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.
In Its Infancy
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
The idea was always there, in its infancy
The seed took root, over many years
An idea crawls before it walks
And as it walks, it learns to run
And as it runs, it fears its fall
The waterfall, can it be stopped?
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again I stop the waterfall by simply thinking
Again I stop the waterfall before my breathing
Again I stop the waterfall by finally feeling
Again I stop the waterfall by just believing
Again I stop the waterfall by simply thinking
Again I stop the waterfall before my breathing
Again I stop the waterfall by finally feeling
Again I stop the waterfall by just believing
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
Again
The idea was always there, in its infancy
The seed took root, over many years
The repetition of "Again" in My Morning Jacket's song In Its Infancy is meant to emphasize the cyclical nature of the creative process. The idea "was always there, in its infancy," suggesting that the spark of inspiration has been present from the beginning, yet it takes time for it to grow and develop into something tangible, just like a seed takes root over many years. The line "an idea crawls before it walks" suggests that creativity takes time and patience, as it must first learn to take small steps before it can run. This is also reinforced by the line "and as it runs, it fears its fall," suggesting that even when an idea is fully formed and successful, there is always the risk of failure.
However, the song offers a solution to this risk of failure in the repeated lines "Again I stop the waterfall." This metaphorical waterfall represents the overwhelming flow of creativity and the fear of failure, but the singer is able to stop it through a combination of thinking, breathing, feeling, and believing. This speaks to the power of the mind and the importance of persistence and self-belief in the creative process.
Overall, In Its Infancy is a powerful reminder of the complexities of the creative process and the struggles that come with it, as well as the ability to overcome those struggles through perseverance and self-trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Again
Repetition of the process of creation
Again
Repetition of the same thought process
Again
Continued iteration of the same idea
Again
Repeating the process of development
Again
Continual exploration of the idea
Again
Returning to the beginning of the process
Again
Starting over with the same idea
Again
Recurrence of the creative cycle
Again
Continued effort to attain perfection with the idea
Again
Repeated attempts to manifest the idea
The idea was always there, in its infancy
The origins of the idea are humble and simple
The seed took root, over many years
The idea became more complex and developed over time
An idea crawls before it walks
The idea requires a period of nurturing
And as it walks, it learns to run
The idea gains momentum as it evolves
And as it runs, it fears its fall
The idea faces challenges and obstacles
The waterfall, can it be stopped?
The progress of the idea can be impeded by external forces
Again I stop the waterfall by simply thinking
The idea can be halted by changing one's perspective
Again I stop the waterfall before my breathing
The idea can be controlled through mindfulness
Again I stop the waterfall by finally feeling
The idea can be realized through emotional investment
Again I stop the waterfall by just believing
The idea can be made a reality through faith and conviction
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Mullis
My Morning Jacket is such a gem in an age where "rock bands" are something of a dying art form.
cj4ebay
***** absolutely. A true modern rock band.
ryan frye
And this is such a badass song I play it on repeat
Gerardo Mejia Enciso
Whenever I feel like I haven't accomplished anything or that something is getting in my way, I always come back to this song... It's so powerful! Love it!
Again, I stopped the waterfall by just believin!
Miss Winter
I remember hearing this for the first time in my car full-blast. I wasn't expecting to have my mind blown like that!
Yozuuru.
exactly same !!!!!!!!!
JohnEdward Kerr
I hope you got the point.
GeoAl09
I've been hooked to this song for the last 2 weeks. I absolutely love how it slows down after the "again" part and then it goes into the mid tempo part "an idea calls...". That part and the vocal harmonies are sooo catchy. Great sing along section
braxinIV
chills every time I hear it up and down my arm.
ChemicalswithLove
Truly a gift from heaven thank you Jim !!!!!