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.
It Makes No Difference
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't get over you and the flame still burns
It makes no difference, night or day
The shadow never seems to fade away
And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door, now there's no love
As true as the love that dies untold
It makes no difference how far I go
Like a scar the hurt will always show
It makes no difference who I meet
They're just a face in the crowd on a dead-end street
And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door
These old love letters, well, I just can't keep
'Cause like the gambler says
Read 'em and weep
And the dawn don't rescue me no more
Without your love I'm nothing at all
Like an empty hall, it's a lonely fall
Since you've gone it's a losing battle
Stampeding cattle, they rattle the walls
And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door
Well, I love you so much
It's all I can do
Just to keep myself from telling you
That I never felt so alone before
The song "It Makes No Difference" by My Morning Jacket is a melancholic tune that laments the feeling of heartbreak and loss. The song reflects on the memories of a relationship that once existed but has since ended. Regardless of the direction the singer turns, they can't seem to escape the constant reminder of their former lover, and the love that once was. The lyrics "It makes no difference where I turn, I can't get over you and the flame still burns" convey this idea that no matter where the singer goes, they can't forget the love they once shared. The shadow mentioned in the following line represents the lingering presence of this person, which never seems to fade away.
The second verse of the song encapsulates the feeling of hopelessness and despair after a breakup. The sun and dawn no longer provide comfort or relief, instead, the rains fall down on the singer's door signifying the perpetually gloomy atmosphere. The metaphor of the clouds hanging low implies that the singer is suffering from a deep sadness that overshadows everything else. The line "These old love letters, well, I just can't keep. 'Cause like the gambler says, read 'em and weep." further suggests the longing to hold on to the past but ultimately coming to terms with the fact that they must accept their fate and let go. The final lines, "Since you've gone it's a losing battle. Stampeding cattle, they rattle the walls." express the feelings of frustration and helplessness that come with trying to move on from a past love.
Line by Line Meaning
It makes no difference where I turn
No matter which direction I look, I cannot escape my feelings for you.
I can't get over you and the flame still burns
Despite my efforts, I am unable to move on from you and the passion between us remains strong.
It makes no difference, night or day
Time of day has no impact on how I feel about you.
The shadow never seems to fade away
The sadness and pain I experience because of our separation lingers and does not dissipate.
And the sun don't shine anymore
Since you left, my life has been devoid of happiness and brightness.
And the rains fall down on my door, now there's no love
The rain symbolizes the sadness that surrounds me and the lack of love in my life.
As true as the love that dies untold
The love I have for you is as real as the love that goes unacknowledged and dies unsaid.
But the clouds never hung so low before
My despair has never been as deep as it is now.
It makes no difference how far I go
No matter how far I travel or how much distance I try to put between us, my feelings for you persist.
Like a scar the hurt will always show
The emotional pain I feel will never fully heal and will always leave a mark on me.
It makes no difference who I meet
I am not able to find solace or connection with anyone else.
They're just a face in the crowd on a dead-end street
Other people I encounter are merely anonymous passersby who add no value or meaning to my life.
These old love letters, well, I just can't keep
Reading old letters from you only intensifies the pain, so I cannot bear to hold onto them.
'Cause like the gambler says
Just like a gambler who has lost everything, I am left with nothing but regret and sorrow.
Read 'em and weep
Reading those letters only brings me to tears.
And the dawn don't rescue me no more
I used to find comfort in the first light of day, but now it brings me no relief from my pain.
Without your love I'm nothing at all
My life without you feels empty and meaningless.
Like an empty hall, it's a lonely fall
Without you, my life is devoid of companionship and love, and I feel like I am falling into a pit of loneliness.
Since you've gone it's a losing battle
Since you left, my efforts to be happy and find fulfillment have been fruitless and demoralizing.
Stampeding cattle, they rattle the walls
My struggles to move on and find closure are creating chaos and turmoil in my life.
Well, I love you so much
My love for you is immense and all-consuming.
It's all I can do
My love for you is so overwhelming that it is the only thing I can focus on or think about.
Just to keep myself from telling you
I am trying to resist the urge to confess my feelings to you, even though it would likely not change anything.
That I never felt so alone before
I am consumed with a sense of loneliness and despair that I have never experienced before.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
buddy O'keefe
Greatest ever....???... Really???.... I have a feeling there are at least 10 or 20 that we feel just as passionate about.... But because you just watched the video before your commented.... You get caught up in the emotion of how great that song is.... You just inspired me.... To think of the greatest rock and roll love songs... And that is about as gargantuan as any task I have ever taken on when it comes to music list.... Who knows.... When I'm done.... I may owe you an explanation.... If this beautiful number is still on top without anybody even tying it.... When my search has concluded???,.... I'll have to remember to come back to this page of comments...... So others can see it and comment.... Because you are not the only one who said it was the greatest...., Standing alone..... As the greatest love song / ballad ever..... To do a thorough job.... On such an important project.... I assume I'll put about 6 hours a day into this.... And be back to you around 2023..... Maybe 22 ???
PS. Without giving it more than about 45 seconds of thought.... I came up with a couple.... But I have no idea if they'll make the list or not?....
Melissa..... Allman Brothers
Clapton....... Wonderful Tonight
Elton..... Too many to list..
Your song & Tiny Dancer
Jerry.... To lay me down
Stones.... Wild horses
Reginald Turner
Robbie Robertson is right there with Bob Dylan as one of the greatest songwriters that ever lived but the original version by Rick Danko is untouchable, it's incredible his emotion!
Tim Law
so true about robbie. he is so far way up there in the pantheon and people just don't know it because he largely didn't sing (couldn't sing) his genius tunes. And the fact that he is apparently an incorrigible, petty human doesn't help. this song is exquisite.
Blayne Marlo
love this version. But for crying out loud. RICK DANKO sang his heart out on this tune!
sahn deeahgo
this is not a song you can make a run at. danko saw to that too many times
byknfyr
This was done not long after Levon had died you fucking idiot.
A Victor Bell
It's impossible to listen to this and not hear the pain in Rick Danko's voice and the sax played by Garth on the Last Waltz version
Make grown men cry every time
It's a brave band that takes this on and pulls it off so well
Jim Labos
Blayne Marlo I just said something similar on another video of Warren Haines doing it. This is a damn impossible song to do after hearing Danko do it. Shivers down my spine. But I have to give it to this version they capture the desperation quite well. If you ever try and do this tune you will find everyone in the band has to absolutely be into it and lose themselves in it. Otherwise it just fails. One of the most if not The Most beautiful songs ever.
Jakexx01
They did a great job of channeling a mixture of Rick Danko and their own life experience. I'll give them all the credit there is for NOT ignoring (as if one could) what Rick gave to this song. I think Rick would be shocked that there was ANY negative comments on this stunning live performance. Listen to the crowd's applause, that says it all.
Anthony Ervin
Greatest love song ever written. Just when you think you've heard one of the greatest lines ever written it just keeps coming back with another brilliantly written lyric. Absolutely astounding!!!
stratslngr
@buddy O'keefe with respect to all those songs you listed; great love songs every one. Still, this one here, sung by Danko is the best, but this version too, emotions just, man, can't explain it.