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.
Spinning My Wheels
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Risking my life for the sake of the song
Stayed committed to the Holy Ghost
Even though the devil is who I needed most
I held white snow in the palm of my hand
And watched it turn back into water again
Just spinning my wheels
Just spinning my wheels
Gotta find a way out
A way out of here
Hypnotized by the city lights
Hypnotized by the countryside
Hypnotized from endless traveling
Hypnotized from doing the same old thing
Well, it don't matter where you settle down
And it sure don't matter where they put you in the ground
The only point it seems is to break the spell
To love another day and live to tell
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Finding a new day
(Another way)
A new day
A new way
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
(Done spinning my wheels)
Ah-ooh
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song "Spinning My Wheels" speak of an artist who has been struggling for a long time, risking their life for the sake of the song. They remain committed to the Holy Ghost, despite feeling like they need the devil's influence more. The use of religious imagery creates a sense of conflict within the artist. They have held white snow in the palm of their hand, watching it turn back to water again, representing the fleeting nature of their success and accomplishments.
The artist is hypnotized by both the city and countryside, and the endless traveling and routine of their life. They realize that settling down or even death doesn't matter; the point is to break the spell and love another day. By the end of the song, the artist says they are done spinning their wheels and are looking for a new day, a new way to be present in the world.
The lyrics of "Spinning My Wheels" suggest that the artist has been struggling with their identity and purpose. They feel torn between their commitment to their art and their need for something more worldly. This tension is evident in the use of religious imagery throughout the song. Additionally, the repetition of "spinning my wheels" emphasizes the cycle of repetition and stagnation that the artist is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been wrong for so long
I have been making mistakes for a prolonged period of time.
Risking my life for the sake of the song
I have been putting my life in danger for the sake of creating music.
Stayed committed to the Holy Ghost
I have remained dedicated to the Holy Spirit.
Even though the devil is who I needed most
Despite needing the devil's influence, I remained devoted to the Holy Spirit.
I held white snow in the palm of my hand
I held snow in my hand.
And watched it turn back into water again
I watched the snow turn back into water.
Just spinning my wheels
I am wasting time.
Gotta find a way out
I need to find a way to escape from this situation.
Hypnotized by the city lights
I am mesmerized by the lights of the city.
Hypnotized by the countryside
I am mesmerized by the countryside.
Hypnotized from endless traveling
I am hypnotized due to the constant traveling.
Hypnotized from doing the same old thing
I am hypnotized from doing the same routine tasks.
Well, it don't matter where you settle down
It does not matter where you decide to live.
And it sure don't matter where they put you in the ground
It does not matter where you are buried when you die.
The only point it seems is to break the spell
The only goal seems to be breaking a harmful cycle.
To love another day and live to tell
To love another day and share experiences from that day.
Done spinning my wheels
I am no longer wasting time.
Finding a new day
I am exploring a new day.
(Another way)
I am seeking an alternative.
A new day
I am entering a new day with a new perspective.
A new way
I am embracing a new approach.
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
To be present after having stopped wasting time and exploring a new perspective.
(Done spinning my wheels)
Indicates that the cycle of wasting time has been broken.
Ah-ooh
Vocalization that serves as an emotional expression.
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
Casey Cope
I've been wrong for so long
Risking my life for the sake of the song
Stayed committed to the Holy Ghost
Even though the devil is who I needed most
I held white snow in the palm of my hand
And watched it turn back into water again
Just spinning my wheels
Just spinning my wheels
Just spinning my wheels
Gotta find a way out
A way out of here
Hypnotized by the city lights
Hypnotized by the countryside
Hypnotized from endless traveling
Hypnotized from doing the same old thing
Well, it don't matter where you settle down
And it sure don't matter where they put you in the ground
The only point it seems is to break the spell
To love another day and live to tell
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Finding a new day
(Another way)
A new day
A new way
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
(Done spinning my wheels)
Ah-ooh
Casey Cope
I've been wrong for so long
Risking my life for the sake of the song
Stayed committed to the Holy Ghost
Even though the devil is who I needed most
I held white snow in the palm of my hand
And watched it turn back into water again
Just spinning my wheels
Just spinning my wheels
Just spinning my wheels
Gotta find a way out
A way out of here
Hypnotized by the city lights
Hypnotized by the countryside
Hypnotized from endless traveling
Hypnotized from doing the same old thing
Well, it don't matter where you settle down
And it sure don't matter where they put you in the ground
The only point it seems is to break the spell
To love another day and live to tell
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Done spinning my wheels
Finding a new day
(Another way)
A new day
A new way
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
To be here (done spinning my wheels)
(Done spinning my wheels)
Ah-ooh
Michael Slusarczyk
It feels so good to hear these guys again
Tyler Lovell
Very welcomed in these trying times
Alex Carl
Second
david west
This song feels like slipping into an old broken-in pair of shoes. So comfortable.
Thomas Ryan
no more spinning. Need to be done. Thank you for the push MMJ. Feels great to feel this good again.
Todd Devlin
The love of my life, thank you for releasing more music, it’s needed now
Leon
Life wants me to move on.thank you guys for the music
Tonyrascoft
Hermoso !!!! Viva!!!! Para los que siga después de esto tomense su tiempo y hagan magia
ahmad odeh
Is it me or do they sound EVEN BETTER LIVE beautiful voice