Born in Hawaii, Jennings moved with his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at an early age. Jennings learned to play guitar at the age of 13, when he began writing songs. Jennings later dropped out of school and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue his musical career.
Jennings produced his self-titled debut album in 1997 on an analog four-track in the basement of a rented home, manning all instruments himself. In October 1998, after bringing drummer Chris Stock and bassist Robert Skoro on board, he began a weekly gig at Minneapolis' 400 Bar as the Mason Jennings Band. Garnering local praise and a wide fan base, Mason began touring nationally.
His 2000 album Birds Flying Away revealed Jennings' political activism and penchant for singing first-person narratives of imaginary rustic characters. Following the release of this album, Noah Levy took over drumming duties from Stock.
2002 saw the release of two albums: the studio piece Century Spring and a "fans only" collection of acoustic rarities, Simple Life. An EP supporting Century Spring was also released, featuring the album's opening track, "Living In The Moment," two live tracks, and the previously-unreleased "Emperor Ashoka." Jennings released all three discs -- and re-released his earlier albums -- on his homebrewed record label, Architect Records.
In 2003, Skoro and Levy left the band (the former to pursue a solo career), and were replaced by bassist Chris Morrissey (formerly of Bill Mike Band) and drummer Brian Mcleod.
On 10 February 2004, Jennings released Use Your Voice, which notably included the songs "Keepin' It Real," a foot-stomper ostensibly written at the request of Shrek 2 producers (but not used in the film), and "The Ballad of Paul and Sheila," an acoustic dirge for late Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone. On the 30th, September of that year, the band released a DVD entitled Use Your Van, which chronicled the recording of Use Your Voice and part of the promotional tour. The DVD was filmed by Andy Grund.
On June 17, 2005, news broke that Jennings had finally signed with a major label: Glacial Pace, a subsidiary of Sony's Epic Records headed by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock. Minnesota's Star Tribune broke the story, and credited Brock with convincing Jennings to sign after the Mason Jennings Band had opened for several Modest Mouse shows in 2004. Jennings had long avoided the major labels, citing desires to maintain creative control and dodge big-label politics.
Jennings recorded his sixth album, "Boneclouds," at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN. The album was released on May 16, 2006 by Glacial Pace.
After considerable success on "Boneclouds", Jennings released his seventh full length album "In the Ever" in 2008. The album was released under Jack Johnson's "Brushfire Records".
In September 2009, Blood of Man was released on CD and vinyl format. In late 2010, Live at First Ave., his first ever live album, was released.
Be Here Now
Mason Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or just sit there dreaming of how life would be
If we were somewhere better
Somewhere far away from all all worries
Well, here we are
You are the love of my life
All the doubts that linger, just set them free
And let good things happen
And let the future come into each moment
Like a rising sun
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
Yeah, you know you are
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
And it's all new today
All we have to say
Is be here now
Be here now, no other place to be
This whole world keeps changing, come change with me
Everything that's happened, all that's yet to come
Is here inside this moment, it's the only one
You are the love of my life
You are the love of my life
Yeah, you know you are
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
Sun comes up and we start again
It's all new today
All we have to say
Is be here now
Mason Jennings's song Be Here Now is a reminder to live in the present and not worry about the past or future. The song is an ode to the power of being fully present in a moment and enjoying the simple things in life. The opening lines ask the listener to be present in the current moment and not waste time dreaming about a better future or other situations. The repetition of “Be here now, no other place to be” emphasizes the importance of staying present in the moment.
Jennings mentions the love of his life throughout the song, which adds to the theme of cherishing what we have in the present. He urges the listener to let go of their doubts and fears and to let good things happen, to live in the current moment as the sun rises for a new day. The repetition of “Sun comes up and we start again” highlights the idea of new beginnings that come with each day.
The theme of the song is relatable to everyone and reminds us to focus on the present while recognizing that all we have is now. The message of the song is about cherishing life and being present in each moment. It can be easy to get lost in the regrets of the past and the fears of the future, but this song encourages taking a step back and finding gratitude and joy in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Be here now, no other place to be
Focus on the present moment and appreciate where you are.
Or just sit there dreaming of how life would be
Wishing for a different life or a different present moment takes away from enjoying the current moment.
If we were somewhere better
Thinking about being somewhere better or having things be different, distracts us from experiencing and appreciating what is happening now.
Somewhere far away from all all worries
Escaping from our worries won't solve them, and may lead to missing out on being present in our current experiences.
Well, here we are
Accept the current reality and embrace where you are in life.
You are the love of my life
Expressing love and appreciation for someone special in your life.
All the doubts that linger, just set them free
Letting go of doubts can bring a sense of freedom and openness to new experiences.
And let good things happen
Embrace the positive aspects of life and allow them to unfold naturally.
And let the future come into each moment
Be open to the possibilities of the future and integrate them into your present experiences.
Like a rising sun
The potential for good things to come is as certain as the rising of the sun.
Sun comes up and we start again
Each day is a new opportunity to begin again and experience life anew.
It's all new today
Every day offers fresh experiences and moments to cherish.
All we have to say
The simple solution to many issues may just be to appreciate the present moment.
Is be here now
Embrace the current moment and all that it offers.
This whole world keeps changing, come change with me
Change is a part of life, we need to stay open to it and experience it together with those around us.
Everything that's happened, all that's yet to come
Life is made up of the past and the future, but the only moment that truly exists is the present.
Is here inside this moment, it's the only one
The current moment is the only one we have, and we need to appreciate it while it lasts.
Yeah, you know you are
Expressing appreciation of someone special in your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mason Stewart Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind