will be a loud warning signal of impending danger
And sound a warning of what's to come
There will be a clear alert of future troubles
If we ain't careful as to where we step
We need to be cautious about our choices and actions
Paradise calling or untimely death
One can either pursue happiness or face unforeseen peril
Compound fracture gotta set the bone
If we get hurt, we need to repair ourselves
Wrap it up let it heal on it's own
After being hurt, we must let time take its course for healing
Don't walk on it, give it time to rest
To enable recovery, we should avoid overexertion
There's no evil, there's no good
There are no inherent morals, only human choices
Only people doing as they should
People act out of free will with a sense of right or wrong
There is life in love and sound
Life is enriched by positive experiences and meaningful connections
Get as much as you can keep around
It is important to cherish and maintain joy and relationships
Before they put you into the ground
Before death, make the most of life's opportunities
I know you're young, that's the time to learn
Youth is the optimal time for learning and growth
If we're too soft on you, you will get burned
Excessive coddling can cause disadvantage later in life
Fill your skull with what you want
Fill your mind with ideas and knowledge that appeal to you
Or as they shouldn't in the light of day
People often act unethically while in plain sight
God and the devil were made up anyway
Religious concepts are human creations
But their meaning's so real and so plain
The impact of religious ideas is significant
For who knows how long? (paradise calling)
No one knows how much time they have left to pursue happiness
How long? (paradise calling)
Questioning how much time one has left to seek paradise
'Til the next go round
Until the next cycle or phase of life
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
scotttland62
Somebody should have done this long ago or have I overstepped my bounds?
Compound fracture gonna ring the gong
And sound a warning of what's to come
If we ain't careful as to where we step
Paradise calling or untimely death
Compound fracture gotta set the bone
Wrap it up let it heal on it's own
Don't walk on it, give it time to rest
There's no evil, there's no good
Only people doing as they should
There is life in love and sound
Get as much as you can keep around
Before they put you into the ground
For who knows how long (Paradise calling)
How long (Paradise calling)
I know you're young, that's the time to learn
If we're too soft on you, you will get burned
Fill your skull with what you want
There's no evil, there's no good
Only people doing as they should
Or as they shouldn't in the light of day
"God" and "The Devil" were made up anyway
But their meanings so real and so plain
There is life in love and sound
Get as much as you can keep around
Before they put you into the ground
For who knows how long (Paradise calling)
How long (Paradise calling)
For who knows how long (Paradise calling)
How long (Paradise calling)
Till the next go round and around
Till the next go round
Compound fracture gonna ring the gong
And sound a warning of what's to come
If we ain't careful as to where we step
Paradise calling or untimely death
Songwriters: James Edward Jr Olliges
Compound Fracture lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC
Raymond James
What a wonderful band this is
Thomas Fitzgerald
Wonderful the way I feel
dan Booth
I went to see them live yesteryear in support of the Waterfall album, their AMAZING live, they had The Dawes to support them
Lights Out Breaks
+Collin A. They're amazing. Been following them for years, and they never disappoint playing live. Compound Fracture is basically the only song I've listened to all week.
JR JR
Dig the message & meaning of this song. This is my favorite tune by them. I am hearing echoes of Gerry Rafferty.
Newton Natan Campos
Como eu amo essa música ❤
DetroitTechno
Utterly beautiful. What a masterful band. I fucking love them.
genehoke
Great song. This has old school, Marvin Gaye-esque vibes mixed with the sound of Jim James and his otherworldly voice wrapped up into a sound that can only be MMJ
ecoRfan
I was at that Red Rocks 2015 show. Simply epic! Glad to see this official music video was made at that show.
Jeremy Bjork
Sweet! What a great way to commemorate the Red Rocks show