Groff originated the role of Melchior Gabor in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening since its debut on December 10, 2006. He also played the same role in the original Off Broadway production earlier during the summer of 2006. In 2007 he played the recurring role of Henry Mackler on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. His storyline about a school shooting on the long running soap opera was nixed due to the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007. In April 2007, he was was nominated for Drama Desk award for his role in Spring Awakening. In May 2007, Jon was nominated for the Actor- Musical Tony for his role of Melchoir in Spring Awakening.
From 2010-2015, Groff played the recurring role of Jesse St. James on the musical comedy-drama, Glee.
In 2013, he was the voice of Kristoff in the movie Frozen.
In 2015, he returned to Broadway, playing King George in the smash hit musical Hamilton. He was nominated for a Tony for his role in Hamiton, but lost to his co-star Daveed Diggs.
Jonathan appeared in the role of Franklin Shepard in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along," and appears in the cast recording released in November 2023.
All That's Known
Jonathan Groff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In history and science
Overthrown at school and home by blind men
You doubt them
And soon they bark and hound you
Till everything you say is just another bad about you
Is trust in what is written
Wars are made and somehow that is wisdom
Thought is suspect, and money is their idol
And nothing is ok unless it's scripted in their bible
But I know
There's so much more to find
Just in looking at myself and not at them
Still I know to trust my own true mind
Then to say there's a way through this
On I go
To wonder and to learning
Name the stars and know their dark returning
I'm calling to know the world's true yearning
The hunger that a child feels for everything they're shown
You watch me, Just watch me
I'm calling
And one day all will know
You watch me, Just watch me
I'm calling
I'm calling
And one day all will know
In Jonathan Groff's song "All That's Known", the lyrics describe a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the blind adherence to tradition and perceived wisdom in society. The opening lines, "all that's known in history and science," suggest that even supposedly objective fields of knowledge are subject to the biases and limitations of the people who created and interpreted them. The singer goes on to describe how they are dismissed and attacked for questioning established beliefs and societal norms, even though they feel that there is much more to discover and understand.
The refrain of "you watch me, just watch me, I'm calling" suggests a defiance and a determination to continue pursuing their own understanding and questioning authority, even in the face of opposition. The final lines, "and one day all will know," seem to hold out hope for a time when their ideas and perspectives will be recognized and valued.
Overall, the song suggests a tension between received knowledge and personal experience, between tradition and innovation, and between conformity and freedom of thought. It is a call to action for listeners to think critically and independently, to trust their own minds and experiences, and to keep searching for greater understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
All that's known
Everything that is currently accepted as factual and true
In history and science
Including both historical events and discoveries in the field of science
Overthrown at school and home by blind men
Challenged and refuted by authority figures with close-minded beliefs, both in educational settings and personal situations
You doubt them
Feeling uncertain and questioning the validity of their claims
And soon they bark and hound you
Responding aggressively and relentlessly, attempting to shut down any dissenting opinions
Till everything you say is just another bad about you
Invalidating any arguments and disregarding them as just further evidence of the singer's flawed character
All they say
The authority figures and believers of established doctrine
Is trust in what is written
Taking everything at face value and relying solely on established texts and documents
Wars are made and somehow that is wisdom
Sometimes war is seen as an acceptable way to solve conflicts, which is considered wise by some
Thought is suspect, and money is their idol
Independent thought is discouraged and discouraged in favor of monetary gain, which is valued above all else
And nothing is ok unless it's scripted in their bible
The only acceptable beliefs and actions are those prescribed in their religious texts
But I know
Despite the opposition and pressure to conform
There's so much more to find
Countless possibilities and opportunities to learn and discover
Just in looking at myself and not at them
By focusing on personal growth and introspection rather than relying on external authority and direction
Still I know to trust my own true mind
Recognizing the importance of independent thought and trusting one's own intellect and intuition
Then to say there's a way through this
Believing that there is a way to break free from the societal pressures and doctrines
On I go
Continuing to pursue knowledge and growth
To wonder and to learning
Embracing the natural human curiosity and desire to learn
Name the stars and know their dark returning
Exploring the mysteries of the universe and accepting its cyclical nature
I'm calling to know the world's true yearning
Asking questions and seeking to understand the true desires and needs of the global community
The hunger that a child feels for everything they're shown
The innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge that humans possess from birth
You watch me, Just watch me
A declaration of determination and confidence in oneself
I'm calling
Asserting one's independence and individual thought
And one day all will know
Believing that someday, others will come to understand and share in one's perspective
You watch me, Just watch me
Reaffirming one's unwavering commitment to personal growth and enlightenment
I'm calling
Continuing to reach out and assert one's identity and beliefs
And one day all will know
Reminding oneself of the eventual spread and acceptance of one's views
Writer(s): Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater
Contributed by Mateo H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dickbong3661
I really like the chanting in the background. Sets the song off nicely.
@mercyfae3069
I love the lyrics so much. They're extremely powerful, especially in a mostly religious society.
@yalu3575
I wish he had more to sing in Frozen
His voice is absolutely stunning! :)
@kev1479
Litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
Vi superum, saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram
Multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam fato profugus Laviniaque venit
the latin part at the beginning if anyone was wondering!!
@smthnbatey5337
Thank u
@meteorologx
It's part of the foreword (I don't know if that's what it's called sorry) of the Aeneid
@kitaro1878
The little scoff Groff did at 0:38 was really good for the song. It's incredulous and rebellious, something perfect for his character.
@ksangelmith
his voice is absolutely beautiful!!! <3
@keairaroy1254
The world NEEDS to hear this song, especially in this awful time!
@MaiCohWolf
he should have had more songs in frozen.