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.
Spring
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boy, I was ready for spring
Its beauty changes
Changes everything
Done hibernating
We animals roam
Out of our holes
Then we spend all spring
Among the living
Among the living again
Out in the light of day's
Warm embrace again, What a gift! (one, two, three, four)
Among the living
Among the living again
I didn't think I'd make it
Among the living
Among the living again
I didn't think I'd make it
Boy, I was ready
Was ready for spring
Its beauty changes
Changes everything
Done hibernating
We animals roam
Out of our holes
Then we spend all spring
Looking for the next one to go down
Among the living
Among the living again
I didn't think I'd make it
Among the living
Among the living again
I didn't think I'd make it
Ooh yeah
Among the living again, yeah
Again
Again
Again
Again, ooh
The song "Spring" by My Morning Jacket is a celebration of the rejuvenating power of spring after a long, dark winter. The singer expresses his eagerness for the new season, and how the beauty of spring changes everything. The metaphor of animals hibernating and then roaming out of their holes reflects the singer's own desire to embrace the light of day and return to life among the living. The repetition of the line "Among the living again" reinforces this idea of being revived after a period of dormancy.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of mortality, with the singer expressing surprise at having made it through whatever difficult times may have passed. This adds depth to the song, giving it a sense of emotional urgency and making it relatable to listeners who may have experienced their own struggles.
Overall, the song "Spring" captures the essence of the season: the feeling of renewal, growth, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, I was ready
I have been eagerly waiting for the arrival of spring
Boy, I was ready for spring
I have been longing for spring to come with all its beauty and change
Its beauty changes
The magic of spring transforms everything around us
Changes everything
Spring has a profound impact on our environment and our spirits
Done hibernating
The period of dormancy that winter brought has ended
We animals roam
Like other creatures, we humans stretch our legs and explore our surroundings
Out of our holes
We are no longer hiding within our shelters and comfort zones
Then we spend all spring
We take advantage of the season's beauty and opportunities
Looking for the next one to go down
We search for what's next in life's journey
Among the living
We have again emerged from a period of darkness and obscurity
Among the living again
We again are part of life's exuberance and vibrancy
Out in the light of day's
We similarly return to being exposed and vulnerable to the hazards of life
Warm embrace again (One, two, three, four)
Spring's warmth and welcome is once again upon us, from the very first moments
I didn't think I'd make it
I wasn't sure if I could survive another winter or period of struggle
Again
Emphasizing that we have been reborn, renewed, and energized again
Ooh yeah
An expression of the sheer joy and delight we feel
Again, ooh
Repeating the triumphant realization that we have overcome adversity and are living again
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Troy Suza
Just saw this live.......omg!!! It's even better than y'all can imagine.
Jeanie
What marvelous poetry, and how glad I am to hear such a song on April 2, 2015, in St. Louis, when we are having just that sort of rainy green day when I feel like finally we are coming slowly out of the quiet, cold coziness that is winter into the light and warmth and hopeful joy that is life returning in full-blown color again! Thank you!
Spencer Ball
This song is going to be so amazing live. I know they toned it down on the recorded version on purpose so it will be that much better live.
Andy
If you're listening to this through phone speakers or laptop speakers, you're not getting the most out of this song! Its the mistake I made when I first listened to it, but now I have it hooked up to my speaker system and I am in love. MMJ are yet to let me down and this will be the album I will have on loop throughout the summer.
Abby Ramos
T
Joseph
UKRailwayVideography I agree totally. Just listened to it for the first time through my headphones and it's a totally different experience. Can't wait until the album drops.
ryderup
UKRailwayVideography Well, if you want to talk sound quality, why even listen to a compressed youtube track.
Andy
ryderup Because at the time, this was the only way to listen to it as it wasn't released elsewhere..
Kreg Henritzy
UKRailwayVideography you really need to go see them live. I just caught them at Governor's Ball in NYC and they tore the place up. They played a bunch of older stuff, but the songs from the new album were incredible live.
Billythekid Anthony
I love this band so much