My Morning Jacket are all about the peace. Singer Jim James‘ calm, beatific demeanor and lyrics about universal love and acceptance are the hallmark of the Louisville-bred band’s music. So it’s not a surprise that in the midst of a week in which the nation was torn by the killing of two black men by police and a sniper attack that killed five police officers, James would look for a way to find some answers among the chaos.
Released on Sunday, the trippy, funky rock tune “Magic Bullet” opens with the lryics, “Ain’t no magic bullet come from magic shell/ No other way to put it, far as I can tell/ Ain’t no way to solve a problem of the streets/ With an itchy trigger finger/ Servant of disease/ I mean come on.”
Stevie Wonder Urges People to Choose ‘Love Over Hate’
The song was accompanied by an essay laying out the reasons why love is always a better choice than hate. “Violence is never the answer,” it reads. “Only love. We all need to be a part of the discussion. Part of the solution. How long will it take before we realize- we are all the same. This is not idealistic dreaming. This is a fact- we all want only to love and be loved. To nurture and protect those we love.” (To read the rest of the essay, click here.)
Jay Z Posts ‘Songs For Survival’ Playlist Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Nina Simone, Outkast & Beyonce
MMJ are the latest artists to weigh in on the police-related killing of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, following Jay Z’s “Spiritual,” sister-in-law Solange Knowles’ cover of “Black Maybe” and a raft of other artists who’ve spoken out, marched and made statements.