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.
Isobella With the White Umbrella
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just wanting
Like a rambler from the edge of the garden (?)
On the can (?)
I′m sure... that's why call her
Isobella with the white umbrella
I′m sure
Where they found her, no she'll never tell ya
Should I go down to the
Corner store
Buy some medicine
March for the floor
Should I wind up in an
Old run down town
I don′t know
Should I come on the
Subway train
That′s why I call ya on the
Information train
That's why they call her
Isobella with the white umbrella
I′m sure
Isobella with the white umbrella
I know
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket’s song “Isobella With the White Umbrella” are quite abstract and open to interpretation, but at the core of the song seems to be a longing for connection and guidance. The singer seems lost and unsure of where to turn, considering lying on the sofa or going to the corner store for medicine, and wondering if he should take the subway or seek guidance from a person or entity referred to as Isobella with the white umbrella. Although he never explains who or what Isobella is, the repeated phrase suggests that she represents a source of safety or stability. The lyrics also imply that Isobella may have faced hardships or trauma in the past, as suggested by the line “where they found her, no she’ll never tell ya.”
The song seems to evoke a sense of alienation, but also hints at the possibility of finding a way forward. Even in considering the act of lying on the sofa, the singer betrays a restlessness or hunger for something more: “just wanting.” By framing his experiences in terms of longings and possibilities rather than despair, the song offers a glimmer of hope that the singer’s uncertainty is just a temporary state. Ultimately, “Isobella with the white umbrella” becomes a metaphor for the way that we can find guidance or hope even in the midst of confusion and difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I lie here on the corner sofa
I am contemplating staying stagnant and not taking any action in my current situation.
Just wanting
I am feeling a sense of longing or desire that I am unable to fulfill.
Like a rambler from the edge of the garden (?), on the can (?)
I feel lost and aimless, like someone wandering on the outskirts of society.
I'm sure... that's why call her Isobella with the white umbrella
The certainty of Isobella's presence and her white umbrella provides some comfort amidst the uncertainty and confusion.
Where they found her, no she'll never tell ya
Isobella is a mysterious figure, and the circumstances of her appearance or disappearance are unknown.
Should I go down to the corner store, buy some medicine, march for the floor
I am considering seeking out a remedy or solution to my current situation, which may involve taking action or advocating for myself.
Should I wind up in an old run down town, I don't know
I am uncertain about where my actions will lead me and what kind of environment I will end up in.
Should I come on the subway train, that's why I call ya on the information train
I am seeking guidance or direction from someone who may have more information or knowledge about my situation.
That's why they call her Isobella with the white umbrella, I'm sure
Isobella is a symbol of hope and guidance in a confusing and uncertain world.
Isobella with the white umbrella, I know
Isobella is a comforting presence in my life, and I feel a sense of certainty and safety when she is around.
Writer(s): James Edward Jr Olliges
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message