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.
Tropics
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Off the map
Through the glass ceiling
On the right path
Out of body for the first time
In a long time
The right time
Worked all day
Worked all night
Gettin' nowhere
Drove all day
Drove all night
Goin' nowhere
Out of print
Threw caution to the wind
Window to another world
Tropics
Off the map
Through the glass ceiling
On the right path
Out of body for the first time
In a long time
The right time
Heart of progress
Strange as it seems
In suspended animation
On the same page
Tastes change
Frame by frame
Erase traces
Of the past
Do the math
Repeats itself
Best of friends
Until the end
If given the chance
The silent observer
Watching always
Watching always
The song Tropics by My Morning Jacket is a piece about being lost in oneself and feeling detached from the world. The song talks about how the singer has been working tirelessly day and night, yet not going anywhere. They are in a state of suspended animation, watching the world around them but feeling disconnected from it. The song captures the feeling of being lost in one's thoughts and feeling as if the world is moving around you, but you are standing still.
The lyrics touch upon the themes of progress and change. The singer throws caution to the wind and erases traces of the past, highlighting the need for one to move on from their past, embrace change and focus on the journey ahead. The tropics are introduced as a powerful metaphor for the otherworldly state that one can experience when they are on the right path. They are off the map, through the glass ceiling and in the heart of progress. It suggests that they are not only making progress, but they are making a significant change, one that will take them to new heights.
In the end, the song leaves a message of hope. While the singer is lost, they are also the silent observer, watching always. This highlights that though they may feel disconnected from the world around them, they are still a part of it. Through their observation, they can find answers, meaning and ultimately reconnect with the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Off the map
We're venturing beyond our known boundaries
Thru the glass ceiling
Breaking through barriers and limitations
On the right path
We're confident in our direction
Out of body for the first time
We're experiencing something new and transformative
In a long time
It's been a while since we felt this way
The right time
This moment feels auspicious and special
Window to another world
We're glimpsing something otherworldly
Worked all day
We've put in a lot of effort
Worked all night
We've been working tirelessly
Gettin' nowhere
Despite our hard work, we're not making progress
Drove all day
We've been traveling for a long time
Drove all night
We continued our journey without stopping
Going nowhere
We don't feel like we're making any progress
Out of print
Something is no longer available or accessible
Threw caution to the wind
We took a risk and abandoned our usual caution
Tropics
We're exploring tropical regions
Heart of progress
We're in the middle of a groundbreaking endeavor
Strange as it seems
The situation we're in is unusual, but feels right
In suspended animation
We're feeling stuck or in limbo
On the same page
We're in agreement and aligned
Tastes change
Our interests and preferences can shift over time
Frame by frame
We're examining details and taking things step by step
Erase traces
We're trying to remove remnants or reminders of the past
Of the past
We're leaving behind what's behind us
Do the math
We're evaluating our options logically
Repeats itself
History tends to repeat in some ways
Best of friends
We're close and loyal to each other
Until the end
We'll remain friends no matter what happens
If given the chance
We hope we'll have the opportunity to stay together
The silent observer
A person who's watching without participating or interfering
Watching always
This observer is constantly watching
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeremysprecher1828
Underrated.
@tanziaparibas8951
These visualizers with the music is perfect
@aboemusic
Trippy af. Feel like I've been transported to the 70's.
Delicious tune.
@Its_just_the_process
This song just gets better and better.
- a MMJ fan est. 2005
@InYourNetwork
0llril mini Michael Jackson fan?
@phillip6654
Out of body for the first time in a long time.
Amen brother.
@JLKnoxville
+Phillip Banister Right time!
@chemicalswithlove6904
Amen
@WFOX44
THE PROTOTYPE song for enjoying with your self medication of choice and enjoy the comforts of home during an inclement weather day.
@reason5591
Oh thats what you've been up to lol nice 😄✌