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.
Wonderful Man
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was sayin' that "love goes on"
I was wanting some "ice cream"
He knew exactly what I meant
From the drivers seat in the dark
He popped a tape in the dash of his car
And when the singer started to scream
I knew exactly what he meant
What a sensuous man he was
What a marvelous man he was
Why do we love what is wrong?
Big devil told us to sing along
And like a loving flock we obey, except for him
He went his own way
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
'Til the day I found out his cause
Was to do it for all of us
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's song What a Wonderful Man appear to be about a person who is a guiding figure or mentor to the singer. He navigates the darkness, provides comfort through the message that "love goes on," and understands his companion's desires for ice cream. The mention of the driver's seat and a tape in the car's dash suggest that this person is a source of direction and guidance.
However, the lyrics take a turn towards more complex themes with the lines "Why do we love what is wrong? / Big devil told us to sing along / And like a loving flock we obey, except for him / He went his own way." Here, the theme of conformity versus nonconformity is explored, with the singer highlighting the influence of societal pressures to conform and follow the big devil, while this wonderful man chooses to go his own way.
The final lines reveal that the singer didn't truly understand the man's wonderfulness until he discovered his ultimate cause, which seems to be to do his own thing for the benefit of others.
Overall, the song's lyrics offer a multi-layered portrayal of a complex relationship between two people, while also exploring the themes of guidance, conformity, and individualism.
Line by Line Meaning
He was leading us through the dark
He was guiding us through difficult times
He was sayin' that 'love goes on'
He believed that love perseveres despite challenges
I was wanting some 'ice cream'
I desired something that would bring me joy
He knew exactly what I meant
He understood my needs and desires
From the drivers seat in the dark
He was in control of the situation, even in difficult circumstances
He popped a tape in the dash of his car
He played music that he thought would lift our spirits
And when the singer started to scream
When the singer's passion became evident
I knew exactly what he meant
I understood the emotion behind the music
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
I was unaware of his true character
What a sensuous man he was
He was a man who appreciated and indulged in sensory experiences
What a marvelous man he was
He was a man of great wonder and admiration
Why do we love what is wrong?
Why are we attracted to things that may not be good for us?
Big devil told us to sing along
Our negative impulses and influences encourage us to follow along with bad choices
And like a loving flock we obey, except for him
We tend to conform to our negative influences, but he refused to do so
He went his own way
He chose to make his own decisions and stand up for what he believed in
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
I didn't realize the depth of his character and values
'Til the day I found out his cause
I only discovered his true purpose and mission later on
Was to do it for all of us
He was working for the benefit and well-being of everyone
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Olliges Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message