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.
Xmas Curtain
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On lawbreakers that paved the way
For thoughtless folks like me and J
Who'd pay, but can't afford
The finer things in life
So we heist them all
We're criminals that never break the law!
To town square and get some action
From the Xmas girl that lives inside your womb
She's always there I think that I'm certain
You pay to get behind her Christmas curtain
You're the criminal that never breaks the law!
The lyrics to My Morning Jacket's "Xmas Curtain" contain several complex layers of meaning. On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward critique of consumerism and the holiday season. The "Christmas curtain" represents the materialistic facade that many people put up during the holidays, as they try to buy their way into happiness and status. The singer and their partner, "J," are portrayed as "criminals" who can't afford to participate in this game, so they "heist" the finer things in life.
However, there's another layer to the song that becomes evident as the lyrics progress. The reference to the "Xmas girl that lives inside your womb" suggests a deeper, more existential meaning. This could be interpreted as a reference to the spirit of Christmas, or perhaps to the creative potential that we all carry within ourselves. The idea of "getting behind" the Christmas curtain suggests that we must look past the materialistic trappings of the holiday in order to access the true meaning and potential of the season.
Overall, "Xmas Curtain" is a richly layered and thought-provoking song that encourages us to question our assumptions about the holiday season and to seek out deeper, more authentic experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey! The Christmas curtain falls
The start of Christmas season is marked by the falling of Christmas curtains.
On lawbreakers that paved the way
The ones who broke the rules to achieve greatness are honored.
For thoughtless folks like me and J
For those who don't plan much and go with the flow.
Who'd pay, but can't afford
Those who are willing to pay but don't have enough money.
The finer things in life
Expensive and luxurious things.
So we heist them all
Therefore, they steal everything they want.
We're criminals that never break the law!
They see themselves as criminals without violating any law.
So, to all you frowns go down
To those who always frown upon this behavior.
To town square and get some action
Go to the town square and experience the festive mood.
From the Xmas girl that lives inside your womb
The Christmas spirit that resides within you.
She's always there I think that I'm certain
The spirit of Christmas is ever-present inside each one of us.
You pay to get behind her Christmas curtain
To experience the joy of Christmas, you need to pay the price of hard work and dedication.
You're the criminal that never breaks the law!
You can be seen as a rebel without being a bad person.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: James Edward Olliges Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rbpbmnike
Hey! The Christmas curtain falls
On lawbreakers that paved the way
For thoughtless folks like me and J
Who'd pay, but can't afford
The finer things in life
So we heist them all
We're criminals that never break the law!
So, to all you frowns go down
To town square and get some action
From the Xmas girl that lives inside your womb
She's always there I think that I'm certain
You pay to get behind her Christmas curtain
You're the criminal that never breaks the law!
@patrickcostine
Love this song!
@ronquiify
I love this song, is amazing!
@JamesArchdeacon-ri7gj
This is sincerely my all time favorite Christmas song. Its about the drummer and vocalist and growing up poor.They normally only shop lifted for food accapt when it was around Christmas and would shop lift material items like vhs players under bags of dog food.
@ogorekds
pure perfection...
@SmokeRingsPipeDreams
Love this sone, could you consider also posting the other version of it? It's no longer on Youtube would be popular.
@Dontwatct.555
Me and my friend were literally at the mall and inside this store I like to go too called “ spencers “, and they were playing this song and I was like ya know, I’m lovin’ this, and I’m so surprised it doesn’t have as many likes as it deserves, like literally I was thinking this was one of those really popular song but it doesn’t really matter cause this feeling, the lyrics the music, the sound, ugh, makes me feel
Grateful to be alive.
@rbpbmnike
Hey! The Christmas curtain falls
On lawbreakers that paved the way
For thoughtless folks like me and J
Who'd pay, but can't afford
The finer things in life
So we heist them all
We're criminals that never break the law!
So, to all you frowns go down
To town square and get some action
From the Xmas girl that lives inside your womb
She's always there I think that I'm certain
You pay to get behind her Christmas curtain
You're the criminal that never breaks the law!
@Hollywoodrocker311
Ramiro Barron thanks for posting lyrics you rock!
@lostlost4655
Thanks yooooo!
@algocrash
What's the meaning of the second verse?