Flake
Jack Johnson Lyrics
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You can make it up next time
I know she knows, it's not right
There ain't no use in lying
Maybe she thinks I know something
Maybe, maybe she thinks it's fine
Maybe she knows something I don't
I'm so, I'm so tired, I'm so tired of trying
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means, no
So don't tell me, you might just let it go
And often times we're lazy
It seems to stand in my way
'Cause no one, no not, no one
Likes to be let down
I know she loves the sunrise
No longer sees it with her sleeping eyes
And I know that when she said, she's gonna try
Well, it might not work because of other ties and
I know she usually has some other ties
And I wouldn't wanna break 'em, nah, I wouldn't wanna break 'em
Maybe she'll help me to untie this, but
Until then well, I'm gonna have to lie to her
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means, no
So don't tell me, you might just let it go
And often times we're lazy
It seems to stand in my way
'Cause no one, no not, no one
Likes to be let down
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means, no
So don't tell me, you might just let it go
The harder that you try baby, the further you'll fall
Even with all the money in the whole wide world
Please, please, please don't pass me
Please, please, please don't pass me
Please, please, please don't pass me by
Everything you know about me now, baby you gonna have to change
You goin' to call it, by a brand new name
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me down
Just like your tree, down by the water, baby I shall not move
Even after all the silly things you do
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me down
The song "Flake" by Jack Johnson features lyrics that explore the complex emotions surrounding a relationship that might be approaching its end. The singer is tired of trying and the woman in question seems distant despite assuring him that everything is alright. The repeated refrain "It seems to me that maybe, it pretty much always means no" suggests that the relationship has soured, and that the woman in question isn't interested in moving forward.
The lyrics suggest that despite wanting to salvage things, the narrator is resigned to the fact that the problems in the relationship are insurmountable. Lines like "maybe she'll help me to untie this, but until then, well, I'm gonna have to lie to her" illustrate the narrator's frustration with the situation. The refrain "please, please, please don't drag me down" underscores this feeling of being trapped and wanting to break free.
Overall, "Flake" is a song that captures the nuanced emotions surrounding a relationship that might be coming to an end despite efforts to save it.
Line by Line Meaning
I know she said, it's alright
I understand her words as she said it's fine
You can make it up next time
I should try again in the future
I know she knows, it's not right
Even if she's pretending, she knows it's not okay
There ain't no use in lying
There's no point in lying to oneself or to each other
Maybe she thinks I know something
She might believe that I understand something she doesn't
Maybe, maybe she thinks it's fine
Perhaps she thinks it's acceptable but still unsure
Maybe she knows something I don't
She might have knowledge that I do not have
I'm so, I'm so tired, I'm so tired of trying
I'm exhausted from trying so hard to please her
It seems to me that maybe
I feel like there's a chance that
It pretty much always means, no
It usually implies rejection or disapproval
So don't tell me, you might just let it go
Do not give me a false hope
And often times we're lazy
We tend to procrastinate or not put in much effort
It seems to stand in my way
It hinders my progress
'Cause no one, no not, no one
No one likes being let down or disappointed
Likes to be let down
I know she loves the sunrise
She finds pleasure in watching the dawn
No longer sees it with her sleeping eyes
She missed the sunrise cause she's asleep
And I know that when she said, she's gonna try
I'm aware when she made an effort
Well, it might not work because of other ties and
Her commitment to someone else can thwart her efforts
I know she usually has some other ties
She's typically involved with someone else
And I wouldn't wanna break 'em, nah, I wouldn't wanna break 'em
I don't want to interfere with her relationship
Maybe she'll help me to untie this, but
She might lend me a hand and fix it
Until then well, I'm gonna have to lie to her
Until that happens, I'll need to deceive her
The harder that you try baby, the further you'll fall
Trying too hard can lead to failure and disappointment
Even with all the money in the whole wide world
Money can't buy everything, including happiness or love
Please, please, please don't pass me
Don't abandon me or leave me behind
Please, please, please don't pass me
Please, please, please don't pass me by
Everything you know about me now, baby you gonna have to change
You'll have to reconsider your views regarding me
You goin' to call it, by a brand new name
You'll see me differently, probably more negatively
Please, please, please don't drag me
Don't pull me back or lower my status
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me down
Just like your tree, down by the water, baby I shall not move
Just like a sturdy tree by the stream, I won't be displaced
Even after all the silly things you do
I won't budge even after all the nonsense you put me through
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me
Please, please, please don't drag me down
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack learned to play the guitar at age 14, but was a professional surfer until an accident at Pipeline in which his front teeth were knocked out and he received more than 150 stitches. While he was recovering in bed, he spent his time writing songs and playing guitar. However, Jack didn't seriously pursue a career in the arts until his college years at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Jack Johnson also played rhythm guitar for the party band "Soil" in 1999, and graduated with a degree in film.
He has written, recorded, and released the albums Brushfire Fairytales (2001), On And On (2003), In Between Dreams (2005), Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George (2006), Sleep Through the Static (2008) and To The Sea (2010), he has also been on 3 soundtracks "September Sessions" from the film The September Sessions, "Thicker Than Water" from the film Thicker Than Water, "Sprout", "A Broke Down Melody" Ep and "Some Live Songs EP". Several of his songs are also featured in the movie "Out Cold". His latest album - Sleep Through The Static - reached the top 10 of the US charts.
