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.
Dancefloors
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There ain't nothing glowin'
Like the skin you're showin'
And the keys you gave to me
Nightjails, poolhalls, some things are everywhere
So for the past im diggin' a grave so big
It will swallow up the sea
That it's easy
There's no trouble waitin' for me
Dancefloors, headlights, in my blood there's gasoline
For an urban boy on a dirty tour I never felt so clean
Loaded questions in an automatic world
You just wont be seein'
The things you need
As if you thought you would
Oh I know
It's never easy
When there's trouble waitin' for me
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's "Dancefloors" touch upon themes of love, yearning, and navigating the complexities of relationships. In the opening lines of the song, the singer describes the passing of time, asserting that nothing shines quite like the skin of the person they desire. This individual has given them "keys" which could represent many things – emotional access, access to their home – but either way, there is a level of intimacy and trust that has been established between the two.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the various spaces they find themselves in. Whether it's nightclubs or pool halls, there are certain experiences and norms that are expected in these spaces. In contrast to this, the singer imagines digging a grave so large it could "swallow up the sea" – a metaphor for transcending the mundane and the everyday. However, the singer acknowledges that trouble is always looming, and that it's never easy to navigate the various challenges life throws at them.
Overall, the song presents a complex meditation on desire and the human experience. It suggests that even in the midst of darkness and chaos, there are moments of clarity and transcendence to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Daybreak, nightfall, long as I believe
No matter what time of day it is, as long as I believe in you, everything is fine.
There ain't nothing glowin', like the skin you're showin', and the keys you gave to me
Nothing else shines as brightly as your skin and the trust you've given me.
Nightjails, poolhalls, some things are everywhere
Trouble seems to be everywhere, including places like jails and poolhalls.
So for the past I'm diggin' a grave so big, it will swallow up the sea
I'm trying to bury my past so deep that nothing can bring it back, no matter how vast.
Oh I know, that it's easy, there's no trouble waitin' for me
I know it may seem easy, but there's always trouble lurking around the corner.
Dancefloors, headlights, in my blood there's gasoline
The thrill of being on the dancefloor, with the headlights shining, pumps me up as if I have gasoline in my blood.
For an urban boy on a dirty tour, I never felt so clean
Even though I'm from the city and surrounded by dirt, I feel cleansed on this journey.
Loaded questions in an automatic world, you just won't be seein' the things you need as if you thought you would
The world is too focused on material things and immediate gratification, making it difficult to see what's truly important.
Oh I know, it's never easy, when there's trouble waitin' for me
I understand that it's never easy when I know that trouble is just waiting for me.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Jim Edward Olliges R.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message