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.
People Watching
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're all people watching, the other people watching we
We're as lonely as we want it to be
We're all as lonely as we want it to be
Just as lonely as we want it to be
I'm just you, you're just me
It's only true, if we believe
Well there really ain't no use in stopping
What nobody never told me not to do
So I'll keep people watching
Watching me now
Finding my way back to you
We're as lonely as we want it to be
We're all as lonely as we want it to be
I'm just as lonely as we want it to be
I'm just you, you're just me
It's only, true if we believe
I see so many feet going so many ways
People passing by they got nothing to say
On our own just watching and confused
Well if nobody told me what to do
I guess I'm breaking all the rules
Well I'm just people watching the other people watching me
We're all people watching the other people watching we
We're as lonely as we want it to be
We're not so lonely as we want it to be
I'm just as lonely as I want it to be
Not so lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
The lyrics of “People Watching” by Jack Johnson speak about observing people in life’s daily routines while enjoying the beauty of their existence. He finds comfort in watching others and being watched himself, all the while realizing the loneliness that exists in all of us. Johnson insists that loneliness is not necessarily a bad thing and it can be seen as a means of finding oneself in our individual journeys through life. He emphasizes the importance of individual interpretation of loneliness, where we can all choose to be as lonely as we want to be.
As Johnson watches others, he realizes that humans follow their own path and discover their own unique way of life, with no need to conform to the rules of society. He encourages the listeners to break those norms and do what they love, much like he does by people watching. Johnson finds satisfaction in doing something that nobody told him to do, and in breaking the rules, he finds his way back to the ones he loves.
The song is about finding oneself through individual interpretation of loneliness and embracing the beauty of other people’s existence while also discovering one's own path. Johnson’s lyrics take the listener on a journey of self-discovery through observing others, and ultimately finding their way back to the people they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm just people watching, the other people watching me
I am observing others around me and they are also noticing me
We're all people watching, the other people watching we
Everyone is observing others and being observed themselves
We're as lonely as we want it to be
Our level of loneliness is based on our own choices and preferences
We're all as lonely as we want it to be
Everyone has control over how lonely they feel
Just as lonely as we want it to be
Our level of loneliness is a result of our own decisions
I'm just you, you're just me
We are all essentially the same
It's only true, if we believe
The truth of our experiences is determined by our own perceptions and beliefs
Well there really ain't no use in stopping
There is no point in holding back
What nobody never told me not to do
Whatever I haven't been specifically warned against, I may do
So I'll keep people watching
I'll continue to observe those around me
Watching me now
The people I am observing are also noticing me
Finding my way back to you
Reconnecting with another person after being alone
I see so many feet going so many ways
I observe a multitude of directions people are going in
People passing by they got nothing to say
Those around me are passing without speaking
On our own just watching and confused
We are alone and uncertain
Well if nobody told me what to do
If there are no specific instructions provided
I guess I'm breaking all the rules
I suppose I am not following conventional behavior
We're not so lonely as we want it to be
Our level of loneliness may not always correspond to our preferences
I'm just as lonely as I want it to be
I am experiencing the amount of loneliness I desire
Not so lonely
Experiencing less loneliness
Lonely
Feeling isolated and unconnected
Lonely
Experiencing solitude and lacking companionship
Lonely
Feeling disconnected from others
Lonely
Experiencing a lack of social interaction
Lonely
Feeling alone and unsupported
Lonely
Experiencing a sense of isolation and abandonment
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind