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.
Magic Bullet
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Magic
Magic
Magic
Ain't no magic bullet
Come from magic shell
No other way to put it
Ain't no way to solve a
Problem of the streets
With an itchy trigger finger
Servant of disease
I mean come on
Oh, come on
Hear it from the people
Read it in the press
Learn it at the steeple
Forget it in distress
Looking for salvation
Just a little help
But it never seemed to find me
I'm gonna take it for myself
I mean c'mon
Oh, come on
I mean c'mon
Come on
That low feeling starting to get to me
Need to find escape
So smoke, it fills the lungs
As drink corrupts the brain
And morals get confused
In a desperate mind
And there ain't no wrong or right
In a desperate time
But I know there's a solution
(I know there's a solution)
Deep within myself
But I ain't never gonna reach it
Without somebody's help
I mean a-come on
Oh, come on
I mean come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on
The song "Magic Bullet" by My Morning Jacket explores themes of desperation, the search for salvation, and the struggle to find a solution to personal struggles. The repeated chant of "magic" emphasizes a desire for something extraordinary that can provide a quick fix to problems. However, the lyrics assert that there is no magical solution that can come from external sources. The mention of a "magic shell" suggests the idea of expecting miracles or instant solutions without putting in the necessary effort.
The song suggests that problems cannot be solved through violence or aggressive actions. The line "No other way to put it, far as I can tell" emphasizes the singer's belief that there is no simple answer to the problems faced on the streets. The reference to an "itchy trigger finger" highlights the tendency to resort to violence when feeling oppressed, but it is portrayed as a futile and destructive approach that only perpetuates the cycle of suffering.
Amidst the struggle, the singer seeks salvation and assistance. They express frustration at the lack of help they have received, stating that salvation never seemed to find them. This leads to a feeling of self-reliance, where they decide to take matters into their own hands. The acknowledgment that there is a solution "deep within myself" suggests a belief in personal agency and the power to overcome challenges, but it is also tempered by the realization that help from others may be necessary.
Ultimately, "Magic Bullet" is a song that grapples with the complexities of seeking solutions and salvation in a troubled world. It highlights the futility of relying solely on external sources for answers, while also acknowledging the need for support from others in order to truly find resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no magic bullet
There is no easy solution
Come from magic shell
That can fix all the problems
No other way to put it
There's no other explanation
Far as I can tell
From what I can see
Ain't no way to solve a
There is no way to solve
Problem of the streets
The issues in the community
With an itchy trigger finger
By resorting to violence
Servant of disease
Being controlled by destructive influences
I mean come on
I'm trying to emphasize
Oh, come on
Oh, please
Hear it from the people
Listening to what others say
Read it in the press
Reading about it in the media
Learn it at the steeple
Hearing it from religious leaders
Forget it in distress
Forgetting it when faced with difficulties
Looking for salvation
Searching for redemption
Just a little help
Just some assistance
But it never seemed to find me
But it never came my way
I'm gonna take it for myself
I will find it on my own
That low feeling starting to get to me
Feeling down is starting to affect me
Need to find escape
I need to find a way out
So smoke, it fills the lungs
Using smoking as a coping mechanism
As drink corrupts the brain
As alcohol affects my thinking
And morals get confused
And my sense of right and wrong becomes blurred
In a desperate mind
In a state of desperation
And there ain't no wrong or right
And there is no clear distinction between good and bad
In a desperate time
In a time of desperation
But I know there's a solution
But I believe there is a way out
(I know there's a solution)
(I am aware that there is a solution)
Deep within myself
Within my inner self
But I ain't never gonna reach it
But I will never be able to reach it
Without somebody's help
Without assistance from someone else
Come on
Let's go
Get it together
Bring everything together
Come on
Let's go
Get it together
Bring everything together
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pour Guy
Pretty sure they just wanted to please EVERYONES taste on this album, and I believe they nailed it!!
Bill Bill
Possibly my favorite song on the new album, but too early to say for certain. Loving the album more and more with each listen.
kevin valde
Es lo mejor que allá lanzado algo nuevo, genuino...
Max Loads
This song was released as a single before. But glad it got an album to call home. It’s a classic.
Isaías Mora Quiroz
This one could have been part of "evil urges".
Tanveer
Or even Z
Ɍob Broski
This is incredibly good.
Celia Alcantar
So intricate and that underlying beat - love it
Kara Cox
I’m an all genre music lover. My grow children played this for me on vacation while chilling in a hammock and I almost lost it. I don’t want it to end. Musical GENIUS ‼️💓‼️ I don’t have the words!
Troy Suza
One of the best tracks off the new album. It slaps. Its grooves. It has a great message.