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.
I Needed It Most
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was eighteen
But now that I'm older
I don't need many things
Just someone to hold
That's what you give me
When dark touches your skull baby
Ah, babe, you can drop that on me
So I say Lord
All the heavens you've made
Can't hold back the ghosts
That haunt my baby and me
Oh can't ye hold 'em back
From comin' on in
To a lovely woman
That just wants
Her mind back again
I cannot crumble
What you want this to be
Or bring peace of mind
If it ain't there to see
Ah, if you don't know yourself
How could you ever know me
But to have and to hold you
Yeah, that's the way its gotta be
In the song "I Needed It Most" by My Morning Jacket, the singer reflects on the things he needed when he was younger versus what he needs now. When he was eighteen, he needed something that he doesn't require anymore, but he does crave someone who can offer comfort and support. When his partner's mind is clouded and dark, the singer asks them to lean on him as he wants to be there for them. He acknowledges that the world can be a dark and scary place, and even though it can feel like they are being haunted by ghosts, they can't let it defeat them. The singer pleads with the Lord to hold back the ghosts that haunt his partner and him so that they can find peace.
The singer then acknowledges that he cannot make everything perfect or bring peace of mind if it's not present in the first place. He implores his partner to search themselves and know who they are first before they can understand each other better. The singer then emphasizes the importance of having and holding the love between them, saying that it's the only way they should be together.
The song beautifully portrays the idea that as we grow older, our needs and desires change, and we start to appreciate different things in life. It also emphasizes the importance of being there for your partner during tough times and supporting them when they need it most.
Line by Line Meaning
I needed it most
I needed your love the most when I was young and vulnerable
When I was eighteen
When I was at the beginning of my adulthood and full of insecurities
But now that I'm older
But now that I've matured, I don't need material possessions
I don't need many things
I only need someone to hold and support me
Just someone to hold
I crave physical affection and emotional support
That's what you give me
You provide the love and comfort that I need
When dark touches your skull baby
When you're going through a difficult time and feeling lost
Ah, babe, you can drop that on me
You can rely on me to be there for you and help you through it
So I say Lord
I pray to God
All the heavens you've made
All the beauty in the world you've created
Can't hold back the ghosts
Can't stop the troubles and worries that haunt me and my partner
That haunt my baby and me
That cause pain and distress for both of us
Oh can't ye hold 'em back
Can't you prevent these problems from affecting us
From comin' on in
From invading our happy moments and destroying our peaceful times
To a lovely woman
To my wonderful partner
That just wants
Who only desires
Her mind back again
To regain her peace of mind and clarity of thought
I cannot crumble
I cannot give in to your demands or expectations
What you want this to be
I cannot become the person you want me to be, I have to be myself
Or bring peace of mind
I cannot make you feel better or relaxed if that feeling isn't already there
If it ain't there to see
If the calmness and assurance you long for isn't present in yourself to begin with
Ah, if you don't know yourself
If you aren't aware of your own feelings and wishes
How could you ever know me
How could you hope to understand and know me in a deep way?
But to have and to hold you
But I'm committed to keeping you in my life and giving you my love and affection
Yeah, that's the way its gotta be
That's the only way forward and the truth of our relationship
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Jim Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Timmy Gun
I needed it most, when I was eighteen
But now that I'm older, I don't need many things
Just someone to hold, that's what you give me
When dark touches your skull babe, ah baby drop that on me
So I say Lord, all the heavens you've made
Can't hold back the ghosts, haunt my baby and me
Oh can't you hold 'em back, from comin' on in
To a lovely woman, just wants her mind back again
I will not crumble, what you want us to be
Or bring peace of mind, if it ain't there to see
Ah if you don't know yourself, how could you ever know me
But to have and to hold you, yeah that's the way it's gotta be
Timmy Gun
I needed it most, when I was eighteen
But now that I'm older, I don't need many things
Just someone to hold, that's what you give me
When dark touches your skull babe, ah baby drop that on me
So I say Lord, all the heavens you've made
Can't hold back the ghosts, haunt my baby and me
Oh can't you hold 'em back, from comin' on in
To a lovely woman, just wants her mind back again
I will not crumble, what you want us to be
Or bring peace of mind, if it ain't there to see
Ah if you don't know yourself, how could you ever know me
But to have and to hold you, yeah that's the way it's gotta be
james jeffers
I just bawled my eyes out to this. It happens so often with this song
Mike Quinlivan
I glanced at your comment; it's been awhile since I listened to this song. I thought "Whatever, man." Play....tears after the first two lines. Oof...kudos. You are dead on.
Rock n Roll Pizza Party
I’m not sure what compelled me to listen to My Morning Jacket this morning, but I recall loving this song 12-13 years ago when I was 18 years old. Crazy how music can instantly throw you back to old feelings you thought you had let go.
Nathan Wilburn
I love this song. Its fantastic.
Kapila
Listened to this a few years back on a mushroom trip. Cried like a baby. It was good for the soul.
Meredith Woodfin
this song is so beautiful!
james jeffers
Can some one delete all these negative comments, both pro and anti Jacket/this music? I love this song and this band so much and they've done nothing but become a positive force in the world.
Terry Sanity
I BLASTED THIS SONG DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME, ABOUT HALF WAY THREW IT I CLOSED MY EYES AND KEEP THEM SHUT...AFTER WHAT FELT LIKE A BUMP(CRASHED IN A DITCH) I WOKE TO FIND THE ALBUM WAS OVER AND THE AMBULANCE HAD JUST ARRIVED
Mike
what a masterpiece