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.
Open Mind
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm finding it so hard to keep an open mind
But open up the windows, there's a storm inside
Let the wind blow in, the rain wash away
The shiny little things trying to find their way into my
Some nights I can fall for hope, but some I can't sleep
And sometimes I can forget that it's falling to pieces
Why we find it so easy to believe
In everything we're sold, but we're never going to see
When everything around us is begging just to be
Loved a little more, we can pray to anything
You want, you need
Anything you want
An open mind stuck between hope and doubt
Don't try to make sense of it, it don't work out
Sharpen all our senses 'til we can't see the light
Jury-rig ambitions 'til they come back at nighttime
Knocking, let me in, let me go
Why we find it so easy to believe
In everything we're sold, but we're never going to see
When everything around us is begging just to be
Loved a little more, we can pray to anything
We want, we need
Anything we want
Even when it's too much
Even when it's too much
Even when it's too much
Even when it's too much
In the song "Open Mind" by Jack Johnson, the lyrics delve into a reflection on the struggle to maintain an open mind in the face of challenges and conflicting emotions. The opening lines ponder the difficulty of finding an open mind, suggesting a sense of frustration or heaviness in trying to remain receptive to new ideas and perspectives. The metaphorical storm inside symbolizes inner turmoil or chaos that may hinder the ability to embrace openness. Opening up the windows and letting the wind and rain in signifies a cleansing process, washing away distractions and allowing clarity to enter.
The artist portrays a struggle between hope and sleeplessness, reflecting the internal tug-of-war between optimism and doubt that can plague the mind. The mention of things falling to pieces hints at a sense of disillusionment or despair that can sometimes overshadow moments of hope and positivity. This tussle between conflicting emotions adds depth to the theme of maintaining an open mind amidst life's challenges and uncertainties.
The lyrics question the ease with which people tend to believe in external influences and societal norms, highlighting a disconnect between what is presented to us and what truly matters beneath the surface. The plea to love a little more and pray to anything we desire underscores a yearning for authenticity and connection in a world that often pushes materialism and superficiality. The repetition of "anything you want, you need" emphasizes the importance of prioritizing genuine desires and needs over external expectations.
The song's chorus reinforces the struggle to reconcile conflicting thoughts and emotions, symbolized by sharpening our senses until the light becomes obscured. The mention of jury-rigged ambitions returning in the nighttime suggests a cyclical pattern of uncertainty and introspection that can impact one's sense of self and purpose. The plea to be let in and let go reflects a desire for understanding and release from inner turmoil. Ultimately, the recurrent assertion of "even when it's too much" acknowledges the overwhelming nature of life's challenges and the importance of maintaining openness and resilience despite adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
But why is it so hard to find an open mind?
I'm struggling to remain receptive and unbiased in my thinking.
I'm finding it so hard to keep an open mind
Maintaining an open perspective is challenging for me.
But open up the windows, there's a storm inside
Expose your inner struggles and turmoil.
Let the wind blow in, the rain wash away
Allow change and growth to cleanse your thoughts.
The shiny little things trying to find their way into my
External distractions influencing my mindset.
Some nights I can fall for hope, but some I can't sleep
Occasionally hopeful, but other times burdened by worry.
And sometimes I can forget that it's falling to pieces
Occasionally oblivious to the crumbling reality.
Why we find it so easy to believe
Questioning our tendency to accept things without scrutiny.
In everything we're sold, but we're never going to see
Acknowledging the deceit of manufactured truths.
When everything around us is begging just to be
Recognizing the yearning for compassion and understanding.
Loved a little more, we can pray to anything
Nurturing relationships and seeking solace.
You want, you need
Desires and necessities in life.
An open mind stuck between hope and doubt
Balancing optimism and skepticism in thought.
Don't try to make sense of it, it don't work out
Resisting the urge to rationalize, as it leads to confusion.
Sharpen all our senses 'til we can't see the light
Overstimulation hindering clarity and insight.
Jury-rig ambitions 'til they come back at nighttime
Imaginative aspirations resurfacing in dreams.
Knocking, let me in, let me go
Seeking entrance to new experiences while being uncertain.
Even when it's too much
Acknowledging overwhelming circumstances.
Even when it's too much
Admitting to facing excessive challenges.
Even when it's too much
Accepting the weight of heavy burdens.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Water Drop
I want to ask you if you ever made Jesus your lord and your savior have you ever thought about turning to God? God loves you and wants you to come to him and he will give you salvation for free you cannot earn your way to heaven its a gift that you take from God through Jesus. Did you know that God is our Judge and even though He doesn't want anyone to go to hell alot will go there because they will try to earn there way into heaven God is our Judge and Jesus is our savior from the sins we committed. Since God's our Judge everyone will be in front of God on Judgement day some will be with Jesus and go into heaven and others God will send into Hell. This is why alot will go into He'll because they trust in there heart that there a Good person and they think that if they change there bad ways than they won't Go to Hell but since God's a Good Judge he cannot let sin be unpunished. that's like you on earth killing someone and then telling the judge you won't do it again! So don't put me in prison! That won't work. The only thing that will save you is if someone paid your fines and the judge can Justly and rightly let you out because someone paid for your fines. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and he took the punishment of our sins on himself because He loves us he chose to die for you in hopes that you will turn to him because he knows that nothing will save you from Hell except Him except His work on the Cross. If you want to be saved tell God that you make Jesus your lord and your savior and agree and rest in that Jesus died for you and on the third day God raised Jesus from the dead Agree and rest in Jesus,
"9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation,
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
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Haku Records
Blake mills is a gem
Shiba Daddiesh
Hey Jack, I’ve been listening to you for about 15-16 years of my life now and I really can’t thank you enough for creating your beautiful music that’s brought so much joy to me for so many years. Thank you for being you man. You don’t even know how much you’ve helped me in my teenage years.
Cam_CA
@Water Drop Get that out of here. Save it for yourself.
Northern Lights
Been a huge fan since I was little. Such a genuine dude with such skill
Ashlee Larsen
@Water Drop fun! Back at ya!
Tyler Brink
I went and saw him live this summer and Zac Brown was a surprise artist that played along with him and it was great.
Ashlee Larsen
@Piteus X I heard Kelly Slater is hiring up Seal Beach this week! Mahalo 🤙🏻
Piteus X
He really is. He lives more like a surfer than rocker.
Ashlee Larsen
I'm sure he hates that, I was in college, "washing dishes" might be my favorite song ever
David Moran
That falsetto harmony from Blake is beautiful. Add that to Jack's sublime lyrics, mellow blues voice and the guitar skills of both of them and there it is... perfection. I love this.