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.
Washing Dishes
Jack Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you knew me I knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
An impression in your window frame
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
But one day I'll be running this place
And one day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been in the ashes
Singing from the garden
Where everything reaches for the sun
Still unsure of what we'll become
But I need you to reach out to me
See in me more than I could see
Because I'm afraid that
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
You see now one day I'll be running this place
One day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
The lyrics of Jack Johnson's "Washing Dishes" describe a longing for love and success while acknowledging the hard work and persistence that such achievements require. The singer talks about a person they have been drawn to for some time and how they have seen that person from afar, performing music in the garden and washing dishes. The singer is upfront about their ambitions, saying that they aspire to "be running this place" and "take you away," but they also want the other person to "wonder what's my name" because they "need you to want me the same."
The repeated lines of "only the beginning, I'm only getting started" and "I don't mind the digging, baby I'll work harder" remind the listener that achieving success and love requires perseverance and hard work. The singer acknowledges their current position by saying they have been "washing dishes, singing from the bottom," but they are determined to keep working and keep singing until they reach their goals.
Overall, the lyrics of "Washing Dishes" celebrate the importance of hard work, persistence and pursuing one's goals, while acknowledging that love and success often require these traits in equal measure. The song is uplifting and motivating, reminding the listener to keep pushing forward and working hard to achieve their ambitions.
Line by Line Meaning
In the morning when the world came awake
At the time when the world wakes up in the morning
Before you knew me I knew your name
Before we were acquainted, I already knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
Your name was already visible across the sunrise
An impression in your window frame
Your image was lingering in the window frame
When you saw me out your window
When you caught a glimpse of me through your window
Singing from the garden
I was singing as I stood in the garden
Only the beginning
It was just the start of it all
I'm only getting started
I am just beginning to work towards my goal
I don't mind the digging
I am willing to put in the effort
Baby, I'll work harder
I will work even harder to achieve my goal
I've been washing dishes
I have been doing mundane chores to support my dreams
Singing from the bottom
I am starting from the bottom and singing while doing it
But one day I'll be running this place
I will be in charge of this place one day
And one day I could take you away
I could take you away with me someday
But I want you to wonder what's my name
I want you to be curious about me and my aspirations
Because I need you to want me the same
I need you to desire me in the same way
Where everything reaches for the sun
Everything is aiming for success
Still unsure of what we'll become
We are not certain what our future holds
But I need you to reach out to me
I want you to support me in my journey
See in me more than I could see
I want you to have faith in me, more than I have in myself
Because I'm afraid that
I am scared that
One day is only two words we say
The phrase 'one day' is just two words we say without taking action
I don't want to let them get in the way
I don't want those words to hinder our plans
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
We should be coming up with plans right now to achieve our goals
Who took the time and where did they take it
Who wasted time and where did it go
I want to take it back
I want to make the most of the time I have
I don't want them to break it
I don't want obstacles to destroy my plans
One day is only two words we say
The phrase 'one day' is just two words we say without taking action
I don't want to let them get in the way
I don't want those words to hinder our plans
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
We should be coming up with plans right now to achieve our goals
Right now
We should be taking action immediately
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jack Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Walter Daniel Fernández
In the morning when the world came awake
Before you knew me I knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
An impression in your window frame
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
But one day I'll be running this place
And one day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been in the ashes
Singing from the garden
Where everything reaches for the sun
Still unsure of what we'll become
But I need you to reach out to me
See in me more than I could see
Because I'm afraid that
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
You see now one day I'll be running this place
One day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Chiara P.
I learned of Jack Johnson after my little sister passed, because she loved his music. I really enjoy him, and when Im listening, I can close my eyes and see my sister dancing around her sunny Colorado apartment while she goes about her day listening to his music. ❤
New temp Phone-Ash
that's sweet
Ryan Barbeau
Your sister loves great music. I'm sure her soul is still out there dancing. ❤
jacey melanie
awee 🥺🥺 sorry for your loss ❤️
WJ Given
I always feel like I'm sitting on a beach at sunset listening to this guy.
New temp Phone-Ash
@Anton Castillo those were good times...
Anton Castillo
my brain literally thinking "i miss summer in 2010s listening to folk & acoustic music on spotify"
New temp Phone-Ash
and washing dishes is so stinking cute!
Nadja Velez
right?!
Walter Daniel Fernández
In the morning when the world came awake
Before you knew me I knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
An impression in your window frame
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
But one day I'll be running this place
And one day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been in the ashes
Singing from the garden
Where everything reaches for the sun
Still unsure of what we'll become
But I need you to reach out to me
See in me more than I could see
Because I'm afraid that
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
You see now one day I'll be running this place
One day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now