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.
Take My Breath Away!
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On this endless ocean finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Never hesitating to become the fated ones
Turning and returning to some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you in time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today, I am unafraid
Take my breath away
Take my breath away, oh oh
Watching every motion in this foolish lover's game
Haunted by the notion somewhere there's a love in flames
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
(Take my breath away)
Take my breath away
(Take my breath away)
Take my breath away
(Take my breath away)
Take my breath away
(Take my breath away)
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song, "Take My Breath Away," can be interpreted as a love song that expresses the overwhelming emotions that two people have for each other. The singer watches every motion of their lover in a "foolish lover's game," indicating that they might be unsure of their love's intentions, but they are still entranced by them. As the two lovers become closer, they become "fated ones," ready to become one.
The song also expresses a sense of wanting to hide, to go to "some secret place inside." This could be a metaphorical place where the two can be alone and where their love can flourish without any external influence. The singer watches their lover in "slow motion" as they turn around and say, "Take my breath away," indicating that their love is so intense that it takes away their breath.
The second verse talks about how time is slipping away, like sand through an hourglass. The mirror crashing could be a symbol for the end of a relationship or a reflection of how the singer might feel about themselves. But the lover turns to them and says, "If only for today, I am unafraid." This line shows a sense of vulnerability and that the lover is willing to take a risk and love fully.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and how it can take your breath away, both in positive and negative ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching every motion in my foolish lover's game
I am observing every movement that takes place in this unwise game of love
On this endless ocean finally lovers know no shame
In this vast and infinite universe, two people in love experience no embarrassment or guilt
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Constantly going back to a private and personal space in my mind
Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say
I am seeing you with great detail as you slowly face me and speak
Take my breath away
You are so breathtaking that I am left breathless
Watching I keep waiting still anticipating love
I am patiently waiting and anticipating to be loved
Never hesitating to become the fated ones
I am ready and willing to become destiny's chosen ones
Through the hourglass I saw you in time you slipped away
Like sand through an hourglass, I watched as time separated us
When the mirror crashed I called you And turned to hear you say If only for today, I am unafraid
When everything fell apart, I contacted you and you assured me that for today, you have no fear
Take my breath away, oh oh
You are continuing to leave me speechless
Haunted by the notion somewhere there's a love in flames
The idea of a passionate romance burning somewhere is consuming my thoughts
Take my breath away
You are still having an indescribable effect on me
Take my breath away
You are still having an indescribable effect on me
Take my breath away
You are still having an indescribable effect on me
Take my breath away
You are still having an indescribable effect on me
Contributed by Stella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message