Jay-Jay Johanson was born Jäje Johansson on 11 October 1969 in Trollhättan, Västra Götaland. His debut album, Whiskey, was released in August 1996. Recorded at Break My Heart Studios in the Stockholm archipelago, the album was characterized by its jazzy vocals over trippy, film noir arrangements.
In 1998, Johanson released Tattoo, taking a step into a more richly textured, poetic ambience. Johansson's third album, Poison, was released in April 2000 and went straight into the French charts at number four. The album featured contributions from Cocteau Twins founder and guitarist Robin Guthrie. The same year Johanson also composed the soundtrack to French director Ilan Duran Cohen's film La Confusion des Genres, and in 2001, Johanson emerged with "Cosmodrome", a sound-and-image installation first exhibited in the French city of Dijon. This art-piece has travelled around the world and was last shown at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Antenna was released in 2002, recorded with assistance from German experimental electronic group Funkstörung. 2004 marked the release of the compilation Prologue, meant for the American market. It was followed by Rush in 2005, an album partly produced by French producer Jean-Pierre Ensuque.
Johanson co-wrote and contributed vocals to The Knife's 2006 song "Marble House".[1] In the spring of 2006, he called together the musicians he had worked with on the three first albums, and January 2007 saw the release of their collaborative effort The Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known. A tour in promotion of the album kicked off in China and continued to more than thirty cities around the world.
Johanson's eighth studio album Spellbound was released on 2 May 2011.[2] "Dilemma" was released as the album's lead single on 11 March 2011.[3]
On 3 March 2017, "You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" was released via iTunes as the first single from Johanson's upcoming album Bury The Hatchet, due 15 September 2017 on 29 Music. [4]
Driftwood
Jay-Jay Johanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One day the driftwood finds a shore
I should have opened right away
But couldn't find a word to say
What ever keeps you wake at night
Will also get you through the day
Give me some time to think things through
I guess I learn from my mistakes
Why did you leave me standing here
The lyrics to Jay-Jay Johanson's "Driftwood" suggest a feeling of regret and missed opportunity. The opening line, "I heard you knocking on my door," implies that someone from the singer's past has returned, but the hesitation to open the door shows a lack of courage or uncertainty about how to proceed. When the singer says, "But couldn't find a word to say," it suggests that there may be unresolved feelings or unfinished business between the two people.
When the singer says, "One day the driftwood finds a shore," it's like saying that eventually things fall into place, but it may be too late. The next line, "What ever keeps you wake at night will also get you through the day," could be interpreted as the singer's own struggle to come to terms with the situation or the knowledge that the same is true for the other person. The idea of wanting time to think things through shows a desire for resolution but also a level of cautiousness.
Finally, the line "Why did you leave me standing here?" explores the emotional turmoil that results from missing an opportunity due to hesitation or ignorance. There is a sense of sadness and longing that permeates the entire song, a reflective quality that keeps the memory of the missed opportunity alive.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you knocking on my door
I was aware of your presence and tried to ignore it.
One day the driftwood finds a shore
Eventually, everyone finds their place in the world.
I should have opened right away
I knew I should have welcomed you, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
But couldn't find a word to say
I was at a loss for words and didn't know how to react.
What ever keeps you wake at night
Your worries and troubles can keep you tossing and turning at night.
Will also get you through the day
Your inner strength and resilience will help you face the challenges of the day ahead.
Give me some time to think things through
I need some space and time to process my thoughts and emotions.
It's such a long long time ago
This event or feeling happened so long ago, yet it still lingers in my mind.
I guess I learn from my mistakes
I acknowledge my faults and try to grow and learn from my experiences.
Why did you leave me standing here
I feel abandoned and hurt by your departure, and I want to know why you left me alone.
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.