My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket => The Music => Topic started by: ycartrob on Feb 09, 2007, 10:58 PM

Title: Why's it surreal...
Post by: ycartrob on Feb 09, 2007, 10:58 PM
Why's it surreal when my hands feel they cant roll the dice?

that one always gets me.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: The DARK on Feb 09, 2007, 11:01 PM
What does that line really mean? I never really understood it...  :-/
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: billybluebeard on Feb 09, 2007, 11:13 PM
QuoteWhat does that line really mean? I never really understood it...  :-/

It's a mystery... I guess. ::)

Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 10, 2007, 12:21 AM
It could obviously be taken many diffrent ways, but it seems to me in some sense like he's talking about his will to be in charge of his own destiny.  Which would match up with "Why are we so loud when we say it won't happen to us"  Kind of a fuck you to feeling powerless.  Just the fact that the singer is singing is proof enough in itself that he is not powerless.  A meaning that Jim understands and that we inturn understand when Jim sings.  
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: Coltrane on Feb 10, 2007, 09:42 AM
oh no....i've gone cross-eyed....
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: MMJ_fanatic on Feb 10, 2007, 01:58 PM
my first favorite MMJ song
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: megisnotreal on Feb 11, 2007, 01:19 PM
whenever i find myself getting depressed/ feeling desolate, i listen to this song, and all the shitty feelings melt away.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: LET_THE_FETUS_ROCK on Feb 11, 2007, 11:35 PM
There is something verry sunny and cheerful about  this song, good for my blues.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: tomEisenbraun on Feb 12, 2007, 02:36 AM
QuoteIt could obviously be taken many diffrent ways, but it seems to me in some sense like he's talking about his will to be in charge of his own destiny.  Which would match up with "Why are we so loud when we say it won't happen to us"  Kind of a fuck you to feeling powerless.  Just the fact that the singer is singing is proof enough in itself that he is not powerless.  A meaning that Jim understands and that we inturn understand when Jim sings.  

i've always heard it exactly opposite, as kind of the ultimate irony. "why're it so soft when the cannons unload on the others/why's it so loud when we say it won't happen to us". kind of that thing where you don't hear a thing until it happens to you, and then you're deafened by it so you can't hear anything else except that last blast that changed your life. i always hear it as a salute to our constant irony as human beings, and the fact that we're so damn strong until proven otherwise. and when we're proven otherwise, we're taken to our knees by it.

but that's just how i've always heard it. that context of the cannons helps bring out that line though, and the power of it through using the whole idea of cannons. i could ramble on, but i think it doesn't need anymore delving than that, and its all personal thought and your interpretation blah-dy blah.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 12, 2007, 02:49 AM
Why're we so loud when we say it wont happen to us?

big diffrence in "Why's IT so loud"


I don't know, I understand what your saying, but you have a diffrent version of what he's saying than I do.  Being Loud when saying "it won't happen to us" is a contrast to the loudness of a bomb but, by saying "why are WE" it seems he's pointing at the idea of some interanal strength rather than the strength of something external.  
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: tomEisenbraun on Feb 12, 2007, 03:12 AM
i see what you're saying, but in the fact that he's asking that question, i still feel that irony being pushed at. and after the lyric screw-up, i think it still fits. that part always makes me sad, because i feel like it perfectly embodies ignorantly blissful youthful independence/invincibility, andthe realization that it's gonna be broken no matter how hard you push to embrace it. even if you're loud as hell, you're still gonna die someday, and you have to grow up and understand your weaknesses someday.

and to diverge from this topic almost completely, i think that's one of life's most important lessons is learning that you aren't invincible. i think this song embodies it for me in that lyric, but i think too many people take too long to know that they are indeed going to die. not that they think that they won't, just that they never actually stop to take time to realize that they can and eventually will. it's humbling, and it's not necessarily, especially in the way some of us are forced into our realizations of it, but it is a very real and necessary part of our lives and is certainly something that everyone ought to experience.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: BH on Feb 12, 2007, 09:44 AM
Quotei see what you're saying, but in the fact that he's asking that question, i still feel that irony being pushed at. and after the lyric screw-up, i think it still fits. that part always makes me sad, because i feel like it perfectly embodies ignorantly blissful youthful independence/invincibility, andthe realization that it's gonna be broken no matter how hard you push to embrace it. even if you're loud as hell, you're still gonna die someday, and you have to grow up and understand your weaknesses someday.

and to diverge from this topic almost completely, i think that's one of life's most important lessons is learning that you aren't invincible. i think this song embodies it for me in that lyric, but i think too many people take too long to know that they are indeed going to die. not that they think that they won't, just that they never actually stop to take time to realize that they can and eventually will. it's humbling, and it's not necessarily, especially in the way some of us are forced into our realizations of it, but it is a very real and necessary part of our lives and is certainly something that everyone ought to experience.

