Welcome to another episode of Jack Johnson… I’ll be writing about him all week. Oh and I’ll be giving away $25 (via PayPal or Amazon Gift Card… your choice) to a commenter who leaves a Jack Johnson lyric and tells me what it means to them. (Ugh, this sounds like an advertisement even to me. This is not an advertisement in any way, shape, or form. I simply like his music and his message.)
I made a case yesterday that Jack Johnson is a great environmentalist. He has not only donated 100% of his touring earnings to environmental charities for close to a decade, but he’s fundamentally changed the venues he plays at. Musicians typically make a majority of their money through concerts, so it’s a significant act. I can’t think of another musician that donates to that level.
If I got to interview Jack Johnson, I think he’d say that he has “enough” money. He’d probably say that because he has a guitar and a surfboard he’s Five by Five.
That’s enough rehashing… let’s cover some of the personal finance wisdom in his lyrics.
I often pride myself on writing about personal finance for 11 years. You know wrote about personal finance 4 or 5 years before me? Hint: His name rhymes with Mrack Mrohson. And he arguably gave the best personal finance advice that I’ve read.
Let’s dig into the lyrics of his 2002 song “Gone”:
“Look at all those fancy clothes… but these gonna keep us warm, just like those”
Twelve years later I wrote about fashion, function, and frugality. Johnson covered my thoughts in 15 words nearly 15 years before me.
“What about your soul? Is it cold? Is it straight from the mold and ready to be sold?”
This lyric seems to ask if you want to sell you soul. Shout out to Dave Ramsey supporting Pyramid Schemes!.
“Cars and phones and diamond rings, bling bling… Those are only removable things”
Hold the “phone!” This was 2002. I was literally jamming a phone module into my Handspring Visor, because smartphones didn’t exist! It was around 7 years before I wrote about why I chose to buy a Palm Pre.
I don’t where Jack Johnson stores his crystal ball, but I want it.
“What about your mind, does it shine? Or are there things that concern you more than your time?”
Mental vs. materialism… who do you want? I’m going mental.
Look at you out to make a deal. You try be appealing but you lose your appeal. What about those shoes you’re in today? They’ll do no good on the bridges you brought along the way, oh. You willing to sell anything, gone with your head… Leave your footprints, well shame them with our words… Gone people, all careless and consumed, gone
Did you know that the Jimmy Choo shoe company is up for sale? Don’t get me started on Sex and the City and Carrie’s shoe thing again.
I was going to highlight some other songs, but I think that covers it well enough.
Song: Inaudible Melodies
“Well dust off your thinking caps
Solar powered plastic plants
Pretty pictures of things we ate
We are only what we hate”
I really like this song and these lyrics particularly because even though it was written in 2001 it’s way before it’s time like you pointed out about some of his other work. It’s like he knew about instagram before it existed and solar power plants *are* actually a thing now- yes they are fake trees that are placed for aesthetic reasons but also to create power for its surroundings. Jack Johnson just knows. . .
I had missed that lyric in there, Sofia. I like the message of telling people to slow down. It seems like everyone is in such a rush nowadays.
I flipped a coin and Sofia got the giveaway.
His song titled “3 R’s” Reduce, reuse, recycle.
For me the first R, reduce, is by far the most meaningful.
In our incessant acquisition of the newest and latest stuff or in our need for achieving constant praise and recognition, we are really chasing emotional rather than material things.
Because so many of us feel incomplete, empty, inadequate, insecure, hungry or just plain afraid, we buy stuff or accomplish more in an effort to soothe those feelings. To fill the “Hole,” so to speak. Of course, the fix is only temporary.
My hope is that someday that we (including me) will come to accept that not only acquiring or achieving more doesn’t work ( and often stinks up the planet,) but in fact, there is no “Hole.” We are all complete here and now and fear is only a thought.
Peace be with you. Now where is my Amazon gift card? :)
Strong entry Gary.
If you read my articles earlier this week, I highlighted the “3 R’s” for Earth Day. That “hole” got very deep/complex. I like it.