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.
Go On
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I watch you watching the twilight
Behind the telephone lines
With nothing to prove, or to assume
Just thinking that your thoughts are different than mine
In my rear view
I watch you
And I gave you your life, would you give me mine
I see you slowly swim away
'Cause the light is leaving town
To a place that I can't be
But there's no apologies
Just go on
Just go on
There's still so many things
I wanna say to you
Go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood that's moving
From the moment that we start
From the moment that we start
I see your perfect little lies
Watch the shadows of the clouds
And the surface of the ocean out the window of a plane
I get nervous when I fly
I'm used to walking with my feet
Turbulence is like a sigh that I can't help but over think
What is the purpose of my life
If it doesn't ever do
With learning to let it go
Live vicariously through
You could do the same
It's the least you could do
'Cause it's a lonely little chain
If you don't add to it
Go on
Just go on
There's still so many things
I wanna say to you
Go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood and love
From the moment that we start
Just go on
Just go on
There's still so many things
I wanna say to you
Just go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood that's moving
From the moment that we start
From the moment that we start
The lyrics of Jack Johnson’s song “Go On” explores the theme of separation and longing in relationships. In the opening lines, the singer looks back at someone who is watching twilight behind the telephone lines. They acknowledge that their thoughts are different and though they share the bond of blood, they are two individuals with their own perspectives on life. The singer then asks a poignant question – if they had given the other person their life, would they receive the same in return? This speaks to the depth of their relationship and the desire to truly understand each other’s experiences.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the distance that has grown between them. The light is leaving town and they are resigned to the fact that they are in different places. There are no apologies, simply an acknowledgement that they are on their own paths now. But even as they part ways, there are still things left unsaid. The singer wishes they could communicate with the other person despite the changes that have taken place. They urge the other person to go on with their life and live it to the fullest, not just for themselves but for the sake of the relationship they share.
Overall, the lyrics of “Go On” convey a bittersweet sentiment. They are filled with nostalgia and a longing for what was but they also encourage the listener to embrace the present and the future. The song speaks to the human experience of relationships and how they can change over time, but ultimately the bond of blood and love remains.
Line by Line Meaning
In my rear view
Looking back at the past
I watch you watching the twilight
I see you observing the beauty of the sunset
Behind the telephone lines
Amidst the urban noise
With nothing to prove, or to assume
Without any pretensions, just being yourself
Just thinking that your thoughts are different than mine
Acknowledging that we have contrasting perspectives
And I gave you your life, would you give me mine
Questioning the value of life and questioning the possibility of a trade
I see you slowly swim away
Watching as you drift apart
'Cause the light is leaving town
Because the moment is passing
To a place that I can't be
To a place that I can't experience
But there's no apologies
But there's no need for forgiveness
Just go on
Just carry on with your life
There's still so many things
There are so many things I want to say to you
We're bound by blood that's moving
We're connected by our shared history and evolution
From the moment that we start
From the moment we are born
I see your perfect little lies
I see through your facade
Watch the shadows of the clouds
Observe the play of light and shadow
And the surface of the ocean out the window of a plane
And the vastness of the world outside
I get nervous when I fly
I get anxious when I'm not in control
I'm used to walking with my feet
I'm comfortable with the familiar
Turbulence is like a sigh that I can't help but overthink
Turbulence is like a metaphor for my life, that I can't stop analyzing
What is the purpose of my life
Questioning the purpose and meaning of life
If it doesn't ever do.
If life doesn't have any impact
With learning to let it go
By accepting things as they are
Live vicariously through.
Experience life through others
You could do the same, it's the lease you could do
You can also try to understand me and my situation
'Cause it's a lonely little chain
Because our connection is fragile
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind