🌴 About the Song
If ever there was a soundtrack for calling in sick and staying in bed, it’s Banana Pancakes. Released in 2005 on In Between Dreams, the album that cemented Jack Johnson’s “surf-philosopher” reputation, this tune is basically an argument for not giving a toss about productivity. Written at his home on the North Shore of Oahu, it oozes that barefoot Hawaiian ease — half love song, half weather report.
Johnson’s gentle acoustic shuffle captured post-millennial chill like few others: no drama, no ego, just breakfast and affection. The song’s line “Can’t you see that it’s just rainin’?” is a sweet little manifesto for laziness — if the weather’s rubbish, so what? That’s what cuddles and pancakes are for.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords: You’ll mostly bounce between Am – G – D7 – C7. Easy shapes, tasty movement.
- Strumming pattern: A relaxed down–down-up-up-down-up at around 80 bpm. Think of a hammock swinging gently in the breeze.
- Feel: Keep your right hand soft — it’s not a march, it’s a morning stretch.
- Tone: Play near the neck for that warm, woody thump that feels like sea air and sunshine.
- Trick: Try sliding your index finger up one fret on the Am for that lazy blues tug Jack loves.
- Bonus move: End the song by slowing the last bar into half-time and saying “let’s make banana pancakes” in your most seductive brunch voice.
🧠 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Johnson originally wrote the song for his wife Kim as a joke about how she never wanted to get out of bed when it rained — which, let’s face it, makes it a mood rather than a tune.
- In Between Dreams sold over 15 million copies and somehow made acoustic slacker-pop mainstream again.
- The album was recorded to analog tape, which explains the warm, uncompressed “coconut oil” sound.
- Every live crowd tries to sing along — and usually ends up a half-beat behind, grinning.
🩴 Final Word
If Imagine asks the world to dream big, Banana Pancakes tells you to hit snooze. It’s laid-back philosophy disguised as breakfast music. Grab your uke, call in “working remotely,” and lean into the laziness.