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.
Times Like These
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes
On and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on it goes
And there's always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
Boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
But then hurt from time to times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
Action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
Those for peace and those for war
And God bless these ones not those ones
But these ones made times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes on and on
On and on and on and on and on on and on and on it goes
But somehow I know it won't be the same
Somehow I know it'll never be the same
Jack Johnson's song Times Like These is a poignant reflection on the cyclical nature of life and the inevitable hardships that come with it. The opening lines, "In times like these and times like those, what will be will be and so it goes," set the tone for the rest of the song, as Johnson acknowledges that life is full of ups and downs that are beyond our control. He goes on to describe the timeless experiences that we all share, such as laughing and crying, birth and dying, and the joys and pains of growing up and raising children.
Johnson also speaks to the divide between those who seek peace and those who choose war. He acknowledges that there will always be opposing forces in the world, but expresses his hope for a future that is different from the past. "But somehow I know it won't be the same, somehow I know it'll never be the same," he sings, suggesting that he has faith in humanity's ability to learn from its mistakes and create a better world for future generations.
Throughout the song, Johnson's simple yet powerful lyrics are matched by his mellow guitar melodies, creating a sense of comfort even in the midst of turmoil. "On and on and on it goes" becomes a sort of mantra that encourages the listener to accept life's inevitable twists and turns, and to find peace in the knowledge that everything will ultimately be okay.
Line by Line Meaning
In times like these
During difficult and uncertain times
And times like those
During other challenging periods in the past
What will be will be
Whatever happens will happen regardless of our actions or desires
And so it goes
Life moves forward and changes constantly
And it always goes
This is a constant pattern
On and on and on and on and on
Continuing without end
On and on and on and on and on it goes
The pattern of life continues without interruption
And there's always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
These are all universal experiences throughout human history
Boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
People experience love and loss, joy and pain
And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
Despite difficulties, people are able to recover and persevere
But then hurt from time to time
Pain is a natural part of the human experience
And times like those
In other difficult periods
And there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
Life is a combination of different speeds and rhythms
Action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
People may harm one another physically and emotionally
Those for peace and those for war
There will always be people who strive for peace and those who seek conflict
And God bless these ones not those ones
Some people receive societal approval while others are rejected
But these ones made times like these
Current circumstances were shaped by the actions of individuals and groups
And it always goes on and on
This pattern of life continues
On and on and on and on and on on and on and on it goes
Life continues without interruption
But somehow I know it won't be the same
Despite the constancy of life, changes will occur
Somehow I know it'll never be the same
Even with familiar patterns, things will never be exactly as they were before
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind