Gone
Jack Johnson Lyrics
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But these gonna keep us warm, just like those
What about your soul?
Is it cold?
Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?
Cars and phones and diamond rings, bling bling
Those are only removable things
Or are there things that concern you more than your time?
Gone
Goin'
Gone everything
Gone give a damn
Gone be the birds when they don't want to sing
Gone people all awkward with their things
Gone
Look at you out to make a deal
You try be appealing but you lose your appeal
What about those shoes you're in today?
They'll do no good on the bridges you brought along the way, oh
You willing to sell anything, gone with your head
Leave your footprints, well shame them with our words
Gone people, all careless and consumed, gone
Gone
Goin'
Gone everything
Gone give a damn
Gone be the birds if they don't want to sing
Gone people all awkward with their things
Gone
The lyrics to Jack Johnson's song "Gone" question our society's obsession with material possessions and external validation. The opening lines, "Look at all those fancy clothes, but these gonna keep us warm, just like those," suggest that our focus on material things is often misguided. Despite the abundance of material possessions around us, Johnson urges us to consider the state of our soul, asking whether it is "cold" and "ready to be sold." The line "Cars and phones and diamond rings, bling bling, those are only removable things" further emphasizes the impermanence of material possessions and suggests that we should not place too much importance on them.
Johnson then turns his attention to our minds, asking whether they "shine," and whether there are things that we value more than our time. This suggests that our obsession with material things and external validation may be taking away from what truly matters in life. The repetition of the word "gone" throughout the song further emphasizes this idea, suggesting that these things will eventually fade away and that we should focus on what is truly important.
In the second half of the song, Johnson challenges those who are willing to sell anything and lose their "appeal" in the process. He asks whether they are willing to leave a positive impact on the world, saying "leave your footprints, well shame them with our words." The final repetition of "gone" suggests that if we continue to focus on material possessions, we may eventually lose everything that truly matters.
Overall, the lyrics to "Gone" offer a powerful critique of our society's materialism and suggest that we should focus on what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at all those fancy clothes
Despite all the material possessions and lavish lifestyle, they are not enough to keep us warm or fulfill our soul
But these gonna keep us warm, just like those
Even though we have fancy clothes, they are not any different than regular clothes in providing warmth
What about your soul?
What is the state of your inner self and being?
Is it cold?
Is your soul lacking passion, warmth or emotion?
Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?
Is your soul like everyone else's, lacking uniqueness and authenticity? Are you willing to trade it away for the pursuit of material things?
Cars and phones and diamond rings, bling bling
Material possessions like luxury cars, the latest phones and expensive jewelry (called bling bling) may seem valuable, but in the end they are temporary and superficial
Those are only removable things
Material possessions are not important enough to sustain us long term
What about your mind, does it shine?
Does your intellect, insight or creativity stand out and make you unique and special?
Or are there things that concern you more than your time?
Are you focused on things that matter beyond just the present moment or short term goals?
Gone
Things or people are either lost or vanished
Goin'
The process or action of going away or disappearing
Gone everything
Everything is disappearing or gone
Gone give a damn
No longer caring about something or someone that was once important
Gone be the birds when they don't want to sing
Even the natural world can cease to function as it should or be affected by external influences
Gone people all awkward with their things
People are uncomfortable in their own skin or with their material possessions
Look at you out to make a deal
You are focused on making transactions or deals for personal gain
You try be appealing but you lose your appeal
Trying too hard to be attractive or pleasing can actually be off-putting
What about those shoes you're in today?
Are you considering the practicality of your choices for the future or just focused on the present moment?
They'll do no good on the bridges you brought along the way, oh
Your current material possessions or choices may not help you in the future, especially if you've burned bridges or made negative choices
You willing to sell anything, gone with your head
You are so focused on making deals that you are losing sight of what is really important
Leave your footprints, well shame them with our words
Even after you are gone, your actions will continue to have an impact, but they may not be positive
Gone people, all careless and consumed, gone
People have lost themselves to the pursuit of material gain and are no longer connected to what really matters in life
Lyrics © DistroKid, Bubble Toes Publishing
Written by: Jack Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind