What Exactly Did Jim get "Outta (his) System"?

[1978SGJ]

They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn't listen
Never thought I'd get caught and wind up in prison
Chalk it up to youth but young age I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
Oh Lord I'd never do it now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system

The luster of youth versus married security
I'm glad I'm here now, but just between you and me
I had to get it out and make the deals
And learn to know how it feels w/ out any reels
Outta my system... outta my system
There's a way to have it all you know I ain't kidding
Some things I know I'll never get outta my system

If you don't live now, you ain't even trying
And then you're on your way to a midlife crisis
Live it out anyway you feel
You can feel it in your bones, don't try to deny it
Wipe it off your face but your eyes won't hide it
You knew it all along but never made it clear

They told me not to steal cars, said I'd wind up in prison
Thought I knew it all yea I wouldn't listen
Chalk it up to young age but youth I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
I'm glad I did it all then I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system


sure, a lot of Jim's tunes are first person, but this song is def 3rd person.
Rick Rubin once described Tom Petty as being able to "channel" certain artists/songwriting styles. - now while he may not have experienced them himself, he does insert his own point of view into the story for dramatic effect. i think Jim is a lot like Petty in this regard.

honestly, i can't believe this song is raising so many questions. it's pretty straight forward if you ask me; but then again, i can associate w/ the story/lyrics.
i was in the Army for 1/2 a decade, saw a lot of shit, experienced the highest highs and the lowest of lows.. but now i can't even picture myself doing it all over again (if given the chance), it's just not who i am anymore. guess i went and got it all outta my system, huh?

the song is about being young and going about life the hard way (or as Sinatra sang "My Way") and learning from it. i doubt JJ ever stole cars, nor do i think he was much of a hellraiser in his younger years; he just seems way too gentle a soul.

i know this song means something to JJ cuz he shakes so violently while performing it. and as a musician, i can totally associate w/ that feeling.. like your body & soul are getting ready to blast off into space. it really is the best feeling in the world. maybe that's why i enjoy Jim James and the boys so much; they give it everything they got.. till they drop.

one of the truest statements i've ever heard was when JJ was describing (on storytellers) the perfect show as being "a flash of light/sound.. then, is it over??"

[ManNamedTruth]

They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn't listen
Never thought I'd get caught and wind up in prison
Chalk it up to youth but young age I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
Oh Lord I'd never do it now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system

The luster of youth versus married security
I'm glad I'm here now, but just between you and me
I had to get it out and make the deals
And learn to know how it feels w/ out any reels
Outta my system... outta my system
There's a way to have it all you know I ain't kidding
Some things I know I'll never get outta my system

If you don't live now, you ain't even trying
And then you're on your way to a midlife crisis
Live it out anyway you feel
You can feel it in your bones, don't try to deny it
Wipe it off your face but your eyes won't hide it
You knew it all along but never made it clear

They told me not to steal cars, said I'd wind up in prison
Thought I knew it all yea I wouldn't listen
Chalk it up to young age but youth I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
I'm glad I did it all then I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system


sure, a lot of Jim's tunes are first person, but this song is def 3rd person.
Rick Rubin once described Tom Petty as being able to "channel" certain artists/songwriting styles. - now while he may not have experienced them himself, he does insert his own point of view into the story for dramatic effect. i think Jim is a lot like Petty in this regard.

honestly, i can't believe this song is raising so many questions. it's pretty straight forward if you ask me; but then again, i can associate w/ the story/lyrics.
i was in the Army for 1/2 a decade, saw a lot of shit, experienced the highest highs and the lowest of lows.. but now i can't even picture myself doing it all over again (if given the chance), it's just not who i am anymore. guess i went and got it all outta my system, huh?

the song is about being young and going about life the hard way (or as Sinatra sang "My Way") and learning from it. i doubt JJ ever stole cars, nor do i think he was much of a hellraiser in his younger years; he just seems way too gentle a soul.

i know this song means something to JJ cuz he shakes so violently while performing it. and as a musician, i can totally associate w/ that feeling.. like your body & soul are getting ready to blast off into space. it really is the best feeling in the world. maybe that's why i enjoy Jim James and the boys so much; they give it everything they got.. till they drop.

one of the truest statements i've ever heard was when JJ was describing (on storytellers) the perfect show as being "a flash of light/sound.. then, is it over??"

