Outta My System
My Morning Jacket Lyrics


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They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn't listen
Never thought id get caught and wind up in prison
Chalk it up to youth but young age I ain't dissin'
I guess I just had to get it out of my system
Outta my system, outta my system
Oh lord I'd never do it now
I know what I ain't missin'
Glad I went and got it all out of my system
The lust of youth versus marriage and security
Im glad im here now, but just between you and me
I had to get out and make the deals
And learn to know how it feels but that it ain't real
Outta my system, outta my system

There's a way to have it all you know I ain't kidding
Some things I know I'll never get out of my system
If you don't live now, you ain't even tryin'
And then you're on your way to a mid-life crisis
Live it out, any way you feel
You can feel it in your bones, but try to deny it
Wipe it off your face but your eyes won't hide it
You knew it all along, but never made it clear

They told me not to steal cars, but I wouldn't listen
Never thought I'd get caught and wind up in prison
Chalk it up to young age- but youth I ain't dissin'
I guess I just had to get it out of my system
Outta my system, outta my system
Oh lord I'd never do it now




I know what I ain't missin'
Glad I went and got it all out of my system

Overall Meaning

The My Morning Jacket song Outta My System tells the story of the singer's rebellious youth and the mistakes they made along the way. The opening lines speak of the singer's defiance of authority, choosing to ignore warnings about the dangers of drugs and stealing cars. They believed they were invincible and that they wouldn't get caught, but eventually, they found themselves in prison. Despite this setback, the singer doesn't regret their past actions, and they view their youth as a time to experiment and learn.


As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their life choices and contrasts their past with the present. They acknowledge that they have changed and that they are now happy with their life. They are no longer chasing the thrill of youth and instead focus on marriage and stability. However, they also realize the importance of living in the moment and not letting life pass them by. They encourage listeners to embrace life, take risks, and not worry about the future.


The chorus, "Outta my system, outta my system" is a refrain that serves as a reminder to the singer of their past experiences. It represents their desire to move on from their wild youth and embrace their current life. The song's message is hopeful and optimistic, encouraging listeners to learn from their mistakes and live life to the fullest.


Line by Line Meaning

They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn't listen
Despite being warned against using drugs, I ignored the advice.


Never thought id get caught and wind up in prison
I never considered the consequences of my actions and ended up in jail as a result.


Chalk it up to youth but young age I ain't dissin'
While I can attribute my mistakes to being young, I'm not going to dismiss the fact that they were still mistakes.


I guess I just had to get it out of my system
I had to go through these experiences in order to move on and grow from them.


Outta my system, outta my system
I'm relieved to have left these experiences behind me.


Oh lord I'd never do it now
I've learned my lesson and wouldn't repeat those mistakes again.


I know what I ain't missin'
I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by choosing to avoid those past behaviors.


The lust of youth versus marriage and security
Balancing the desire for adventure and excitement with the need for stability and commitment.


Im glad im here now, but just between you and me
I'm happy with where I am in life, but I still carry some regret about my past actions.


I had to get out and make the deals
I had to explore certain things and take risks to learn about the world.


And learn to know how it feels but that it ain't real
I had to experience certain things to understand them, but I also recognize that some of those experiences aren't reflective of reality.


There's a way to have it all you know I ain't kidding
It's possible to enjoy life and have fulfilling experiences without engaging in harmful or illegal behaviors.


Some things I know I'll never get out of my system
While I've moved on from certain past actions, I still carry a lasting impression or memory of them.


If you don't live now, you ain't even tryin'
It's important to take advantage of life and live it to the fullest while you can.


And then you're on your way to a mid-life crisis
If you spend your life constantly avoiding risk or excitement, you may regret it later on.


Live it out, any way you feel
Experience life in your own way and do what feels right to you.


You can feel it in your bones, but try to deny it
You may have an instinct or desire to do something, but you try to suppress it or ignore it.


Wipe it off your face but your eyes won't hide it
You may try to pretend that you don't want something or that you're not affected by it, but deep down it still shows.


You knew it all along, but never made it clear
You may have had an inkling of what you really wanted, but didn't fully acknowledge it until later on.


They told me not to steal cars, but I wouldn't listen
Just like with drugs, I ignored warnings against stealing cars.


Glad I went and got it all out of my system
I'm grateful to have had those experiences and learned from them, but I'm also happy to have left them behind.




Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jim Edward Olliges Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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D Ringo


on Librarian

Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message

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