Dean Johnson Announces New Album I Hope We Can Still Be Friends: Hear “Before You Hit The Ground”

7:04 PM EDT on June 17, 2025

Last month Dean Johnson revealed his signing to Saddle Creek and released the song “Blue Moon.” Today the Seattle-based singer-songwriter is announcing his sophomore album I Hope We Can Still Be Friends. The disarming single "Before You Hit The Ground" is out now.

"This song speaks to the challenges I’ve had writing upbeat lyrics, and more broadly suggests how difficult it’s become to feel hopeful amidst the literal and figurative tornadoes and tempests surrounding all of us," he explains. "These sentiments contrast references to Buddy Holly, a guy renowned for finding the sunny side. Ultimately, it has more congruity with his plane going down and evokes the growing divide between us and the chances of happy outcomes. Hey Buddy, did ya close your eyes and pray that you would wake up?"

I Hope We Can Still Be Friends is produced by Sera Cahoone and follows Johnson's 2023 debut Nothing For Me, Please, which came out on his 50th birthday. The lyrics of "Before You Hit The Ground" possess an incisive, clever profundity, especially as he begins with the curious lines: "How do you put the sun in a song?/ I still can’t find a way/ I don’t know why, but I always get it wrong." Watch the Ryan McMackin-directed music video for it below.

TRACKLIST:
01 "Before You Hit The Ground"
02 "Carol"
03 "So Much Better"
04 "Painted Smile"
05 "The Man In The Booth"
06 "Hang Youie"
07 "Death Of The Party"
08 "Shake Me"
09 "Perfect Stranger"
10 "Winter Song"
11 "A Long Goodbye"

TOUR DATES:
06/28 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House %
06/29 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House %
07/16 - Manchester, VT @ Billsville #
07/17 - Brattleboro, VT @ The Stone Church #
07/18 - Portland, ME @ SPACE #
07/19 - North Haven, ME @ Crabtree Sessions #
07/20 - Exeter, NH @ The Word Barn #
07/21 - Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater #
07/23 - Nelsonville, OH @ Creekside Stage #
07/24 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe #
07/25 - Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgeralds #
07/26 - Spring Green, WI @ The Shitty Barn (sold out)
07/27 - Madison, WI @ The Bur Oak #
07/31 - Bellingham, WA @ Structures Brewing (w. Vincent Neil Emerson)
08/02 - Orcas Island, WA @ Dylanfest
08/08 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Lulu’s Downtown
08/09 - Lyons, CO @ Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
09/04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden ^
09/05 - Boise, ID @ Morrison Center (sold out) ^
09/06 - Carnation, WA @ Remlinger Farms ^
09/07 - Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield ^
09/08 - New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage *
09/10 - Washington, DC @ Anthem *
09/11 - McKees Rock, PA @ Roxian Theatre *
09/14 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Meijer Gardens Summer Series *
09/16 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre *
09/17 - La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater *
09/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House (solo)
09/20 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd Music House (solo)
09/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's (solo)
09/23 - Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim (solo)
09/26 - Boonton, NJ @ Boonton Coffee Co. (solo)
09/27 - Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse (solo)
09/28 - Providence, RI @ Alchemy (solo)
09/29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right (solo)
11/06 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
11/08 - Fort Collins, CO @ The Armory
11/09 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater
11/11 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/12 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
11/14 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
11/15 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
11/16 - Jacumba Hot Springs, CA @ The Old Bath House
11/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
11/18 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
12/05 - Austin, TX @ 29th St. Ballroom $ (solo)
12/06 - Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theater $ (solo)
12/07 - Houston, TX @ Heights Theater $ (solo)
12/09 - New Orleans, LA @ Chickie Wah Wah $ (solo)
12/10 - Birmingham, AL @ Woodlawn Theatre $ (solo)
12/11 - Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage (Vinyl) $ (solo)
12/12 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook $ (solo)
12/13 - Asheville, NC @ AyurPrana Listening Room $ (solo)
12/14 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre $ (solo)