Hey, I thought you banned yourself from any further Jacket Lyric Analysis. ;)

Just kiddin', I've missed your posts. :)
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: primushead on Feb 12, 2007, 02:24 PM
Tom does write some great lyric analysis.  That's fo' sho'.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: ycartrob on Feb 12, 2007, 02:27 PM
QuoteWhy's it surreal when my hands feel they cant roll the dice?

that one always gets me.

This lyric is about Jim James coming into one with the word of Christ (The Way that He Sings) and not being able to masturbate (rolling the dice) due to guilt and faith.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: primushead on Feb 12, 2007, 02:28 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: cmccubbin@work on Feb 12, 2007, 02:28 PM
Quote
QuoteWhy's it surreal when my hands feel they cant roll the dice?

that one always gets me.

This lyric is about Jim James coming into one with the word of Christ (The Way that He Sings) and not being able to masturbate (rolling the dice) due to guilt and faith.

Jim doesn't have to masturbate...he is a Guitar God now...he's got people that do that for him
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: primushead on Feb 12, 2007, 02:31 PM
So...he's got people?

(http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/brands/0010/0707/brand.gif)
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: peanut butter puddin surprise on Feb 12, 2007, 02:34 PM
trust me, you don't want anyone from that place masturbating anyone.  (shivers)
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: primushead on Feb 12, 2007, 02:38 PM
Hehehe...bad visuals John?
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: cmccubbin@work on Feb 12, 2007, 02:57 PM
QuoteSo...he's got people?

(http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/brands/0010/0707/brand.gif)


ha ha...i was totally thinking that when i wrote that.

Jim's definitely got people...
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: peanut butter puddin surprise on Feb 12, 2007, 03:08 PM
QuoteHehehe...bad visuals John?

the worst kind of visuals!  oh my god!
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: MMJ_fanatic on Feb 13, 2007, 12:32 PM
Quotetrust me, you don't want anyone from that place masturbating anyone.  (shivers)

Hmmm seems to be a pun in there... feeling stroked during tax time
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: JoAnn on Feb 16, 2007, 12:09 PM
QuoteWhy's it surreal when my hands feel they cant roll the dice?

that one always gets me.


The one that ALWAYS gets me is from Steam Engine....

*it's the touch
we need so muuuuuuuch
to move arooouund on this green earth*

The live one from Okonokos ......fucking kills me.  
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 16, 2007, 12:11 PM
Have you seen the rolling stone video where Jim does Steam Engine with just an acoustic guitar, if not you should.  I think there is a link to it in one of these Steam Engine threads.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: cmccubbin@work on Feb 16, 2007, 12:16 PM
QuoteHave you seen the rolling stone video where Jim does Steam Engine with just an acoustic guitar, if not you should.  I think there is a link to it in one of these Steam Engine threads.

yeah...for sure.  its one of my favorite MMJ video clips.  there's a part during the bridge when Jim isn't singing that he looks off to the right and then spits!  classic!

or maybe that's the Yahoo! Music version...either way...its cool
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 16, 2007, 12:18 PM
Have you seen the video of Jim doing "I Think I'm Going To Hell" in the parking garrage?  I think that's my favorite.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: cmccubbin@work on Feb 16, 2007, 12:21 PM
QuoteHave you seen the video of Jim doing "I Think I'm Going To Hell" in the parking garrage?  I think that's my favorite.

from the Dutch documentary?

if so, then yes...and true, it is pretty awesome!

LE-GEN....DARY!!!
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: JoAnn on Feb 16, 2007, 12:25 PM
QuoteHave you seen the rolling stone video where Jim does Steam Engine with just an acoustic guitar, if not you should.  I think there is a link to it in one of these Steam Engine threads.


**goes searching**

Thanks....

Edit:Found it!
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/8683981/rolling_stone_original
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 16, 2007, 12:30 PM
Yep, Yep, the Dutch Documentary one.  
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: CC on Feb 16, 2007, 12:45 PM
QuoteHave you seen the video of Jim doing "I Think I'm Going To Hell" in the parking garrage?  I think that's my favorite.

I Will Be There When You Die is in the parking garage.

I Think I'm Going To Hell is in the NAi arcade

get your facts straight!!!!!! ;)
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 16, 2007, 12:51 PM
doh.  Hey Riny can you post a link to Deanna's video stuff up in here?  Thanks, and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!  I'm eating pizza at work and listening to the new Modest Mouse record which is quite litterally the best thing I have ever layed ears on in my entire life.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: primushead on Feb 16, 2007, 01:00 PM
Pizza and Brock...what a combo.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: sweatboard on Feb 16, 2007, 01:03 PM
Life is good.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: Dee. on Feb 21, 2007, 03:37 AM
Here's the video page:

http://www.savefile.com/projects/646887

I'm sure it's missing a couple of things...
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: FarmerYoda on Feb 27, 2007, 07:05 PM
favorite MMJ song, I think.
Title: Re: Why's it surreal...
Post by: FarmerYoda on Feb 27, 2007, 07:09 PM
i actually just put on At Dawn.
for the second time, today :-/

It's my favorite, I think.