Jack Johnson – Go on

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Send "Go on" Ringtone to Cell

In my rearview
I watch you watching the twilight
Behind the telephone lines
Nothing to prove, or to assume
Just thinking that your thoughts are different than mine
In my rearview
I watch you
I give you your life, would you give me mine?

I see you slowly swim away
Cause the light is leaving town
To a place that I can't be
There's no apologies

Just go on
Just go on
There're still so many things
I wanna to say to you
But go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood that's moving
The moment that we start
The moment that we start

I see perfect little eyes
Watch the shadows of the clouds
And the surface of the ocean out the window of a plane
I get nervous when I fly
I'm used to walking with my feet
Turbulence is like a sigh that I can't help but over think

What is the purpose of my life
If it doesn't ever do
With learning to let it go
Live vicariously through you
You can do the same
It's the least you can do
Cause it's a lonely little chain
If you don't add to it

So go on
Just go on
There's still so many things
I wanna say to you
Go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood and love
The moment that we start
Just go on
Just go on
There're still so many things
I wanna say to you
Just go on
Just go on
We're bound by blood that's moving
The moment that we start
The moment that we start

Send "Go on" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by fofaXD

Track duration: 04:35


Go on song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:Taken straight from the Rolling Stone article:

    "One of the album's strongest songs, "Go On," juxtaposes coming to grips with Riley's [19 year-old family friend] death and watching his own son grow up and learn to tread water for the first time. In fact, as Johnson was writing lyrics for the album, he noticed that many of the lines could apply to his children and to Riley. "It's about learning how to let go of someone you love," he says, "watching them swim away."
    Flag ontheinsideon August 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i was at his concert recently, and he said he wrote this song for his cousin Danny. I'm not sure exactly what it means....but it's great nonetheless.
    Flag whitnastyon August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow, beautiful song. I agree it's probably about his son. His lyrics are poetic and the music in this song is very catchy.
    Flag Cleggosauruson July 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always pictured it being about JJ's sons - "Cause it's a lonely little chain if you don't add to it so go on." that seems like it's talking about family generations, etc. this is one of my Jack Johnson favorites and it makes a great ringtone =)
    Flag summerlover0092on June 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In the issue of Rolling Stone where Jack is featured on the cover, he gives some insight to what the song is about. He says that it's both about Danny Riley and his son growing up. Most of the lines can go either way which is awesome.
    Flag rc252005on June 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:According to his interview with Rolling Stone, a major influence of this song was watching his son learn to tread water in the ocean for the first time. The lyric "I gave you your life but you give me mine" is simply saying the he created his son but his son is one of his reasons for living. Beautiful song as all others are on this album
    Flag killernut2010on May 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:in jacks concert he played in hawaii on 4-20-08, he played this song with his brother and the song starts out by jack saying "we'd like to dedicate this song to our close friend danny riley"
    I think this song is about death and beginning. Jacks such a good writer.
    Flag genius23on May 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:According to his interview on the pulse, satellite radio; this album is mostly about his kids.

    With that, I can see it being about his children. They are growing up and apart from each other because their thoughts are different and he's "swimming away"

    I just love the way the song flows, very mellow, definately my favortie song on the new album. Can't wait for him to come to Ohio!
    Flag shelby_nubon April 25, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:well, first of all whoever is posting all these jack johnson lyrics has most of the words wrong. if u are gonna post, post the lyrics right.

    I actually read in a magazine article about Jack that he wrote this song about a family friend who died and about his children. It's about how people pass away and how children grow older. If you listen you can tell that he's talking about he can't exactly relate to things his kids are going through at this time in thier life and he just has to let them go and grow up. The lyrics can also be applied to the story of the family friend who died. The album is actually dedicated to his memory. i know most of this for a fact. Jack said all of it in the magazine article. not sure of the magazine. i'm sure u could look it up though
    Flag TimCincon April 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I recently saw Jack in concert and before he played this song he explained that he wrote it on a very bumpy flight to Australia and it made him consider all aspects of life, about how easily it could be lost and how when the day comes where we pass everything we've done will go with us, so perhaps we should be living vicariously so we can leave something behind. the start of the song he said was meant to represent the reactions of people who didn't embrace this philosphy and how he eventually realised that he had to let them 'go on' and live how they choose, even if 'theres so much more he has to say'
    Flag el_amor456on April 03, 2008   Link

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