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.
Pirate Looks At 40
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
'Cause you've seen it all, you've seen it all
Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
And in your belly you hold the treasures that few have ever seen
Most of 'em dreams, most of 'em dreams
Yes I am a pirate, a few hundred years too late
I'm an under-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late
I've done a bit of smuggling, I've run my share of weed
And I've made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
It's never meant to last, it's never meant to last
And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I've passed out and I've rallied and I've sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishing, got to go fishing
Down to rock bottom again
With just a few friends, just a few friends
With just a few friends, just a few friends
In "A Pirate Looks at Forty," the singer reflects on his lifelong fascination and connection to the ocean. He addresses the ocean as "mother," indicating his reverence and respect for this natural force. The singer expresses his desire to sail upon the ocean since he was young, indicating his innate attraction to the ocean. He acknowledges that the ocean holds the treasures that many have never seen, suggesting his curiosity for the mysteries held beneath its surface.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant as the singer calls himself a pirate a few hundred years too late. He reflects on how times have changed and how there's nothing left for him to plunder. The singer muses about arriving too late to the party and how he's a victim of fate. The all-too-familiar feeling of regret is present in these lines as he ponders his missed opportunities and wrong turns.
The final verse takes a slightly darker turn as the singer reflects on his personal failings. He alludes to the fact that he's done some illegal things like smuggling and running weed. He also references how he's made a lot of money in the past but lost it quickly. These lines suggest that the singer has lived a somewhat tumultuous life. He then talks about how he's been drunk for two weeks, acknowledging his own addiction and its impact on him. He concludes by stating that he needs to "go fishing" and start again from rock bottom, indicating that he's ready to turn a new leaf.
Overall, "A Pirate Looks At Forty" is a song about reflection, regret, and the desire for redemption. It's a song that captures the singer's love for the ocean and how it has shaped his life. The honest and reflective nature of the lyrics makes it a truly meaningful song.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, mother ocean, well I have heard you call
I feel a spiritual connection to the ocean and I sense that it's calling me.
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
Ever since I was a little kid, I've dreamed of sailing the seas.
'Cause you've seen it all, you've seen it all
The ocean has witnessed countless historical events and changes throughout human history.
Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam
Over time, ships have transitioned from using sail power to steam power while sailing on the ocean.
And in your belly you hold the treasures that few have ever seen
The depths of the ocean hold many secrets and treasures that have yet to be discovered.
Most of 'em dreams, most of 'em dreams
People tend to romanticize and dream about the treasures and mysteries hidden in the ocean depths.
Yes I am a pirate, a few hundred years too late
I view myself as a modern-day pirate, but my romanticized ideal is several centuries out of date.
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder
Piracy in the modern era is much different than in past centuries, and there's not much left to gain from it.
I'm an under-forty victim of fate
I feel like I missed out on the golden era of piracy and am unlucky to have been born too late.
Arriving too late, arriving too late
I feel like I'm too late to the party and have missed out on certain opportunities in life.
I've done a bit of smuggling, I've run my share of weed
I've dabbled in illegal activities like smuggling and drug trafficking to make money.
And I've made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
I've earned a lot of money in my lifetime, but I've also foolishly spent it all very quickly.
It's never meant to last, it's never meant to last
My wealth and success has always been fleeting and temporary.
And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I've been drinking heavily and irresponsibly for an extended period of time.
I've passed out and I've rallied and I've sprung a few leaks
My drinking has caused me to black out and recover multiple times, and it's even caused some physical harm.
But I got to stop wishing, got to go fishing
I need to stop wishing for things to be different and start taking action.
Down to rock bottom again, with just a few friends, just a few friends
I need to hit a low point in my life again, but this time, I'll have a few close friends to support me through it.
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing
Written by: Jack Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind