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.
Masterplan
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I been workin' on it from the start
Pluggin' in all of the numbers
Watchin' it on all of the charts
Just cause it starts off slow babe
Doesn't mean it don't have a heart
You'll be walkin' 'round showin' off someday
And it'll take you right back to the start
It's everything that you want babe
It's everything that you need
Soft and warm all the time
Make you want it over and over
Strong on the horizon, but ends up bein really so sweet
Oh so sweet
Sometimes I wanna lay down babe
Sometimes I wanna stand up and fight
Sometimes it runs its course in a day
Sometimes it goes for night after night
Know that it will start off strong babe
And it will end up weak in the end
Just like the heart you break of a love babe
Just like the hand you take of a friend
It's everything that you want babe
It's everything that you need
Soft and warm all the time, make you want it over and over
Strong on the horizon, but ends up bein really so sweet
Oh so sweet
In "Masterplan," My Morning Jacket’s lead singer Jim James sings about having a master plan that he has been working on from the start. He talks about plugging in numbers and watching them on charts. James is likely referring to a plan for his life or career, something that he has been putting effort into and watching grow. He urges listeners not to be discouraged if something starts off slow, stating that sometimes things take time to build momentum.
As the song continues, James refers to the master plan as being everything that a person wants and needs. He describes it as soft, warm, and sweet, yet strong on the horizon. James recognizes that sometimes he wants to give up and other times he wants to fight. The master plan may not always have a clear path or timeline, as sometimes it starts off strong and ends up weak. James draws a parallel between the master plan and the hand of a friend, a love that breaks your heart, or anything that may appear strong from the start but eventually fizzles out.
Overall, the song reads as a message of hope and perseverance. James urges his listeners to stick to their goals, recognizing that they may take time to build and may not always follow a clear path. In the end though, he believes that the master plan will prove to be everything that one wants and needs.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a master plan babe
I have a detailed plan, my love
I been workin' on it from the start
I've been putting effort into it since the beginning
Pluggin' in all of the numbers
Calculating all the details
watchin' it on all of the charts
Monitoring it on all the graphs and records
Just 'cause it starts off slow, babe
Even if it begins modestly or slowly, my dear
Doesn't mean it don't have a heart
It still has soul and emotion within it
You'll be walkin round showin off someday
One day, you'll flaunt it around
And it'll take you right back to the start
Leading you back to the beginning
It's everything that you want babe
It's all you desire, my love
It's everything that you need
It's all that you require
Soft and warm al the time
Tender and comforting always
make you want it over and over
You'll crave it repeatedly
Strong on the horizon
Powerful, looming ahead
But ends up bein' really so sweet, oh so sweet
But ultimately turns out to be charming and delightful
Sometimes I wanna lay down babe
At times, I want to rest, my love
Sometimes I wanna stand up and fight
Sometimes I want to be strong and battle
Sometimes it runs its course in a day
Sometimes it's over soon
Sometimes it goes for night after night
Other times, it persists night after night
Know that it will start off strong, babe
Understand that its kickoff will be robust, my love
And it will end up weak in the end
However, it will finish diluted and powerless
Just like the heart you break of a love babe
Just like the heart you shatter, my love
Just like the hand you take of a friend
Just like the hand you seize from a companion
It's everything that you want, babe
It's all you desire, my love
It's everything that you need
It's all that you require
Soft and warm all the time
Tender and comforting always
Make you want it over and over
You'll crave it repeatedly
Strong on the horizon
Powerful, looming ahead
But ends up bein really so sweet, oh so sweet
But ultimately turns out to be charming and delightful
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Jim Edward Olliges Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jess1234
I've got a master plan babe
I been workin on it from the start
Pluggin' in all of the numbers
watchin' it on all of the charts
Just 'cause it starts off slow, babe
Doesn't mean it don't have a heart
You'll be walkin round showin off someday
And it'll take you right back to the start
It's everything that you want babe
It's everything that you need
Soft and warm al the time
make you want it over and over
Strong on the horizon
But ends up bein' really so sweet, oh so sweet
Sometimes I wanna lay down babe
Sometimes I wanna stand up and fight
Sometimes it runs its course in a day
Sometimes it goes for night after night
Know that it will start off strong, babe
And it will end up weak in the end
Just like the heart you break of a love babe
Just like the hand you take of a friend
It's everything that you want, babe
It's everything that you need
Soft and warm all the time
Make you want it over and over
Strong on the horizon
But ends up bein really so sweet, oh so sweet
@squidgyness
How have people managed not to listen to this song? Pure awesome.
@snakecat586
this band needs to be everywhere
@emiliacanet9960
This album has brought me through much heartache n trials.now 2024 listening forever San Francisco
@Jess1234
Underrated song of all time
@mannymacias1634
I freakin love this song! I heard it here for the first time.
@ehsan13671
2020 and still listen to this masterpiece
@thedude9461
Ya ppl be sleeping on MMJ
@katietherosebaxter
This song is so beautiful it hurts me.
@vincentmiller.2558
first time to hear this on my 51st birthday..its everything you want babe
@saulstar5203
best live band lve ever seen n been partying for 40 yrs now