Sleep Through the Static

Jack Johnson

About Sleep Through the Static

"Sleep Through the Static" is third single from American singer/songwriter Jack Johnson's third studio album Sleep Through the Static. The track features a short melodic opening played on a melodica with drums, electric guitar and bass following. The song features some complex lyrics, with a blues feeling and the representative Jack Johnson's groove. Johnson implied in an interview with National Public Radio that the song was made to protest the Iraq War.


Year:
2008
89 
#2

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Trouble travels fast
When you're specially designed for crash testing
Or wearing wool sunglasses in the afternoon
Come on and tell us what you're trying to prove

'Cause it's a battle when you dabble in war
You store it up, unleash it, then you piece it together
Whether the storm drain running rampant just stamp it
And send it to somebody who's pretending to care

Just cash in your blanks for little toy tanks
Learn how to use them, then abuse them and choose them
Over conversations relationships are overrated
I hated everyone said the sun

And so I will cook all your books
You're too good looking and mistooken
You could watch it instead
From the comfort of your burning beds
Or you can sleep through the static

Who needs sleep when we've got love?
Who needs keys when we've got clubs?
Who needs please when we've got guns?
Who needs peace when we've gone above
But beyond where we should have gone?
We went beyond where we should have gone

Stuck between channels my thoughts all quit
I thought about them too much, allowed them to touch
The feelings that rained down on the plains all dried and cracked
Waiting for things that never came

Shock and awful thing to make somebody think
That they have to choose pushing for peace supporting the troops
And either you're weak or you'll use brut force-feed the truth
The truth is we say not as we do

We say anytime, anywhere, just show your teeth and strike the fear
Of god wears camouflage, cries at night and drives a dodge
Pick up the beat and stop hogging the feast
That's no way to treat an enemy

Well mighty mighty appetite
We just eat 'em up and keep on driving
Freedom can be freezing take a picture from the pretty side
Mind your manners wave your banners
What a wonderful world that this angle can see

But who needs to see what we've done?
Who needs please when we've got guns?
Who needs keys when we've got clubs?
Who needs peace when we've gone above
But beyond where we should have gone?
Beyond where we should have gone
We went beyond where we should have gone
Beyond where we should have gone

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Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released five more albums, a number of EPs and surfing movies/soundtracks. He is also known for organizing an annual event, the Kōkua Festival. Notable songs from Johnson's repertoire include "Upside Down"; "Flake"; "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"; "If I Had Eyes"; "You and Your Heart"; "Taylor"; and "Better Together". more »

4 fans

Written by: Jack Hody Johnson

Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Artist's Background
"Sleep Through the Static" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, who is known for his work in the folk-rock and soft-rock genres.
Album Release
"Sleep Through the Static" is the title track from Johnson's fourth studio album. The album was released on February 2, 2008, through Brushfire Records and Universal Music.
Inspiration
Johnson has stated that this song, like many others on the album, was inspired by his feelings about the Iraq War and his concerns about global issues.
Song Style
The song features Jack Johnson's signature acoustic guitar style, with a decidedly more electric edge - reflective of the album as a whole, which marked a departure from Johnson's exclusively acoustic sound in his previous works.
Recording Process
The entire album, including "Sleep Through the Static," was recorded using 100 percent solar energy at Johnson's Mango Tree Studio in Hawaii, expressing the artist's commitment toward environmental concern.
Critical Reception
The song received positive reviews from critics, who noted its deeper, more complex tone and praised Johnson for his environmental consciousness.
Commercial Success
The "Sleep Through the Static" album went on to peak at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, demonstrating its commercial success. While the song was not released as a single and therefore did not chart, it is still a favorite among Johnson's fanbase.
Lyric Interpretation
The lyrics of "Sleep Through the Static" have been interpreted by fans as an emotional commentary on global affairs, showcasing a stronger political undertone than found in Johnson's previous work.
Live Performances
Johnson has performed "Sleep Through the Static" at numerous concerts and music festivals, often using the song to speak about environmental and social issues.
Music Genre
"Sleep Through the Static," like the majority of Jack Johnson's discography, falls into the genres of folk-rock and soft rock, infused with a laidback, beachside sensibility.
Awards and Achievements
While the song itself didn't win specific awards, the album, "Sleep Through the Static," won the 2008 Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Waterman’s Ball and Benefit Auction for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year."

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