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.
The Way That He Sings
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That the world's movin' upwards?
Why's it surreal when my hands
Feel they can't roll the dice?
Why's it so great just to wake every day
Alive and by your side
It's a mystery I guess
There's lots of things I can't find
But your move that catches my eye
Why's it so soft when the cannons
Unload on the others?
Why're we so loud when we say
It won't happen to us?
Why does my mind blow to bits
Every time they play that song?
It's just the way that he sings
Not the words that he says, or the band
I'm in love with this soul
It's a meaning that I understand
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song The Way That He Sings explore the mysterious and unexplainable aspects of life and love. The first verse speaks to the feeling of being alive and in love, and the puzzling nature of why these experiences are so astounding. The lyrics ponder why the world moving upwards is a strange concept, or why waking up with a loved one by your side is so great. The singer acknowledges that there are many things in life that are a mystery, and that sometimes it's not just the way someone looks but the way they move that captures our attention.
The second verse questions the contradictions and inconsistencies of humanity. Why are we loud in our protests that bad things won't happen to us when we know they can? Why does music have the power to blow our minds apart? The chorus of the song brings everything together and speaks to the power of the soul in music. The singer isn't in love with the words or the band, but with the way the singer performs the song. The soulful delivery of the music is what the singer understands and connects with on a deeper level.
Overall, the lyrics of The Way That He Sings explore the complexities and contradictions of life and love, and how music can help us make sense of it all. The singer acknowledges that there are many things in life that are unexplainable, but the power of the soul in music is not one of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Why's it so strange when they say
That the world's movin' upwards?
Why is it unusual when people claim that the world is progressing?
Why's it surreal when my hands
Feel they can't roll the dice?
Why does it feel bizarre when I don't have control over my life?
Why's it so great just to wake every day
Alive and by your side
Why does waking up every morning next to the person you love feel amazing?
It's a mystery I guess
There's lots of things I can't find
Life is full of unanswered questions and unsolved puzzles.
It's not the way that you look
But your move that catches my eye
I'm attracted to how you carry yourself, not just your physical appearance.
Why's it so soft when the cannons
Unload on the others?
Why do people become quiet when others are being attacked?
Why're we so loud when we say
It won't happen to us?
Why do people speak boldly when they believe misfortune won't come their way?
Why does my mind blow to bits
Every time they play that song?
Why do I get emotional when I hear a particular song?
It's just the way that he sings
Not the words that he says, or the band
I'm drawn to the emotion conveyed by the singer, not just the lyrics or the band's music.
I'm in love with this soul
It's a meaning that I understand
I'm deeply enamored by this person's soul and the way they express themselves, and it resonates with me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: James Olliges
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamessullivan4391
I have a certain mood. When it comes, this song must be played. I am a musician and wished I had thought of this song. I am healed each and every time.
@StrangeAttractor
same, dude, same.
@umphreysmcgeeLSD
wow i remember when this vid only had like 600 views. im glad more and more people are beginning to understand the beauty of this band.
@aubreyharding6335
What a beautiful song,What a voice!
@yondoodle
Been listening to MMJ for 2 years now, still finding new songs, and yet they never cease to amaze me. (I'm amazed, lol)
@dan050981
Its not the way that he sings, the words that he says, or the band. Im in love with this soul, its a meaning that I understand.
@chuckooo1
You're in for a treat if you have not yet heard At Dawn or Tennessee Fire. Better yet, if you haven't seen them live. They put on one hell of a show.
@Shepardswatch
the vocals are awsome with these guys great combo , i see them going far
@GeoMaddock
"Its not the way that you look, but your move that captures my eye." Such a wonderful capture of the essence of life and what it means to be alive.
@DPMusicStudio
I had forgotten about this song... a shame. I needed this in my life today.