My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket => The Music => Topic started by: g-con on Oct 22, 2008, 11:46 AM

Title: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: g-con on Oct 22, 2008, 11:46 AM
I've been obsessed with this song more than any other MMJ songs over the past 2 years and I always wondered the meaning of the word "Dondante" and if there was any story behind the lyrics?
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: easy way on Oct 22, 2008, 12:10 PM
There is most definately a very somber meaning behind the lyrics to this song. It's not my place to speak about this in detail, but I can tell you that it's about the loss of a loved one.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: g-con on Oct 22, 2008, 12:16 PM
yea I definitely got that feeling, it's definitely eerie and somber yet has a very cool vibe to it. Sometimes loss like that produces amazing things such as this song.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: Love Dogg on Oct 22, 2008, 01:45 PM
What is special about this song is the interpretation can be so literal to each of us, and at the same time so different from each others interpretations.  I'm sure someone knows the "meaning" of Dondante.  Some people may think it's about suicide.  Some people may think it's about a love.  To me, it follows, note for note, mood for mood, bombast for bombast, a situation where my father and I got into a fight.  It is so vivid and real to me that it's hard to process sometimes.  Very sad indeed, but very real nonetheless.

It's all good, though.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: stevenflow1989 on Oct 22, 2008, 02:23 PM
I've heard a few times the lyrics relate to the lyrics of What a Wonderful Man, and I tend to agree with that.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: g-con on Oct 22, 2008, 04:04 PM
Yea that makes sense too, now I just wonder where the word "Dondante" comes from... :-?
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 22, 2008, 04:31 PM
I don't think the meaning needs to be hidden.  He wrote it as a tribute so let's honor the person it was written for by at least calling him by name.  Jim wrote the song for his friend and ex-bandmate Aaron Todovich.  Aaron committed suicide after struggling with mental illness his whole life.  As far as dondante the word/name comes from, all I know is that is was Aaron's kinda pseudonym for himself but I don't how he came up with it.

What a Wonderful Man is also about one of Jim's friends and ex-bandmates who committed suicide around the same time Aaron did. His name was Tim Cushing.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 22, 2008, 04:54 PM
Here's a treat for those interested in hearing the work of Aaron Todovich aka dondante.

http://rapidshare.com/files/147543136/No_Mail_Days_Are_Sad_Days.zip.html

Jim and Aaron's band was called Month of Sundays.  Jim and Tim's band was called Hotel Roy.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: easy way on Oct 22, 2008, 09:41 PM
QuoteHere's a treat for those interested in hearing the work of Aaron Todovich aka dondante.

http://rapidshare.com/files/147543136/No_Mail_Days_Are_Sad_Days.zip.html

Jim and Aaron's band was called Month of Sundays.  Jim and Tim's band was called Hotel Roy.

Nice, thanks aMD. I haven't listened to Month of Sundays in a while. Bring it on home!
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: g-con on Oct 22, 2008, 10:17 PM
QuoteI don't think the meaning needs to be hidden.  He wrote it as a tribute so let's honor the person it was written for by at least calling him by name.  Jim wrote the song for his friend and ex-bandmate Aaron Todovich.  Aaron committed suicide after struggling with mental illness his whole life.  As far as dondante the word/name comes from, all I know is that is was Aaron's kinda pseudonym for himself but I don't how he came up with it.

What a Wonderful Man is also about one of Jim's friends and ex-bandmates who committed suicide around the same time Aaron did. His name was Tim Cushing.

Wow, thanks for all the insight! I'll definitely check those guys out.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: ManNamedTruth on Oct 23, 2008, 04:14 AM
QuoteHere's a treat for those interested in hearing the work of Aaron Todovich aka dondante.

http://rapidshare.com/files/147543136/No_Mail_Days_Are_Sad_Days.zip.html

Jim and Aaron's band was called Month of Sundays.  Jim and Tim's band was called Hotel Roy.


You wouldn't have any Hotel Roy to download as well would you? I would purchase it if I could.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: TheRoof on Oct 23, 2008, 06:28 AM
Dante's Inferno:

Dante Alighieri loses his path (commits suicide) and travels throughout the different stages of hell to embark into heaven.

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/inferno/summary.html
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: TheRoof on Oct 23, 2008, 06:55 AM
....and the 1924 movie 'Dante's Inferno' drives an even closer resemblance to the words spoken in 'Dondante'. The 'probable chance' that his friend may commit suicide, the attempt to help, and the feelings of guilt from his suicide.


http://www.fandango.com/dantesinferno_v12212/summary
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: searchinbig on Oct 23, 2008, 09:33 AM
This is a great thread with great explanations. So many times lyrics are tough to decipher. I really can't figure out what Jim is saying in his lyrics most of the time. He reminds me of Dylan in the way he writes. I'll probably take some heat for that but genius is hard to figure out!

Thanks for the insight on those tunes, helps me to understand a bit better.   :)
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 23, 2008, 04:49 PM
Quote
QuoteHere's a treat for those interested in hearing the work of Aaron Todovich aka dondante.

http://rapidshare.com/files/147543136/No_Mail_Days_Are_Sad_Days.zip.html

Jim and Aaron's band was called Month of Sundays.  Jim and Tim's band was called Hotel Roy.

Nice, thanks aMD. I haven't listened to Month of Sundays in a while. Bring it on home!

