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.
Gone Gone Gone
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But these could keep us warm just like those
What about your soul, is it cold?
Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?
And cars and fones and diamond rings
Bling bling
Those are only removable things
Are there things that concern you, more than your time?
Gone, Goin, gone everything, gone give a damn
Gone be the birds when they dont wana sing
Gone people all awkward with their things
Gone
And look at you out to make a deal
You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal
What about those shoes your in today
They'll do no good on the bridges you burnt along the way
You willing to sell anything
Gone with your heard
Leave your footprints and we'll shame them with our words
Gone peolple all carful and consumed
Gone
Gone, Goin, gone everything, gone give a damn
Gone be the birds when they dont wana sing
Gone people all awkward with their things
Gone
In "Gone, Gone, Gone," Jack Johnson is calling out the materialistic nature of society's values. He first points out the fancy and expensive clothes that people wear and asks if they are really necessary when simple clothes that keep one warm could suffice. Johnson then questions the state of people's souls, wondering if they have become cold and are ready to be sold as they follow a mold set by society. He contrasts the material things many people desire such as cars, phones, and diamond rings with the things that should matter more, such as a shiny mind with things that concern us more than just our own time.
Johnson then uses the refrain "Gone, Goin, gone everything, gone give a damn" to emphasize that it is time to let go of these unnecessary things and start caring about what truly matters. He expands on this idea by referencing the birds who stop singing and people who become consumed by their possessions, becoming "all awkward with their things." Johnson concludes with challenging the listener with the question "Are you willing to sell anything?" and advising them to leave a positive impact on the world rather than being consumed by material goods.
Overall, "Gone, Gone, Gone" is a call to action, urging listeners to reassess their values and prioritize the things that matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at all those fancy clothes
The singer notices that people prioritize material possessions and status symbols.
But these could keep us warm just like those
However, fancy clothes are no different than regular clothes in their ability to provide warmth.
What about your soul, is it cold?
The singer questions whether people's priorities have made them indifferent to their inner selves.
Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?
The artist wonders whether people's lives are predetermined and easily influenced by societal values and expectations.
And cars and fones and diamond rings
The artist lists material possessions that people value highly.
Bling bling
This line emphasizes the superficiality of valuing material possessions.
Those are only removable things
The singer shares the view that material possessions are fleeting and ultimately unimportant.
What about your mind, does it shine?
The artist asks if people prioritize intellectual pursuits or if they are solely focused on material gain.
Are there things that concern you, more than your time?
The artist questions whether people prioritize their time on earth more than what they use it for or what they leave behind.
Gone, Goin, gone everything, gone give a damn
The artist acknowledges that everything eventually fades and that people have lost interest in caring about important values.
Gone be the birds when they dont wana sing
The singer uses a metaphor to describe how even natural beauty and wonder can be taken for granted or disappear.
Gone people all awkward with their things
The artist sees that people obtain possessions they don't know how to use or value.
And look at you out to make a deal
The singer addresses someone who is solely interested in profit, and not in genuine connection or values.
You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal
The singer observes that in chasing after superficial values, people lose their authenticity and interest for others.
What about those shoes your in today
The singer wonders whether people's possessions mean anything significant to them or if they are only temporary.
They'll do no good on the bridges you burnt along the way
The artist reminds people that their past actions and character are more important than what they own or wear.
You willing to sell anything
The artist questions whether people have actual values or are willing to sell out to anything for personal gain.
Gone with your heard
The singer sees that people have become callous, placing priorities on profit and material possessions.
Leave your footprints and we'll shame them with our words
The singer notes that people's negative actions and priorities have consequences.
Gone people all careful and consumed
The artist sees that people focus on self-interest and forget to prioritize important values such as genuine connection and love.
Gone
A final acknowledgement of the fleeting nature of all things; and a warning to prioritize what's truly important.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind