Constellations

Album: In Between Dreams (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Johnson: "That's one I wrote while I was surfing. I was out longboarding in California. The sun had just set and the moon was rising so it was real nice. It was also summertime and warm, so I could stay out and surf for a while. I was alone, it was really calm and the wind was dead and it was a real magical night. The wind was nonexistent so you could hear things from really far away. And I could hear these kids who were laughing and skipping rocks on the beach. All their dads were there and it was kind of like dads' night out camping with the kids on the beach. The were all sitting around this little campfire and the kids were playing. And it just started getting me thinking about sailing canoe trips my father and I took around the island when I was younger. He'd always show me all the constellations up in the sky and tell me the stories about Pleiades being chased by Taurus the bull, Orion coming to save Pleiades and Orion's little dog following right next to him. Those stories always stuck with me, as did just the time we spent learning about the stars. It was a really nice thing. He always explained to me that the stars made him feel like he was never really lost. That if he found himself somewhere where he didn't know where he was and looked up into the sky at night, he could see where the stars were and put the puzzle together. It made him feel a little more at home anywhere he was in the world. I've noticed with myself now when I travel, that if I'm able to place a few of the constellations I'll get a better sense of where I am in the world."

Comments: 5

  • Mikaele from Fort Bragg, CaliforniaGreat song. Too bad they got the lyrics wrong! " The children's laughter sang" " And skipping just like the stones they threw" "Listen to Papa's translations" "The wind may calm down nothing ever feels the same" " Clouds keep moving to uncover the scene" " Listen to all the translations"
    "We drew our own constellations"
  • Cedric from Weyburn, SkKate I don't think I could have put it any better...
  • Jarryd from Upper Sandusky, Ohsuch deep meaning in all of his lyrics...it seems like he sure knows how to live life.
  • Steve from Chicago, IlI agree?
  • Kate from Harrison, Nymy absolutely most favourite jack j song ever. it is such a yummy-feel-good-in-your-pyjamas-when-your-having-such-a-totally-bad-day-and-theres-no-more-icecream-in-the-freezer song. the lyrcs are just so beautiful.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?