I'm writing it from a backstage dressing room in Ohio. It's a beautiful fall day outside and the dying leaves make a fitting backdrop for the decaying junkyard across the street. Fall.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Everywhere. Even back home in San Diego where there is little distinction between the seasons: autumn is my favorite time of year
Perhaps this is because the fall reminds me of the sunset: the beautiful death of another day or another year. A chance to look back- to . look out across the pacific and see gallons of beauty mixed with regret.
I was born in October. Maybe that has something to do with the nostalgia. Even when I was young, the Autumn sunsets were sober reminder that everything loses it's leaves eventually. The body goes cold. The air grows dark. The fall.
I have been on tour off and on since '97. I've had the rare privilege of actually doing what I love for a living with amazing people that I love to be around... And I'm thankful, this life is a real gift.
I kinda grew up all over: lake arrowhead, boston, virginia... but from high school on I've lived in San Diego and the north county feels like home.
It's a pretty incredible place where I can go for a surf with my dad or my brother and almost always see someone I know.
Ten years ago, when I actually started making money with my songs I was nervous that the magic would disappear. That somehow, the passion, the joy, and the high that I got from music would evaporate with every step I took towards the modern music industry. I'm so thankful that that hasn't happened. I'm so thankful that these songs still mean so much to me. In fact, I am perhaps more drawn to music than ever.
Lately music has been my compass: it's neither the map, nor the road but a steady constant that can help me make sense of the both.
Most of the time, the songs that I write are more honest than I am. Sometimes I don't play certain songs for people because I'm not ready for that sort of honesty.
I don't write many happy songs, at least not lately. Which is odd because I'm a fairly upbeat guy. So I've got a few theories as to why this might be the case
It might be because life wears down on you. And you lose that part of yourself.
Or it could be because the songs are the only place where these types of ideas can find a release- like a dream where your subconscious is trying to tell you something.
Or perhaps I don't write songs when I'm happy. You know, a celebration requires a few friends and depression requires solitude.
Either way songs have become my way of finding beauty in the midst of chaos and the pain. It's a way of finding redemption for mistakes and regrets that I have.
In this way I feel like the creative process brings me closer to God. As a creator of a song I get to take all these broken fragments of failure and chaos and weave together something beautiful and meaningful. Decay. Death. Pain. Fall. And if God is a songwriter then these fallen leaves of mine can be redeemed.
Over the course of the year I will be releasing 4 ep's, with 6 songs on each ep. The ep's will be seasonal: fall, winter, spring & summer.
The Fall ep features the following 6 songs:
1. The Cure For Pain
2. Equally Skilled
3. Lord, Save Me From Myself
4. The Moon Is A Magnet
5. My Love Goes Free
6. Southbound Train
Thanks for the add. Jon you folk ROCK! I think you must speak poems in regular conversation, how else would you have time to write all this stuff. See you next time your in New England.
In my opinion, you and Paul Hewson(AKA Bono) are the two most influential people in the World right now. Keep the music comin'! -God Bless, Matt Piland
I was born in October too... and I don't write too many happy songs either! hehe... thanks for your music, brother. I wish you could come down to New Mexico sometime.
Hey man. Being a friend of the foot indeed paid off last night. I met you after the show in Oklahoma City. You may have been puzzled when I said "I love you in the most non-homo way possible" but just know that is a very good thing ha ha. Switchfoot is actually an adjective. When people describe me, the first thing they think of is my passion for your's and your band's passion. I think I freaked Andy out last night because I'd never seen the guy, yet i went up to him and had like this revelation that it was him and I asked if he was Andy. He was cool about it though so lifes good.
Jon, after meeting you for the second time last night, you actually made me feel as if we had known each other as friends for our whole lives. I just can't explain how unique and fantastic that trait is. This is not a letter of obsession, this is me expressing my deep appreciation for music that you create, for the life you live, and for the inspiration you will always be to me. If dreams really come true, my life would look a little something like me being the next Andy and getting to actually be a close friend with the band. We'll see where God takes me. You've dared me to move, so I'm going to pursue my passion of music.
Ha, enough with the mush. Happy touring! It's almost over and you get to go home and finish recording that new record! Get on it! I go to bed at night and pray for this record to have every bit of passion you have inside you! I'm ready for it to be in my hands! I'll be at the next show you play in Dallas or anywhere in Oklahoma, and I'll be at the meet n great! Peace bro.
P.S. if you end up playing at a cafe or something afterwards, i totally know the harmony to "march (a prelude to spring)" and it would pretty much fufill all of my dreams to sing it with you! haha :D
hey jon - i'm ridiculously excited for you to come to colorado on sunday, because i'm definitely gonna be there! i really hope i get a chance to meet you. you truly are an inspiration to me, and i'm sure you hear that all of the time, but i really, really mean it. and you should definitely consider playing "life and love and why"... it's my favorite song of all time!!! -anna
Thanks for the add jon...and Good Show last night...well...For Switchfoots show lol, the production was amazing...can't wait to meet you at the top of the world :D
Thank you so much for coming to oklahoma city tonight. Ive been listening to you guys since i was ten! Im also looking forward to your new album next year. Thank you so much.
jon, greattt show in houston! definitely worth driving seven hours :) i passed out some of those fiction family stickers ike gave me like 50! take care, maddie
show in houston last night was awesome. nice new effects. i LOVE the stars look. i was talking to romey about it. wish yall would have come out for us. it was only me, my mom, and like 4 kids waiting for you guys. but i understand how tired you must have been. hope you got the birthday wish i gave romey to give to you. lol thanks for the show, and for the music. i love your heart.
dear noj..."Over the River" is so beautiful... and your voice is absolutely incredible... My husband and I were just listening to it he was wowed. we decided that it was a haunting lullaby. Pretty incredible. Just keep livin', friend. Be blessed. Thank you for the beautiful music. It really is blessing.
you truly have talent...the first time I saw switchfoot(june 2006) I told all of my friends that switchfoot is THE BEST live band I have ever seen, and when I saw you guys last night in houston you didn't let me down, switchfoot is STILL the best live band I have seen (and I have probably seen over 100 bands live) so thanks for making great music. and It was so awesome to get to meet you, it was my friends first concert ever and he really enjoyed it and couldnt believe he got to meet you! :)
I just got paid yesterday and I bought the vinyl records :) I love "Broken from the Start" Life is a gift like fresh cut roses. I love that simile. They still won't pay respect until you die... Jon, I've got to say that this is one of your best songs. Simple and beautiful. If you've got time, could you stop by Savannah, Georgia to play in a coffee shop perhaps? God bless you my amigo.
Dreams are part of our heart and soul Our dreams go to the depths of our thoughts, Wants, and needs to fulfill our destiny. In order to fulfill our destiny we must fulfill our dreams.......... Once in the dream of a night I stood alone in the light of a magical wood, Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang; And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang, And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed, And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed In that magical wood in the land of sleep. Have a great weekend!
So I was sitting here and thinking and having a bad day and I didn't know what to do and somehow, I found my way here and things feel better. Now I'm listening to your music that reminds me of cold that hurts my nose but burns like magic and of fireflies in the grass. For some reason, it just works. I feel like I am okay now.
I love your music Jon It has such wonderful deep thought and lyrics and meaning to them. Makes me think a lot, haven't had good music like that in a while
