A Song With Meaning

There’s been a song that has meant something special to me since I was about twelve years old. It was the song that my sister a chose to play as I filmed mock bar scenes with my brother Josh at my her house in Portland. It wasn’t until at least five years later when I actually heard the song again and had to find out who it was by. Rainbow, by Jack Johnson and G Love. This was perfect. By the time I found out that the song was by Jack Johnson, (G Love too, but I had not heard of him yet) I had already been playing Jack Johnson songs in my ‘repertoire’ for some time. Just three verses, with a repeat of the first at the end.

Well I woke up this morning,
Rainbow filled the sky
Yes I woke up this morning,
Rainbow filled the sky
That was God tellin’ me,
Everything’s gonna be alright

Well so long, good friends,
When will we meet again?
I said so long good friends,
When will we meet again?
Well I don’t know, I don’t know,
But I guess I’ll see you then…

Well I’m gonna pack my old guitar,
Move on down the road,
I’m gonna pack my old guitar,
and move on down the road (where you gonna go?)
Where I’ll go, I don’t know, 
But I guess I’s gots to go

Well I woke up this morning,
Rainbow filled the sky
Yes I woke up this morning,
Rainbow filled the sky
That was God tellin’ me,
Everything’s gonna be alright

I don’t need to wake up to a rainbow every day to know that everything’s gonna be alright. I’m thankful that, for whatever reason, that idea has already been instilled in my mind. If it takes a God to tell you that, then so be it. Different strokes for different folks.

The second verse is the one that takes the most impact on me. I’ve had more surreal moments in my life than I could ever take the time to appreciate. I’ve met people I’m still waiting on meeting again. If I end up packing a guitar and hit the road to see them again, that sounds pretty damn surreal, doesn’t it? I’m feeling stoic just typing about this…

Anyway. I covered it. 

I changed the lyrics a bit, too. Watching myself play in this video makes me cringe. It was so nerve racking to think about trying to do the tune justice that I think I tried way too hard, and I did not get what I was going for. Anyway. Here’s a song with meaning. If it means anything to you too, le’mme know.