I made the mistake of saying 3rd person too, but what I meant (and what i think you mean) is a song that comes from another person or character's perspective. Is there a term for that? I read an article where Jim said he does that, I think it was in Relix.

[Ghosts_on_TV]

They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn't listen
Never thought I'd get caught and wind up in prison
Chalk it up to youth but young age I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
Oh Lord I'd never do it now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system

The luster of youth versus married security
I'm glad I'm here now, but just between you and me
I had to get it out and make the deals
And learn to know how it feels w/ out any reels
Outta my system... outta my system
There's a way to have it all you know I ain't kidding
Some things I know I'll never get outta my system

If you don't live now, you ain't even trying
And then you're on your way to a midlife crisis
Live it out anyway you feel
You can feel it in your bones, don't try to deny it
Wipe it off your face but your eyes won't hide it
You knew it all along but never made it clear

They told me not to steal cars, said I'd wind up in prison
Thought I knew it all yea I wouldn't listen
Chalk it up to young age but youth I ain't dissing
I guess I just had to get it outta my system
Outta my system... outta my system
I'm glad I did it all then I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system
I'm glad I did it all now I know what I ain't missing
Glad I went and got it all outta my system


sure, a lot of Jim's tunes are first person, but this song is def 3rd person.
Rick Rubin once described Tom Petty as being able to "channel" certain artists/songwriting styles. - now while he may not have experienced them himself, he does insert his own point of view into the story for dramatic effect. i think Jim is a lot like Petty in this regard.

honestly, i can't believe this song is raising so many questions. it's pretty straight forward if you ask me; but then again, i can associate w/ the story/lyrics.
i was in the Army for 1/2 a decade, saw a lot of shit, experienced the highest highs and the lowest of lows.. but now i can't even picture myself doing it all over again (if given the chance), it's just not who i am anymore. guess i went and got it all outta my system, huh?

the song is about being young and going about life the hard way (or as Sinatra sang "My Way") and learning from it. i doubt JJ ever stole cars, nor do i think he was much of a hellraiser in his younger years; he just seems way too gentle a soul.

i know this song means something to JJ cuz he shakes so violently while performing it. and as a musician, i can totally associate w/ that feeling.. like your :-X body & soul are getting ready to blast off into space. it really is the best feeling in the world. maybe that's why i enjoy Jim James and the boys so much; they give it everything they got.. till they drop.

one of the truest statements i've ever heard was when JJ was describing (on storytellers) the perfect show as being "a flash of light/sound.. then, is it over??"

I made the mistake of saying 3rd person too, but what I meant (and what i think you mean) is a song that comes from another person or character's perspective. Is there a term for that? I read an article where Jim said he does that, I think it was in Relix.

Not really. Just poetic licence really. Stories told first person but revolve around someone that isn't the protagonist are called secondary charactor. But this isn't that. He's just telling a story that may not be true.

[Tracy 2112]

He's just telling a story that may not be true.

You're calling Jim James a liar?!?!?!  >:(

[jones]

It's about Obama.

[davymac]

Why is it so hard for people to believe Jim might have smoke ganj or something

[Ghosts_on_TV]

He's just telling a story that may not be true.

You're calling Jim James a liar?!?!?!  >:(

I guess I am. That son of a bitch.

[ManNamedTruth]

Why is it so hard for people to believe Jim might have smoke ganj or something

I don't think that part is up for debate, I think it's the part about stealing cars and prison.

[ScreamingDizBuster]

My Morning Jacket interview revu.nl

I love this interview.  Not for the fact that Jim is apparently holding a bong, but because he touches on his opinion of religion, which is quite similar to mine. It really speaks to how spiritual vs. religious he is.

[blucas]

"So my buddies (non MMJ fans) always rag on me saying that the Jacket is full of huge druggies (see Okonokos intro/outro, American Dad episode, and so on)."

Your buddies suck!   ;)

[sundari]

Jim DID say something on the Storytellers show about singing something from "the character's" point of view, which I took to mean that not all of the songs he writes are from personal experience.