Actually that recording is of the Helgeson Story, which was Aaron's band after the Month of Sundays broke up. Most of the MoS stuff is still available to buy.  Check Noise pollution's site before they go out of stock!
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 23, 2008, 04:54 PM
Quote
QuoteHere's a treat for those interested in hearing the work of Aaron Todovich aka dondante.

http://rapidshare.com/files/147543136/No_Mail_Days_Are_Sad_Days.zip.html

Jim and Aaron's band was called Month of Sundays.  Jim and Tim's band was called Hotel Roy.


You wouldn't have any Hotel Roy to download as well would you? I would purchase it if I could.

Yeah, I could put it up.  Are you sure it's not available? As long as Riny or one of the mods doesn't come in here in the next day or two to say no way, jose, I'll put it up.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: Love Dogg on Oct 23, 2008, 05:24 PM
There were a bunch available on ebay recently...like 25 or something.  I picked mine up there.  I don't know if they're still available there or not.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: ManNamedTruth on Oct 23, 2008, 06:49 PM
I only saw it once on ebay, i bid but the price got too high. Haven't checked in awhile, I'll check it out....
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: ManNamedTruth on Oct 23, 2008, 06:55 PM
Nothing on ebay or amazon. Only 43 listeners on last.fm
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 23, 2008, 07:13 PM
I'd rather you download it for free then help some guy on ebay make money off the band anyway, it's not like the band sees any of that money. I'll put it up on Sunday unless Riny says no.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: ManNamedTruth on Oct 23, 2008, 10:25 PM
sounds good man, thanks.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: ManNamedTruth on Oct 27, 2008, 04:52 PM
just a reminder....
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 27, 2008, 06:31 PM
Quotejust a reminder....

Here's the deal. I have it saved in a weird format (real audio- .RA).  So I've got to find the original disc and rip it again.  Give me one more day.  Sorry for the wait.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 28, 2008, 05:31 PM
http://www.mymorningjacket.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225199584/0#0

in case you missed it.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: MMJfan2973 on Nov 22, 2015, 11:22 AM
I know people have gotten around to explaining this appropriately by now - but I feel its a bit disparate throughout multiple threads and replies.  I'd like to gather everything into one place, add some knowledge and resources of my own that I didn't see above. 

Firstly I'd like to say this song means a great deal to me personally, and did prior to me figuring out it's origins.  I received a pretty devastating medical diagnosis when I was graduating high school, one that I'll deal with throughout my life.  Long story short this song (Dondante) helped me to meditate on the sadness, instead of trying to put it in a box and hide it away.  I think Jim and MMJ do an incredible job of lamenting their sadness in tracks, it's really powerful.

This song is a tribute to Jim's childhood friend and former bandmate Aaron Todovich. From what I've gleaned online (which really cannot be described as factual information) they were very close from around 4 years old until Aaron's unfortunate passing.  They had already split musically, but remained friends.  Here is a song Aaron wrote, plays lead guitar and sings on.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7VO8jcraNY

Jim talks about the origins of the song on VH1 story tellers, it is not a secret.  I think he'd be happy to know we were talking about Aaron and sharing his music still.  The guy is clearly extremely talented, and the sadness permeates through his music beautifully.
Title: Re: Meaning of "Dondante"?
Post by: vrezh on Jan 21, 2021, 01:46 PM
" All I can say is he was a real brilliant soul. I met him in the fourth grade. We were the same age but I always felt like he was a little older than me-he knew a little bit more than me. And we always had big dreams. We played in our first band together and dreamed big dreams and would see shows like Storytellers on TV or Unplugged (another music program that airs on VH1) and you know, the things you see on TV as a kid and you're like 'Whoa man, maybe someday we can do that.' But he just-no matter how much you told him how special he was, he could never hear it. I'm sure you all know someone like that, that you just can't get through to them. And I didn't want to tell this story and get all emotional but I knew there's no way to not get emotional about it but he, like so many people like that, choose to leave this world. And sometimes you can't hardly blame them because this world can be a really hard place. But every time we play this song, he is with us. And I'll never forget playing it the first time, he was there. And every time we play it, he's there. And at the end of the song I always take a trip backstage to say hi to him, because we dreamed so much together and he didn't get to live out his ability to chase his dream. So, I wanted him to get a chance to play Storytellers with us."



At the end of the song Jim explains:

That song also has a happy ending because the reason I wrote that song for my friend was that I had a dream, a really beautiful dream that he was in heaven. And I don't know what heaven is, but in the dream it was the stereotypical heaven. It was hilarious, there were clouds and sun rays shining through and it was all white and he was dressed in a white robe with wings and everything. It was completely hilarious and he was so happy. And in the dream, somehow myself and everybody I knew had died and we were coming into heaven and he was there to welcome us because he was there before us. And he just looked great, you know he was doing great and signed us all in and got us all registered for, (laughs) all the wonderful benefits you get when you go to heaven like they tell you on TV (laughs). But he was there, and he looked great, so that gives me so much hope because I really do believe in other lives and other worlds and I really do think that if you have a tough time on this 'go-around' there is somewhere else in the future-there's another dimension you're going to be in. You're going to get to try it again you know, and everything is going to be OK. And he is OK out there somewhere so, the story has a happy ending."