In (2009) A live album and DVD of Jack's (2008) world tour to promote the release of Sleep Through The Static album. The DVD entitled En Concert, was released on October 27, 2009. The DVD was directed by Emmett Malloy.
On June 1, 2010, Johnson released his fifth studio album, To The Sea, on Brushfire Records/Universal Republic, which was recorded using Solar Powered energy at his Mango Tree Studio in Hawaii, and the Plastic Plant in LA . To The Sea was co produced by Robert Carranza, Jack Johnson, and his bandmates Merlo Podlewski, Zach Gill and Adam Topol and features guest appearances from G. Love, and Paula Fuga.
Jack Johnson is currently on a world tour promoting To The Sea while continually encouraging his concert attendees to pay greater respect for our planet. An active promoter of environmental causes like Explore.org and One Percent For The Planet, Johnson's 2010 world tour will continue to collaborate with local non-profit groups around the world, according to his website. He will once again donate 100% of his tour profits to support environmental, art, and music education. Learn more about Jack Johnson's current environmental commitments to our planet at: www.AllAtOnce.org.
Jack just cancelled the remaining balance of his Japanese tour on March 12, 2011 in sympathy of the victims of Tohoku Earthquake. Join Jack in supporting this disaster relief by donating to Global Giving Japan, and he encourages others to join this effort. Johnson's Ohana Charitable Foundation has also supported Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit that works to restore and revitalize music education in disadvantaged U.S. public schools. He also decorated a guitar for Little Kids Rock to auction to raise funds for its program.
On September 22, 2012, he donated his time to play a few songs at Farm Aid 2012 in Hershey, PA. Later in 2012, Jack donated $50,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief and added links on his website for others to donate:
"After years of touring and surfing along the East Coast, I have made so many great friends. It is heartbreaking to see the images and hear their stories. I just made donations to help recover and relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy. Below is a list of groups you can support. If you can't donate money, you can donate food, supplies, or your time. Our East Coast family, friends, and neighbors need our help. Aloha"
Johnson released From Here to Now to You with his band on September 17, 2013. On June 15, 2013, Jack and the Band performed as headliners at the 2013 Bonnaroo in Tennessee. He also played two acoustic concerts, one at London's Tabernacle in Notting Hill and the other at New York City's Allen Room at Lincoln Center overlooking Central Park, featuring songs from his upcoming album. The From Here to Now to You Tour ran from March through September 2014.
In February 2017, Johnson announced a U.S. tour beginning in Chicago at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island on June 1 and ending with two Kōkua Hawai'i Foundation benefit concerts at the Waikiki Shell on August 4 & 5. Also, he revealed plans to release an album in the summer of 2017. Later, he added a September 10 concert for the 2017 Ohana Fest at Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, California. On September 8, 2017, Jack released his seventh studio album All the Light Above It Too, and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard chart's "Artist 100." In July 2018, Johnson released his greatest hits album "Jack Johnson: The Essentials" in Japan only.
In late 2019, Johnson released a single "New Axe", which was featured in the This Warm December Vol. 3 album. He then did a "Together at Home" Instagram Live stream concert on March 28, 2020. His concert was the third most watched on the Global Citizen YouTube. He then also performed at the "One World: Together at Home" special, and a live version of "Better Together" was featured on the One World: Together at Home album. On May 1, 2020, he was featured on Milky Chance's new single "Don't Let Me Down". On September 26, 2020, Johnson performed the opening set at Farm Aid: On the Road.
On December 4, 2020, Johnson released a new single titled "The Captain Is Drunk". On April 16, 2021, Johnson released a song titled "If Ever" with Paula Fuga and Ben Harper. The song appeared on Fuga's new album Rain on Sunday, which will be featured on Johnson's record label.
On June 24, 2022, Johnson released his eighth studio album, Meet the Moonlight, his first full-length record in five years. It was produced by Blake Mills, engineered by Joseph Lorge, and recorded both in Los Angeles (at Sound City Studios and EastWest Studios) and at The Mango Tree (Johnson's home studio) in Hawaii. The album's lead single is titled "One Step Ahead".
To coincide with his new album release, Johnson embarked on the Meet the Moonlight Tour with 35 stops at major venues across the United States (including Hawaii) and Canada. He was accompanied by various artists including Grammy-award winner (and personal friend) Ziggy Marley. In November, Johnson will tour the album in Australia and New Zealand, his first overseas concerts since 2019.
On July 22, 2000, Johnson married his college girlfriend, Kim Baker. They have three children: two boys and a girl. Johnson lives on the North Shore of the island of Oahu in Hawaii. In an interview with Johnson, Ann Donahue from Billboard described Johnson's family life by saying "There is often trouble in balancing the life of an artist, environmentalist, and family man, but Johnson seems to have the niche for such a challenge. This time around, he's found a pace that agrees with him...bringing his family along so he can spend mornings with them sightseeing." Both Johnson and his wife declined to talk about or release any intimate information concerning their children.