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.
I Shall Be Released
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
They say every man who needs protection
They say every man must fall
But I swear I can see my reflection
Some where so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Yondah stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him crying out so loud
Crying cause he was framed
And the say I see my light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
In Jack Johnson’s song I Shall Be Released, he speaks about hope and redemption. The opening lines of the song state that everything can be replaced and every distance is not near. These lines suggest that the songwriter has experienced loss of something essential, perhaps freedom or opportunity, but has come to realize that one can always get it back. The reference to every man who put him here suggests that he has been imprisoned or held back but remembers every face and its associated emotions.
In the second verse, the songwriter finds solace in the thought that every man who needs protection must fall. He seems to be saying that it is not just him who has been imprisoned, but many others too, and expresses hope that they will all be released. When he mentions that he can see his reflection somewhere so high above this wall, he refers to his belief that he can transcend the confinement and see hope on the other side. He has come to the realization that the only thing that can stop him is himself.
In the third verse, the songwriter tells a story about a man who has been wrongly accused of a crime, who is standing in a lonely crowd. This man is crying out so loud because he has been framed, and yet he swears he is not to blame. The man represents the entire human race who, despite doing nothing wrong, can still be blamed, misunderstood, and wrongly accused.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of hope and an unyielding belief in the transformative power of time. The singer is hopeful that he shall be released someday and that better days are ahead for both him and the collective human consciousness.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
People say anything can be substituted or exchanged
They say every distance is not near
They say that it's not easy to bridge any gap
So I remember every face
That's why I recollect the face of every person who has contributed to my current state
Of every man who put me here
Of every man who has played a part in landing me here
I see my light come shining
I can see hope and positivity emanating from me
From the west down to the east
It fills my essence from all sides
Any day now, any day now
I know I'll be set free sooner rather than later
I shall be released
I'll be let go from all these misfortunes
They say every man who needs protection
People talk about how everyone who requires safeguarding
They say every man must fall
Must face a downfall
But I swear I can see my reflection
But I assure you that I can envision myself being freed
Some where so high above this wall
Breaking out of these adversities and boundaries lying across my path
Yondah stands a man in this lonely crowd
Over there is a man present in this forlorn procession
A man who swears he's not to blame
He claims that he is not accountable for what happened
All day long I hear him crying out so loud
Consistently, he is audible in his lamentations
Crying cause he was framed
Sobbing because he was trapped in a false accusation
And they say I see my light come shining
Furthermore, people mention that they can perceive the radiance gleaming from me
From the west down to the east
It's emanating from every direction
Any day now, any day now
In a brief period of time
I shall be released
I'll be freed from my shackles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Frank Lawrence
This is what makes a song a good song - when a variety of artists can do there own thing with it and it's still good. All different, all good. Bob writes a good song.
Wendy Miller
chrissie hynde's version for bob's 30th anniversary is pretty damn good, too!
bobby johnson
I am no Jack Johnson fan, but damn, it really does feel like the sun is rising whenever he picks up the verse, very excellent cover. The guy must have talent to know that this song was perfect for him. If only he could right this good for himself...
David Makinson
He rights better than you write. Just guessing.
Bob Wolbrink
Jack Johnson has done an excellent job with this Dylan tune! Very smooth and melodic. I'm surprised more people aren't aware of JJ and his great music.
Jonas Tavares
Po amo muito essa música, me traz uma paz interior inacreditável.
Brent Adams
i just got released ... thank you jesus ! ... miracles do happen ....
esthefany
Essa música é tudo pra mim💛
Amy Sides
Love this song!
Willy Wonka
The Sun...the warmth of it on a cold day....anyone else get this feeling when listening to Jacks songs?