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.
Moonshine
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My dad would get up to go surf about 4:30 or 5:00 and sometimes
I would hear him and go out in the living room and he'd be getting is board up
Out of the closet, like right in the dining
Room where he kept his board
And one day I remember the waves were really good
And um, it was really cool just getting up
I remember just sitting there watching my dad surf and from that point on
I always kinda like.. felt like a surfer, you know?
I always knew that I would definitely be surfing forever
In Jack Johnson's song, Moonshine, the artist shares a personal memory involving his father and surfing, a memory that seems to have had a profound impact on him. Johnson begins by describing how his father would always wake up early in the morning, around 4:30 or 5:00, to go surfing. He recalls how he could hear his father's movements in the living room as he prepared his surfboard for the day's activities. Johnson then takes us to a specific day when the waves were particularly good, and he woke up early to accompany his father to the beach. He remembers the thrill of watching his father surf and how it sparked a lifelong passion in him to become a surfer himself.
The memory that Johnson shares speaks to the universal human experience of idolizing a parent and wanting to follow in their footsteps. It also highlights the idea that certain experiences can shape us and set us on a particular path. The ocean and surfing have become recurring themes in Jack Johnson's music, and it's clear that his father's love for the sport played a significant role in that.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I've got one memory that's always been with me
The singer recalls a particular memory from their past that has continued to stick with them over the years.
My dad would get up to go surf about 4:30 or 5:00 and sometimes
The singer's father used to wake up early in the morning to go surfing, on occasion.
I would hear him and go out in the living room and he'd be getting is board up
Upon hearing his father's movements, the singer would get up and find his father in the living room, preparing to go surfing.
Out of the closet, like right in the dining Room where he kept his board
The singer's father kept his surfboard in a closet located in the same room as the dining room.
And one day I remember the waves were really good
The singer has a vivid memory of a particularly good day to go surfing, where the waves were just right.
And um, it was really cool just getting up
The singer reflects on the excitement and anticipation that came with waking up early, knowing the waves were good and perfect for surfing.
And going down there, it was off-shore
The singer remembers going to the location where his father was surfing and noting that it was off-shore, meaning the wind was blowing in the right direction for good surfing conditions.
I remember just sitting there watching my dad surf and from that point on
The singer fondly recalls sitting and watching his father surf, and goes on to explain how that experience was life-changing.
I always kinda like.. felt like a surfer, you know?
After seeing his father surf, the singer began to identify as a surfer and felt like he was a part of that community.
I always knew that I would definitely be surfing forever
The singer concludes by expressing a certainty that they would be surfing for the rest of their life, having been inspired by his father's passion for the sport.
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Holder, Garnet & Great FSU Archives
One of the best days of my life, I walk into my local record "CD" store and my told the guy at the counter I had not heard any new music that touch my soul in a long time could he help. And he just put on this new cat name Jack Johnson, so he played it and it was like love at first tone, I was hooked, Brushfire Fairytales from the first song my soul was happy again and have every album, video and was lucky enough to see him in the ATL in 2008. Peace!
Hayden Barr
Dude that’s awesome
randisanders79
I could listen to him jammin this tune for way longer than 2:03, it's like a sunset.. it shows you magic for a split second and then it's gone.
Debitto456
the first time i heard this i just felt a huge sense of peace and ever since then I've just had to listen to it non-stop =D
Robson Sousa
Procurei essa musica por tanto tempo 😭
javi espinoza
I love this song! no me canso de escucharla nunca!
Leonardo Pinks
nunca
Giulio Colnago
Great song! Soothing...and being a surfer the intro narration hits the spot!
Shognation
i love the narration as much as the song. great stuff.
Mathias Elias
This sounds kind of like inaudible melodies to me, I dig it :)