Songful Style: “Time Waited!”

Last month, I was complaining about the heat.  Last week started off very warm, but by Friday, the temperatures were wonderful!  It actually feels like fall, but Indiana is a sneaky state.  We will probably be back in the 90s (32C) soon.  I do have to say, it hasn’t been terribly humid.  But, it is dry.  Our front yard looks like a desert.  Anyway, welcome to the last Monday in August (can you believe it) and another edition of Songful Style! Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of Suzy Turner, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram.  Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. I chose this month’s song. Last time, Suzy selected “Six” by Rose Betts. Oh, and there’s a link party, too!

The band…

Formed in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1998, My Morning Jacket is fronted by Jim James who had another band, Month of Sundays.  James, a singer-songwriter, had some acoustic songs he wanted to use, but they, apparently, didn’t work for Month of Sundays.  The early years saw Johnny Quaid (James’ cousin) on guitar, Tom Blankenship on bass, and J. Glenn on drums.  Wondering about the name?  Well, first, let’s get this out of the way.  James’ real name is James Edward Olliges Jr. which was a relief because who would name their kid James James?  Well, Nigel did go to school with a kid whose first, middle, and last names were all the same.  Seriously, folks, there are so many names to pick.  But, I digress.  James named the band My Morning Jacket because he’d found a coat with MMJ “emblazoned” on it.  I’m not 100% sure I’d come up with My Morning Jacket, but it works. 

A little more…

Like many bands, their first album, The Tennessee Fire, did alright in the US, but it was a big old surprise success in Europe, especially the Netherlands and Belgium.  I guess, buoyed by that success, they kicked off a European tour, again achieving acclaim in the Dutch and Belgian presses.  The band actually appeared in a Dutch documentary, This is NOT America.  In 2000, Danny Cash joined the band on keyboard.  In 2001, the band released At Dawn which was more successful in the US.  Interestingly, James recorded his vocals in a grain silo.  This resulted in a heavy echo effect which then became a feature of many of the band’s early releases.  Following that release, J. Glenn, the drummer, left the band to be replaced first by Chris Guetig and then by Patrick Hallahan (James’ childhood best friend) who is still the band’s drummer today. 

Still more…

During the early years of the 2000s, the band toured a lot, opening for Foo Fighters, among others.  In 2002, the band finally signed to a major label, ATO Records.  They released two albums, It Still Moves (2003) and Z (2005).  January 2004 saw the departure of Danny Cash and Johnny Quaid.  They were replaced by Bo Koster on keyboards and Carl Broemel on guitar.  Z (2005)became the group’s breakout hit.  “This collection features a much spacier and more polished sound than previous releases, making heavy use of synthesizers throughout and incorporating reggae and dub influences. The heavy reverb that was a defining characteristic of the band’s prior recordings is largely absent. The songs on the album are more focused and shorter compared to the band’s previous albums (source).”

A skosh more…

In 2008, Evil Urges was released and marked a change in the group’s sound.  It was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards, but Radiohead’s In Rainbows took home the award.  The band promoted the new album by playing two tracks on Saturday Night Live on May 10.  The album was released on June 10.  That same month, the band played a four-hour set at Bonnaroo, a four-day music festival held in Manchester, Tennessee.  They began playing at midnight…in the rain!  They played 12 of the 14 songs on Evil Urges with a total of 35 songs!    That performance has been regarded as one of the band’s best ever as well as being considered one of the best in the history of Bonnaroo.  Rolling Stone magazine said the performance was “career defining.”  The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Album.  If you have some time (like 1:13:30), here is part of their performance at Bonnaroo in 2011.

Finally…

In 2011, the band released Circuital, their sixth studio album.  Parts of the album were recorded in an old church in Louisville.  They toured for two years promoting that album.  Next came The Waterfall in 2015 followed by The Waterfall II in 2020.  In 2021, the eponymous, My Morning Jacket, was released.  The latest album, Is, was released this year.  Obviously, the band took a bit of a break, with some of the members working on separate projects.  During this time, members of the band weren’t sure if a “reunion” would ever occur.  But, according to Blankenship, this break and the solo projects didn’t drive a wedge between the members so much as reinforce their appreciation of the band as a whole.   The band is currently touring.  You can check here to see if they’ll be near you!

