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.
No Good With Faces
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave me directions but it's all the same, oh no
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
Streetlamps are broken black the way I came
Who broke the moonlight watch it wax and wane, oh no
I'm lost
Let's not get ahead of ourselves
There's no need for rain, it's our own parade
Let's not be afraid of our reflections
It's not only you you're looking at now
Road signs are stolen left here hole in this flame
Who stole my patience, who stole my way, oh no
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
Let's not get ahead of ourselves now
There's no need for raid it's our own parade
Let's not be afraid of our reflections
It's not only you you're looking at now
Let's not get ahead of ourselves now
There's no need for raid it's our own parade
Let's not be afraid of our reflections
It's not only you you're looking at now
Ooh you're looking at now
Ooh you're looking at now
No good with faces and I'm bad with names
Gave me directions but it's all the same, oh no
I'm lost
I'm too tired to try
The opening lines of Jack Johnson's "No Good with Faces" express the singer's sense of detachment and confusion in the world: he seems to struggle with basic social interactions such as recognizing people and remembering their names. The song's metaphors of being lost and feeling tired reflect a sense of disconnection from the world around him, perhaps as a result of mental or emotional fatigue. The second verse builds on this theme, with the singer reflecting on his journey through a broken and chaotic world, where even the moonlight appears uncertain.
Despite these feelings of confusion and disorientation, the chorus of the song urges the listener not to be afraid of self-reflection or too caught up in external concerns. Instead, the singer advocates for embracing one's own personal journey and not getting too caught up in trying to please others or meeting societal expectations. This message of self-acceptance and independence is reflected in the repeated refrain "It's not only you you're looking at now."
Overall, "No Good with Faces" can be seen as a song about personal growth and self-discovery, as well as a critique of the pressures of conformity and social expectations. Through its introspective lyrics and soothing guitar melodies, the song encourages the listener to embrace their own individuality and not be afraid to chart their own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
No Good with faces and I'm bad with names
I have a hard time remembering people's faces and names.
Gave me directions but it's all the same, oh no
Even though someone gave me directions, I still feel lost.
I'm lost
I don't know where I am or where I'm going.
I'm too tired to try
I don't have the energy or motivation to figure out where I am or where I'm supposed to be.
Streetlamps are broken black the way I came
The streetlamps that used to light my way are now broken and dark.
Who broke the moonlight watch it wax and wane, oh no
The natural light of the moon is also no longer dependable and it's unsettling.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves
We shouldn't jump to conclusions or make assumptions without all the facts.
There's no need for rain, it's our own parade
We should enjoy life and not let obstacles or challenges rain on our parade.
Let's not be afraid of our reflections
We should be honest with ourselves and not be scared to see our true reflection.
It's not only you you're looking at now
We have an impact on others and should consider them in our actions and decisions.
Road signs are stolen left here hole in this flame
The road signs that used to guide us are now missing, leaving us feeling lost and directionless.
Who stole my patience, who stole my way, oh no
I'm frustrated and wondering who or what caused me to lose my patience and direction.
Ooh you're looking at now
This moment is important and we should be present in it.
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind