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.
o Is the One
My Morning Jacket Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always give your answers by the phone.
If you're hurt he wants to feel it.
If you've money he's your dealer.
If you're ready for him I don't want to see it.
Oh.
O is the one that is real.
The lyrics of My Morning Jacket's song "O Is the One" appear to center around the theme of manipulation and control. The repeated phrase "Always leave your television on" implies the idea of always being under surveillance or influence by an external force. The lines "Always give your answers by the phone" further emphasize this concept, suggesting that the singer is constantly being monitored or controlled. The line "If you're hurt he wants to feel it" could mean that the manipulator wants to control the emotions of the victim, or perhaps take advantage of their vulnerability in some way. Meanwhile, "If you've money he's your dealer" implies that the manipulator is more concerned with their own personal gain than the well-being of the victim. The line "If you're ready for him I don't want to see it" could mean that the singer feels powerless to stop the manipulation or is perhaps in denial about it.
Overall, the lyrics of "O Is the One" seem to convey a sense of helplessness, as if the singer is trapped in a cycle of manipulation and control. The repetition of the phrase "O is the one that is real" towards the end of the song could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps it is a reference to a specific person or entity responsible for the manipulation, or it could be a reminder to the listener that the reality of their situation cannot be ignored.
Line by Line Meaning
Always leave your television on.
Constantly inundate yourself with media and external influences to avoid confronting your own thoughts and emotions.
Always give your answers by the phone.
Communicate with detachment and distance, whether out of fear or a desire to maintain control.
If you're hurt he wants to feel it.
The singer's partner derives satisfaction from experiencing their pain, possibly due to a sadistic tendency or a need for attention.
If you've money he's your dealer.
The subject will feign closeness and friendliness in order to extract money from the artist, indicating a shallow and selfish nature.
If you're ready for him I don't want to see it.
The artist is either unwilling or unable to cope with the idea of their partner moving on or finding someone else, potentially due to jealousy or codependency.
Oh.
Interjection used to convey emphasis or emotion, though the specific meaning is left up to interpretation.
O is the one that is real.
Despite the complexities and difficulties of relationships, the singer believes that their relationship with the subject is the only thing that truly matters and is authentic.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIM JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D Ringo
on Librarian
Fantastic song...simple song with a huge message