The song…

What it means…

Let me say this first. What really caught my ear was the piano intro. It was just so lovely and made me think of holidays. Then, I listened to the song and was captured by James’ voice as well as the sentiment behind the lyrics. I think this song, ultimately, is about finding your soul mate. It might be today; it might be tomorrow; it might not be for several years. But, when you meet that person…well, “time waited.” Here is what James had to say about the song:

“I made a loop of that piano intro and listened as I went for a walk, and all these melodies started coming to me,” front man Jim James shared about the new track. “For a long time, I didn’t have lyrics, but then I had a dream where I was in a café and a song was playing, and the lyrics to that song became the lyrics to ‘Time Waited’ – the melodies just fit perfectly. And the lyrics are about how flexible time is, how we can bend and warp time, especially if we are following our hearts, the universe and time itself can flow to work with us (source).”

Here’s a video with James describing the process. Man, I love that piano riff!

The video…

Interesting covers…

Well, I couldn’t find any covers, probably because it’s such a new song. But, here are a couple of alternate versions. Don’t you just love his jacket and the jewelry?

The second is a studio version with just James and his guitar. It’s so interesting to hear single tracks of a song. You get a real sense of just how much different instruments and voices add to a song. It’s also minus the piano riff…le sigh.

My interpretation…

This is one of those songs that isn’t easy to interpret. The videos really didn’t offer much in the way of sartorial excellence. I mean, I do really dig the jacket James is wearing in the second video. I don’t have anything like that so I went with my gut on this one. My gut hath spoken, and this is what it saith. The song gives me late 60s/early 70s vibe…kinda on the verge of hippie yet not really. I guess I got stuck on the word, psychedelic, and went from there. So, this is my verging on the hippie side but not really. I’m wearing an old pair of Loft jeans that have been on the blog several times. I don’t know what they are because I bought them years ago. The white shirt is from J Jill and is a few years old, too. The vest, though, is new. This is the Daisy vest from Kantha Bae. In case you don’t know, each piece is unique and is made from recycled, or should that be upcycled, saris. I just linked to one. I think they were having a big sale for the Fourth of July, and I nabbed this one. I was struggling with how to wear it until I decided to try it over a white shirt. I really like the effect. I think I’m channeling my inner Janis Joplin!

The Lewk!

I love, love, love these adidas Samba OG sneakers! I reach for them over and over again! Mine are the cream white/violet/sand combination. The bracelets are from Amazon and other places. The earrings are from eBay. Now, let’s talk about this beautiful necklace. It’s from Katia Designs and is the Have Faith Lotus Amazonite Long Chain Fusion Necklace. The clip is magnetic, and you can take it apart and wear it separately as well as a bracelet. That is versatility, my friends! If you’d like one of your own, you can use my code, Marsha15 for 15% off your order.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I hope I haven’t created a problem for any of you…you know…ear worms! But, this song…I heard it on the radio on one of those stations that rarely gives any information about the song. I even tried looking on their website. I usually can remember a line or two so that I can look them up. But, this time, it was a no go. Finally, I heard the song again and was able to look it up. I have to say, and my son will make fun of me for it, this has to be one of my favorite songs ever. I think it’s that piano riff (is that what that would be called). So, can we talk? What do you think this song means? Do you believe in soulmates? Does that piano bit remind you of a holiday? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.

Thank you!

Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Affiliate links, discount codes, and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.  My April Cornell code, MARSHA15, now works, but it’s good for only one use. You can get $15 off $100. I’d wait and use it during a really good sale! Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. Use MARSHA15 at Katia Designs for 15% off your order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

And, now, it’s your turn!

Please link up your favorite posts, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Link up with me, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!

First Name

Last Name

List choice Marsha’s Blog

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: