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.
Librarian
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear the insects buzz and the leaves 'neath my feet
Ramble up the stairwell, into the hall of books
Since we got the interweb these hardly get used
Duck into the men's room, combing through my hair
When god gave us mirrors he had no idea
Looking for a lesson in the periodicals
There I spy you listening to the AM radio
Karen of the carpenters, singing in the rain
Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way
It's not like you're not trying, with a pencil in your hair
To defy the beauty the good lord put in there
Simple little bookworm, buried underneath
Is the sexiest librarian
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
So I watch you thru the bookcase, imagining a scene
You and I at dinner, spending time, then to sleep
And what then would I say to you, lying there in bed?
These words, with a kiss, I would plant in your head
"What is it inside our heads that makes us do the opposite?
Makes us do the opposite of what's right for us?
Cause everything'd be great, and everything'd be good
If everybody gave like everybody could"
Sweetest little bookworm
Hidden underneath
Is the sexiest librarian
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
Simple little beauty, heaven in your breath
The simplest of pleasures, the world at it's best
The song Librarian by My Morning Jacket tells the story of a man entering a library and spotting a woman who catches his eye. The first verse sets the scene as the singer walks towards the library and hears the insects buzz and leaves rustle beneath his feet. He enters the library and remarks that the books hardly get used since the advent of the internet. The lyrics then take a personal turn as he heads to the restroom to tidy up his hair, using mirrors that he describes as having been given to us by God with no idea of their potential for vanity.
In the second verse, he looks for a lesson in the periodicals and manages to spot the woman of his affections listening to the AM radio. The reference to Karen Carpenter sets the timeframe of this song in the early 1970s when she was at the height of her popularity. The singer laments the pressure put on women to fit unrealistic beauty standards, using the metaphor of a "simple little bookworm" who has the potential to be a "sexy librarian" if only she would let her hair down and ditch her glasses.
Finally, the third verse takes the listener into a dream sequence where the singer imagines himself at a dinner party with the woman from the library, wondering what he would say to her in bed. He imagines himself planting a kiss on her head and telling her that the world would be a better place if people would give as much as they could. The closing lines affirm the idea that even the smallest pleasures in life can be heavenly.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk across the courtyard, towards the library
I am walking towards the library through the courtyard.
I can hear the insects buzz and the leaves 'neath my feet
I can hear the insects buzzing and the leaves rustling beneath my feet as I walk.
Ramble up the stairwell, into the hall of books
I climb the stairwell and enter the hall of books.
Since we got the interweb these hardly get used
Since we have the internet, these books are hardly being used.
Duck into the men's room, combing through my hair
I go to the men's room and run my hand through my hair.
When god gave us mirrors he had no idea
God did not have any idea about how harmful mirrors can be for humans.
Looking for a lesson in the periodicals
I am looking for a lesson in the periodicals.
There I spy you listening to the AM radio
I see you listening to the AM radio.
Karen of the carpenters, singing in the rain
Karen, who belongs to the carpenters, is singing in the rain.
Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way
She is another victim of mirrors which create a false sense of beauty.
It's not like you're not trying, with a pencil in your hair
You are trying to look good by keeping a pencil in your hair.
To defy the beauty the good lord put in there
You are trying hard to go against the natural beauty bestowed upon you by God.
Simple little bookworm, buried underneath
You may seem like an ordinary booklover, but you are hiding a great personality within you.
Is the sexiest librarian
You, the bookworm, are the most attractive librarian.
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
Remove your glasses and let down your hair to reveal your beauty.
So I watch you thru the bookcase, imagining a scene
I watch you through the bookcase and imagine a beautiful scene.
You and I at dinner, spending time, then to sleep
I envision us having dinner, spending time with each other, and then sleeping.
And what then would I say to you, lying there in bed?
If we were lying in bed, then I would say something to you.
These words, with a kiss, I would plant in your head
I would kiss you and say these words to you.
"What is it inside our heads that makes us do the opposite?
I wonder what makes us go against our own self-interests?
Makes us do the opposite of what's right for us?
Why do we do things that harm us despite knowing it?
Cause everything'd be great, and everything'd be good
Everything would be perfect and good.
If everybody gave like everybody could"
If everyone gave their best, then life would be better for everyone.
Sweetest little bookworm
You are the sweetest bookworm.
Hidden underneath
Your personality is hidden beneath your outward appearance.
Is the sexiest librarian
You, with all your qualities, are the most attractive librarian.
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
Remove your glasses and let down your hair for me to see.
Simple little beauty, heaven in your breath
You may seem simple, but to me you are like heaven with your breath.
The simplest of pleasures, the world at it's best
Enjoying simple pleasures is the best thing in the world.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message
@janeadelaidelennox7193
I fall in love a little every time i hear this song.
@adrianramos4387
💪♏
@charlesslim1601
♡.
¿Are you on IG by any chance?>.<
@fupamaster22
The only thing that I knew about them before I saw them live was based on an American Dad episode. They are pretty amazing live!
@lancethomas6204
I feel like all these views are just me. Dreamin bout a beauty at the library.
@ianlusignan6512
If everybody gave, like everybody could...
@bleedlakerspng
"When God gave us mirrors, he had no idea"
LMAO...Classic lyric
@debbieallen2
INCREDIBLE SONG
@salriiight
Librarian day here in Argentina. Such valuable job, hardly recognized these days.