My Morning Jacket’s Jim James announced his second solo album, Eternally Even, a few days ago. The album is his most political work to date, and he’s dropping it in the middle of the bustle before election day for a reason. So you can guess what he’s getting at with the title of the lead single “Same Old Lie.” But in case you don’t get the hint, he straightforwardly relays his message over a percussion heavy aesthetic with sparse piano hits. James sings “It’s the same old lie told from the dawn of time/ Stretch it out a little try to milk every last dime/ Hate crime, shelter lines, they try to take what’s yours and mine/ Is there any peace to be found in a lifetime?” Listen to the first message of James’ campaign below.

Lyrics:

IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE THEY TELL YOU
WHEN YOU’RE LITTLE-
TRY TO MAKE YOU FORGET JUST WHAT IT IS
YOU’RE REALLY MADE OF.
AND FOLLOW ON JUST LIKE MOST EVERYONE…
BUT YOU AND ME WE AIN’T LIKE MOST EVERYONE.
PURE INDIVIDUAL BRIGHT AS THE SHINING SUN.
AND SURE AS HELL WE KNOW- WHERE IT IS WE COME FROM.
AND WHERE IT IS YEAH WE PROBABLY GOING BACK TO-
BUT NOW WE GONNA LIVE A LITTLE-
TRY AND GET A LITTLE TRUTH.
IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE.

IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE YOU BEEN READING ABOUT
BLEEDING OUT-
NOW WHO’S GETTING CHEATED OUT?
YOU BEST BELIEVE IT’S THE SILENT MAJORITY-
AND IF YOU DON’T VOTE IT’S ON YOU- NOT ME.
IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE TOLD FROM THE DAWN OF TIME.
STRETCH IT OUT A LITTLE TRY TO MILK EVERY LAST DIME.
HATE CRIMES. SHELTER LINES. THEY TRY TO TAKE WHAT’S YOURS AND MINE…
IS THERE ANY PEACE TO BE FOUND IN A LIFETIME?
IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE.

IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE YOU GOTTA LIVE WITH IT-
OR IF YOU GOT SENSE THEN YOU BETTER TRY CHANGING IT.
BUT NOTHING IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN CHANGING WHAT’S BEEN COMFORTABLE-
WE’VE SEEN IT TRIED A MILLION TIMES- IT’S HARD TO THINK WHEN HYPNOTIZED.
BUT A LIES A LIE- IT DESTROYS FROM THE INSIDE -DECAYS THE TEETH FROM BEHIND THAT FALSE SMILE.
A LIE IS A LIE AND I’VE TOLD MY SHARE BUT- I KNOW IM GONNA SUFFER FOR THE SHIT I PUT OUT THERE.
IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE.

WELL IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE- I THINK I DIED A LITTLE.
GUNS DRAWN- FACES LONG-
HOW MUCH KILLING CAN BE DONE?
IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE THEY TELL YOU WHEN YOU DIE-
THERE ARE MANSIONS UP IN HEAVEN- 50 VIRGINS OFF IN THE SKY.
WELL YOU CANT TRADE TODAY FOR SOME FAR OFF PROMISE OF TOMORROW…
YOU CAN’T BUILD LOVE OUT OF GUNS BLOOD AND SORROW.
THEY SAY WE CANT LIVE TOGETHER-
BUT WE KNOW THAT’S A LIE-
CUZ WE KNOW IT IN OUR HEART WE CAN MAKE IT IF WE TRY.
IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME IT’S THE SAME OLD LIE.
SAME LIE.

Tracklist:

01 “Hide in Plain Sight”
02 “Same Old Lie”
03 “Here In Spirit”
04 “World’s Smiling Now”
05 “We Ain’t Getting Any Younger Pt. 1″
06 “We Ain’t Getting Any Younget Pt. 2″
07 “True Nature”
08 “In the Moment”
09 “Eternally Even”

Eternally Even is out 11/4 via ATO/Capitol Records. Pre-order it here and get “Same Old Lie” instantly.