Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come in 2002. The tracks "The Remedy" and "You And I Both" became his first big hits the following year. His second album, Mr. A-Z, released in 2005, peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 200 and sold over one hundred thousand copies in the US. In 2008, Mraz released his third studio album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 was a commercial success worldwide, peaking in the top ten of many international charts.
In April 2012 Mraz released his fourth studio album, Love is a Four Letter Word. The album was received with favourable reviews and debuted at number two on both the Billboard 200 and UK Album Charts. The album sold 102,000 copies in it's first week in the US, his best sales week to date.
Mraz’s international breakthrough came with the release of lead single from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. titled “I’m Yours”. The single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Mraz his first top ten single. The song was a huge commercial success in the US with it receiving a triple-Platinum certification from the RIAA for sales of over three million. The song was successful internationally and topped the charts in New Zealand and Norway and peaking in the top ten of multiple international charts.
Mraz was engaged to singer/songwriter and long-time close friend Tristan Prettyman. On June 7, 2011, Mraz said in an interview with the Daily Beast that he and Prettyman were no longer engaged.
Mraz lives a health-conscious lifestyle and enjoys eating mostly raw vegan foods. He owns an avocado farm in Bonsall in Northern San Diego County.
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Jason Mraz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded in hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
And the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it,
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Jason Mraz's version of Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall is a powerful interpretation of the original song. It starts with the question, "Where have you been, my blue-eyed son?" and the singer goes on to recount his experiences. He has traveled through difficult terrains, been in front of many dead oceans, and faced death many times. Then the song moves on to what the singer has seen. He has seen a newborn baby surrounded by wild wolves, a highway of diamonds with no one on it, and many other visions that reflect chaos and unrest.
The song progresses to what the singer has heard. He has heard the sound of thunder, the roar of waves, and many other noises that are a warning of impending doom. The last part of the song is the singer's plan for what he will do next. He is going to go back out before the rain starts falling, and he will walk through the deepest, darkest forest. He will speak and think about the suffering that he has seen and reflect it from the mountain so that all souls can see it. He will stand on the ocean until he sinks, but he will know his song well before he starts singing.
The song has a prophetic and apocalyptic tone, and the singer's experiences reflect a sense of despair and hopelessness. However, his determination to continue his work and reflect it to others suggests a sliver of hope. Mraz's interpretation gives depth and emotion to the lyrics, making it a beautiful interpretation of Dylan's masterpiece.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Asking about the whereabouts of the son
And where have you been, my darling young one?
Asking about the whereabouts of the young one
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
Traveling and experiencing various terrains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways,
Overcoming obstacles and facing challenges
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
Entering into unknown, possibly dangerous situations
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
Encountering unresponsive or dead environments
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
Facing death or near-death experiences
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
Acknowledging the difficulty and hardship of the journey so far
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Anticipating more difficulty and hardship to come
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Asking about the experiences and observations made
And what did you see, my darling young one?
Asking about the experiences and observations made
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
Paradoxical and dangerous situations
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
Finding or encountering things of great value or potential, yet unused or unappreciated
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
Violence and destruction persisting despite efforts to stop it
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
Working hard, but perhaps pointlessly or harmfully
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
Symbolic objects or situations that are unexpected or mysterious
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
Many people unable to communicate or express themselves effectively
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
The dangers and tragedies of youth being exposed to harmful things
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
Repeating the acknowledgement of difficulty and hardship
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Repeating the anticipation of more difficulty and hardship to come
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
Asking about the experiences and observations made through hearing
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
Asking about the experiences and observations made through hearing
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
Warnings or wake-up calls conveyed loudly and forcefully
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
Dangerous and overwhelming forces threatening the world
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
Powerful or passionate figures expressing themselves through music or other means
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
The frustration of attempting to communicate or convey important messages with no response or acknowledgement
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Injustice or suffering alongside insensitivity or indifference
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Artistic or imaginative expression being stifled or disregarded
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
Contrast or conflict between perceived emotions of different types of people
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
Repeating the acknowledgement of difficulty and hardship
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Repeating the anticipation of more difficulty and hardship to come
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Asking about the people, creatures, or situations encountered
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
Asking about the people, creatures, or situations encountered
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
Meeting characters or experiencing scenes that evoke sadness or tragedy
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
Meeting characters or experiencing scenes that have racial or cultural significance or commentary
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
Meeting victims or witnesses of violence, tragedy, or oppression
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
Experiencing moments of beauty, hope, or inspiration in the midst of difficulty and hardship
I met one man who was wounded in love,
Meeting characters who are struggling with emotional or personal issues
I met another man who was wounded in hatred,
Meeting characters who are struggling with interpersonal or societal tensions
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
Repeating the acknowledgement of difficulty and hardship
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Repeating the anticipation of more difficulty and hardship to come
And, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Asking about next steps or plans in response to the experiences and observations so far
And, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
Asking about next steps or plans in response to the experiences and observations so far
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
Continuing to move forward and take action despite expected difficulties or hardships
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest,
Going to the most difficult or dangerous places in pursuit of justice or truth
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Helping or addressing the needs of those who are forgotten or neglected
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Confronting or fighting against societal or environmental problems that threaten people's health or well-being
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Encountering or standing up against systemic factors that harm certain groups of people
And the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Referencing a powerful, threatening force that operates behind the scenes and with impunity
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten,
Speaking truth to power and advocating for those who suffer
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
Addressing or fighting against systemic racism or other forms of oppression
And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it,
Expressing and sharing candidly and unapologetically
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Offering insight or perspective to others, and making it accessible to all
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
Maintaining resolve and determination in the face of obstacles or opposition
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
Being confident and prepared in one's message or purpose
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
Repeating the acknowledgement of difficulty and hardship
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Repeating the anticipation of more difficulty and hardship to come
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.