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.
Only Memories Remain
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
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Only memories remain
For a time, there by the sea
There was only you and me
In a land that time forgot
You uttered sweet forget-me-nots
And you know you never will
But sometimes life has other ideas
Now only memories remain
Only memories remain
Only memories remain
Only memories remain, yeah yeah
Only memories remain
The names and places have all been changed
But the identity remains the same
As time and space do what they will
The spirit, so vogue, can never be killed
Our earthly bodies will surely fall
But the love we share outlives us all
What's done is done at the end of the day
But still, those memories remain
Only memories remain, yeah yeah
Only memories remain
Only memories remain, yeah yeah
Only memories remain
Yeah, only remain, only remain, oh
Yeah, only remain, only remain, oh
Oh
Yeah, only remain, only remain, oh (Only memories remain)
Yeah, only remain, only remain, oh (Only memories remain, only memories remain)
Yeah, only remain, only remain, oh (Only memories remain, only memories remain)
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song Only Memories Remain are filled with nostalgia and melancholy as they recount a past love that is no longer present. The song is an ode to the memories and moments that are left behind after a relationship ends. It opens with the line "Only memories remain" repeated multiple times to emphasize the sole existence of the past.
The first verse describes a time when the singer and their former lover were together by the sea in a forgotten land where they exchanged endearments such as "sweet forget-me-nots." The second verse discusses how while the names and places may have changed, the love that they shared remains the same. The lyrics acknowledge that physical bodies are temporary, but the emotional and spiritual connection from the past cannot be erased.
The chorus repeats the phrase "only memories remain" to remind us that the present has moved on, but the past will always be with us. The ending of the song features the repetition of the line "only remain, only remain" to emphasize the finality of the situation as the relationship is over and only the memories left.
Overall, Only Memories Remain is a powerful song that illustrates how the past can affect the present and how memory can keep love alive even after it's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Only memories remain
The only lasting thing from our past is the memories we’ve created together.
For a time, there by the sea
We spent a period of time together by the sea.
There was only you and me
We were together, just the two of us.
In a land that time forgot
We were in a place where time didn't matter, a place outside of reality.
You uttered sweet forget-me-nots
You said words to make sure I would remember you.
And you know you never will
You know you won't forget me, as I won't forget you.
But sometimes life has other ideas
Life can change in unexpected ways and separate us.
And though we both know how much it meant
We both know how special our time together was.
Now only memories remain
Our time together is in the past, and only the memories are left behind.
The names and places have all been changed
The specifics of our memories may have faded or altered over time.
But the identity remains the same
The essence of our memories still hold true and remain with us.
As time and space do what they will
Over time, our relationship may change; we may be separated by space, but our memories are still ours to keep.
The spirit, so vogue, can never be killed
The feeling of our time together will never truly fade, even if it's not as strong as it once was.
Our earthly bodies will surely fall
We are mortal and our bodies will eventually die.
But the love we share outlives us all
The love we felt for each other will always last and is a legacy that transcends time.
What's done is done at the end of the day
We can't change our past, and what we had is something that cannot be repeated.
But still, those memories remain
Despite time and hardships, the memories we shared still bring us joy, comfort, and love.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message