Good People (song)

"Good People"
Single by Jack Johnson
from the album In Between Dreams
B-side
  • "No Other Way" (acoustic)
  • "Butter Nut"
Released May 9, 2005
Genre
Length 3:28
Label Brushfire
Songwriter(s) Jack Johnson
Producer(s) Mario Caldato Jr.
Jack Johnson singles chronology
"Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"
(2005)
"Good People"
(2005)
"Breakdown"
(2005)

"Good People" is a protest song written and performed by Jack Johnson. It is the fourth track on the album In Between Dreams and was released as a single on May 9, 2005. Though the song has a positive and relaxing sound, it is a critic of contemporary television, especially with regard to frequent violence, and its effect on society. The song is similar to the song "Cookie Jar" from Johnson's previous album On and On, which also draws attention to the issue, but with a more explicit protest and melancholic sound.

Commercial performance

"Good People" peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in the United States. It also became a minor hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart. It additionally reached number 25 in New Zealand and number 92 in the Netherlands. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Track listings

Canadian CD single

  1. "Good People"
  2. "No Other Way" (acoustic version)
  3. "Butter Nut"
  4. "Good People" (live video from the Kokua Festival)

UK 7-inch single and European CD single

  1. "Good People"
  2. "No Other Way" (acoustic version)

UK CD single

  1. "Good People"
  2. "No Other Way" (acoustic version)
  3. "Butter Nut"

UK DVD single

  1. "Good People" (video)
  2. "Butter Nut" (live video from the Kokua Festival)
  3. "Making of In Between Dreams" (filmed at The Mango Tree Hawaii, October 2004)

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Good People"
Chart (2005) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 92
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 25
Scotland (OCC) 66
UK Singles (OCC) 50
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard) 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 29

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Good People"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) Platinum 70,000
Canada (Music Canada) Platinum 80,000
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA) Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Good People"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 9, 2005 Triple A radio Brushfire
United Kingdom June 13, 2005 CD
United States June 27, 2005 Alternative radio
August 22, 2005 Hot adult contemporary radio