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.
To the Sea
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let them bring their dogs
It's me that you wanted
I've been right here all along
Right here all along
You better bring your buckets
We've got some dreams to drain
I've been right here waiting so long
Just waiting so long
Dreams to drain
Put them in a cage
Unlock the pain
And I'll be here waiting
You fell asleep with the key
All your walls
Mean nothing to me
I know you'll come back
To set us free
Run my dear son
Until we get to the trees
And keep on going all the way
We've got to get right down to the sea
We've got to get to the sea
My dear son
We've got to get to the sea
Don't you touch the water
Don't you barely breathe
And if you see yourself
Looking back at you
You're gonna have to leave
You're gona have to leave
I don't want you to go
But you've got to leave
Dreams to drain
Put them in a cage
Unlock the pain
And I'll be here waiting
You fell asleep with the key
All your walls
Mean nothing to me
I know you'll come back
You're going to set us free
I don't want you to go
But you've got to leave
You can always come to me
I'll give you what you need
Run my dear son
We've got to get to the sea
In Jack Johnson's song To The Sea, the lyrics express a deep sense of longing and waiting as the singer waits for someone to come back to set them free. The opening lines, "Bring on your hunters, Let them bring their dogs" suggests a sense of danger and pursuit. The singer implies that they have been waiting for someone to come for a long time, but they have been right there all along.
The lines "Dreams to drain, put them in a cage, unlock the pain, and I'll be here waiting" suggest that the singer is waiting for someone to confront their deepest fears and emotions. There is a sense of release and liberation that comes with facing one's pain and dreams. The singer seems to be encouraging the person to not be afraid to face their emotions and confront them head-on, as they are waiting for them and are willing to provide support and guidance.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, with the singer urging their son to keep running until they reach the sea. The sea symbolizes freedom and escape from the turmoil that the singer and their son are experiencing. When the singer tells their son not to touch the water, it may suggest that the sea also represents a danger, but it is a risk worth taking to escape the pain.
Overall, To The Sea is a complex song that addresses themes of fear, waiting, and hope for a better future. The lyrics are rich with imagery and symbolism that can be interpreted in many ways, making it a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring on your hunters
I am ready to face any challenge.
Let them bring their dogs
I am not afraid of any obstacles that may come my way.
It's me that you wanted
I am the reason for all of this.
I've been right here all along
I have always been present, waiting patiently.
Right here all along
You don't have to look far to find me.
You better bring your buckets
Prepare yourself for all that is to come.
We've got some dreams to drain
We have some ambitions to fulfill.
I'll be at the bottom
I will be your support and foundation.
I've been right here waiting so long
I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
Just waiting so long
Patience is key.
Dreams to drain
We need to empty ourselves of our ambitions to achieve them.
Put them in a cage
We need to contain our passions and desires.
Unlock the pain
We need to face our fears and confront the discomfort we may feel.
And I'll be here waiting
I will always be here to support you.
You fell asleep with the key
You already possess the tools necessary to fulfill your dreams.
All your walls
All the barriers you've erected.
Mean nothing to me
I am not intimidated by any obstacles that stand in the way.
I know you'll come back
I have faith in your return.
To set us free
To help us achieve our ultimate freedom and liberation.
Run my dear son
Move forward with determination, my dear child.
Until we get to the trees
Continue moving forward until you reach your destination.
And keep on going all the way
Don't give up, keep pushing forward until you reach your goals.
We've got to get right down to the sea
We must reach the ultimate objective.
My dear son
My beloved child.
Don't you touch the water
Be cautious, don't overstep your limits.
Don't you barely breathe
Be attentive, don't let anything distract you from the goal.
And if you see yourself
If you encounter yourself on this journey.
Looking back at you
Reflecting on your past, your experiences, your journey so far.
You're gonna have to leave
You must move beyond your past experiences to move forward.
I don't want you to go
I will miss you.
But you've got to leave
You must move forward, regardless of any hesitations or limitations.
You can always come to me
You can always count on me for support, guidance and love.
I'll give you what you need
I will provide you with everything necessary to achieve your goals, to grow and thrive.
We've got to get to the sea
We must reach the ultimate objective.
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JACK HODY JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind