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).
But according to Outta My System, it seems as though Jim doesn't do drugs anymore (weed... etc). Are we to think this is how it is?
Also, do we think he really stole a car/went to prison?
You serious Clark?
Not all songs are written in first person. Outta My System is obviously a third person narrative, and was intended to be a song for Electric Mayhem, the Muppets band. I wouldn't take the song very seriously.
i believe one of the lines is "somethings i know ill never get outta my system".......
Quote from: ChronicHunger on May 31, 2011, 03:43 AM
i believe one of the lines is "somethings i know ill never get outta my system".......
I can't imagine Jim ever had a car stealing phase.
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on May 31, 2011, 03:46 AM
Quote from: ChronicHunger on May 31, 2011, 03:43 AM
i believe one of the lines is "somethings i know ill never get outta my system".......
I can't imagine Jim ever had a car stealing phase.
I definitely can. Now its very unlikely, but i've done some stupid things when i was younger. If i had to guess,hes probably talking about still getting messed up and sticking his hands into a baskin and robins ice cream cake, waking up in a motel coverd in apple sauce.
met·a·phor
[met-uh-fawr, -fer]
–noun
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in "A mighty fortress is our god." Compare mixed metaphor, simile ( def. 1 ) .
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem;
I figured this would get some unfriendly responses.
truth is I was a little buzzed last night after listening to the record 3 times and posting this and was being mostly sarcastic. I probably didn't make that obvious enough, and I'm also semi-new so the senior members jumped on me there.
What I am really trying to get discussed is just what you guys really think this song means?
I definitely agree with Chronic in that I think he is singing about something stupid he did early in his life that everyone warned him about (who hasn't). Also, I have also kinda really wondered what drugs he does/does not experiment with (if any at all) when writing/performing.
Anyways, I think its a great tune, just wanted your guys' thoughts, sorry if I upset anyone.
Jim mentioned that a lot of his earlier songs were about hypothetical situations rather than actual ones. And though Jim did have a crazy phase, I'm not sure that stealing cars and heading to prison are part of his criminal record (though who knows about the car stealing, we all do crazy stuff at that age ;))
I think it's probably just an exaggeration of his high school days, and going from there.
Quote from: Nicholas Yames on May 31, 2011, 12:03 PM
I figured this would get some unfriendly responses.
truth is I was a little buzzed last night after listening to the record 3 times and posting this and was being mostly sarcastic. I probably didn't make that obvious enough, and I'm also semi-new so the senior members jumped on me there.
What I am really trying to get discussed is just what you guys really think this song means?
I definitely agree with Chronic in that I think he is singing about something stupid he did early in his life that everyone warned him about (who hasn't). Also, I have also kinda really wondered what drugs he does/does not experiment with (if any at all) when writing/performing.
Anyways, I think its a great tune, just wanted your guys' thoughts, sorry if I upset anyone.
I always thought we should have a "drunk font" for such occasions; and a "sarcasm font".
Didn't some guy make a sarcasm symbol for text a year or two ago? That really caught on...
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on May 31, 2011, 03:35 AM
Not all songs are written in first person. Outta My System is obviously a third person narrative, and was intended to be a song for Electric Mayhem, the Muppets band. I wouldn't take the song very seriously.
Nah, its first person. Otherwise it would be "They told him not to smoke drugs, but he didn't listen, ect..." But like Tracy said...metaphors. It's pretty obviously about getting more mature with old age but not regretting the dumb shit you did as a kid. Because doing dumb shit is what you're supposed to do as a kid.
Quote from: Ghosts_on_T5 on May 31, 2011, 03:33 PM
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on May 31, 2011, 03:35 AM
Not all songs are written in first person. Outta My System is obviously a third person narrative, and was intended to be a song for Electric Mayhem, the Muppets band. I wouldn't take the song very seriously.
Nah, its first person. Otherwise it would be "They told him not to smoke drugs, but he didn't listen, ect..." But like Tracy said...metaphors. It's pretty obviously about getting more mature with old age but not regretting the dumb shit you did as a kid. Because doing dumb shit is what you're supposed to do as a kid.
you're right :dankk2:
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on May 31, 2011, 04:55 PM
Quote from: Ghosts_on_T5 on May 31, 2011, 03:33 PM
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on May 31, 2011, 03:35 AM
Not all songs are written in first person. Outta My System is obviously a third person narrative, and was intended to be a song for Electric Mayhem, the Muppets band. I wouldn't take the song very seriously.
Nah, its first person. Otherwise it would be "They told him not to smoke drugs, but he didn't listen, ect..." But like Tracy said...metaphors. It's pretty obviously about getting more mature with old age but not regretting the dumb shit you did as a kid. Because doing dumb shit is what you're supposed to do as a kid.
you're right :dankk2:
Didn't mean to pick, its the journalism major coming out (that I'm never going to use).
Quote from: ChronicHunger on May 31, 2011, 04:02 AMI definitely can. Now its very unlikely, but i've done some stupid things when i was younger. If i had to guess,hes probably talking about still getting messed up and sticking his hands into a baskin and robins ice cream cake, waking up in a motel coverd in apple sauce.
^lol...might this be what you are referring to (from a Paste interview)?
"I used to lay on my bedroom floor in high school coming down from acid with my fingers stuck in a Dairy Queen ice cream cake with Life cereal poured into it like a real bowl of cereal and just cry my eyes out while listening to "Tin Man" or "Lonely People." There was a phase in my life where I was exploring the more psychedelic side of life, and man, the nighttime would be filled with wild whipping metal music and pure-grain fruit punch and chaos and metal jaw-biting, spine-tingling mental confusion, and I remember so very clearly one morning laying in some shitty hotel room bed covered in applesauce, and the sun was starting to come up and I felt like I had just killed a baby seal...and I had lobsters crawling all over me and laying their eggs in my intestines...and somebody put on a mixtape that had "Tin Man" and "All the Lonely People" and then went into "Harvest" by Neil Young and I remember all the lobsters stopped laying their eggs and they sat up and looked at me and I looked at them and we all went "ahhhhhhh" and breathed a big sigh of relief...and crawled off the bed to lay on the floor next to the stereo to hear that pure, pure sound even purer in our ear holes...and that's when I knew I dug the folk rock."
... love it. I doubt he still uses psychedelics, or if he does, I'd guess he uses very rarely. Jim James is psychedelic enough without the psychedelics.
:)
Who cares what Jim has ever had in his system, its out now. I know I have had some pretty cloudy piss in my day
Quote from: RedPatokaSea on Jun 14, 2011, 12:16 AM
Quote from: ChronicHunger on May 31, 2011, 04:02 AMI definitely can. Now its very unlikely, but i've done some stupid things when i was younger. If i had to guess,hes probably talking about still getting messed up and sticking his hands into a baskin and robins ice cream cake, waking up in a motel coverd in apple sauce.
^lol...might this be what you are referring to (from a Paste interview)?
"I used to lay on my bedroom floor in high school coming down from acid with my fingers stuck in a Dairy Queen ice cream cake with Life cereal poured into it like a real bowl of cereal and just cry my eyes out while listening to "Tin Man" or "Lonely People." There was a phase in my life where I was exploring the more psychedelic side of life, and man, the nighttime would be filled with wild whipping metal music and pure-grain fruit punch and chaos and metal jaw-biting, spine-tingling mental confusion, and I remember so very clearly one morning laying in some shitty hotel room bed covered in applesauce, and the sun was starting to come up and I felt like I had just killed a baby seal...and I had lobsters crawling all over me and laying their eggs in my intestines...and somebody put on a mixtape that had "Tin Man" and "All the Lonely People" and then went into "Harvest" by Neil Young and I remember all the lobsters stopped laying their eggs and they sat up and looked at me and I looked at them and we all went "ahhhhhhh" and breathed a big sigh of relief...and crawled off the bed to lay on the floor next to the stereo to hear that pure, pure sound even purer in our ear holes...and that's when I knew I dug the folk rock."
... love it. I doubt he still uses psychedelics, or if he does, I'd guess he uses very rarely. Jim James is psychedelic enough without the psychedelics.
:)
Thats excatly what i was talking about. Awesome story. I hear thats what the lobster on his guitar is from.
What did he get out of his system? Penny Lane? ;D
Quote from: kydiddle on Jun 14, 2011, 01:26 PM
What did he get out of his system? Penny Lane? ;D
That's more of a system swap...in PL's dreams. ;)
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??"
Quote from: touchmeimgoing2cream on Jun 15, 2011, 03:54 PM
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.
Quote from: ManNamedTruth on Jun 16, 2011, 12:56 AM
Quote from: touchmeimgoing2cream on Jun 15, 2011, 03:54 PM
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.
Quote from: Ghosts_on_TV on Jun 16, 2011, 09:18 AM
He's just telling a story that may not be true.
You're calling Jim James a liar?!?!?! >:(
It's about Obama.
Why is it so hard for people to believe Jim might have smoke ganj or something
Quote from: Tracy 2112 on Jun 16, 2011, 11:35 AM
Quote from: Ghosts_on_TV on Jun 16, 2011, 09:18 AM
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.
Quote from: davymac on Jun 16, 2011, 12:07 PM
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.
My Morning Jacket interview revu.nl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBmU6pQD3xo#)
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.
"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! ;)
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.