It's been a wild ride for the man who grew up in the "Grass Seed Capital of the World," listening to the diverse sounds of his mother's favorite country songs and his Dad's soul records.
"Corvallis is a small college town," he says of his Oregon home, whose farms supply much of the town's teenage population with work during the warmer months. "You go to school, and in the summer you work on the farm starting at age 12. You either bale hay or drive the combine. That's what most kids do, every single year."
Once his older brother landed a record deal as a Christian artist, though, Michelson found himself with a different sort of summertime gig: selling t-shirts and CDs at his sibling's gigs. Touring the country at a young age lit a fire inside Michelson, who began playing in bands back at home. He started writing original music, too, drawing on his own experiences to create songs that balanced high-energy hooks with good-natured, real-world storylines. It was music shaped by what he listened to and where he came from.
Songs like "The Good Life," which has since become a popular track on SiriusXM radio, helped spread Michelson's music to new fans across the country. Most of the grunt work, though, was done on the road, where Michelson delivered more than 100 shows per year. He opened for artists like Lee Brice, Blake Shelton and Frankie Ballard, earning new fans along the way. To him, those fans were everything. They were his muse, his support system, his champions. Crowd interaction became a crucial part of every Jackson Michelson show, and he always ended each gig the same way: by meeting fans, shaking hands and becoming friends with those who enjoyed his music.
"Crowd engagement is so important to me," he says. "My show is just as much about the band paying attention to the crowd, as the band putting on a show for the crowd. It's not just about us; it's about the experience we're all gonna have together."
Now, with a record deal under his belt, Michelson is prepping for the next phase of his career. There are new shows to play, new songs to be written and new opportunities to explore. But he's still the boy from Corvallis, happy to sing about "The Good Life" — a life he's built himself, show by show and song by song — to an audience that continues to grow.
Down by the River
Jackson Michelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Runs a river I used as my playground
Skipping flat rocks and catfish fishing
Supper time, mama knew if I was missing
I was down by the river, down by river
Down by the river, down by the river
With the first drag off of a lucky strike
Was a taste of freedom rolled up tight
When he caught me there was nowhere to hide
Down by the river, down by river
Down by the river, down by the river
Katie was the match to my gasoline
And we fell on the banks like Adam and Eve
The preacher man washed my sins downstream
The water was muddy but my soul was clean
Down by the river
Well, I went and grew up and I moved away
I met a girl, bought a house
Now I spend my days working like crazy
Running like hell, have to go back home to find myself
Down by the river, down by the river
Katie was the match to my gasoline
And we fell on the banks like Adam and Eve
The preacher man washed my sins downstream
The water was muddy but my soul was clean
When I die, raise your glasses
Drinks on me, just spread my ashes
Down by the river, down by the river
Down by the river, down by the river
Down by the river, down by the river
Down by the river, down by the river
Down by the river
Jackson Michelson's "Down by the River" is a nostalgic song about the singer's childhood memories, his rebellious teenage years, and his return to his roots as an adult. The river that runs through his hometown is a central theme, symbolizing freedom, escape, and redemption.
The first verse describes the singer's carefree childhood spent by the river. He spent hours skipping rocks and fishing with his friends while his mother kept an eye on him. The river was his sanctuary, and he found freedom and solace in its flowing water.
In the second verse, the singer's rebellious teenage years are revealed. He smoked his first cigarette by the river, which he calls a "taste of freedom rolled up tight." He defied his alcoholic father by sneaking away to the river, and when he was caught, he had nowhere to hide. The river still serves as a place of escape and adventure for him.
The final verse sees the singer as an adult, reflecting on his life and the importance of his roots. He has a job, a house, and responsibilities, but he longs for the simplicity and purity of his childhood days, which he finds down by the river. The song's ending is a toast to life, and he asks that his ashes be spread down by the river, the place that has always been his refuge.
Overall, "Down by the River" is a coming-of-age story that speaks to the universal experience of growing up and the nostalgia that comes with it. It's a celebration of the freedom and joy of youth, the struggles of adolescence, and the comfort of home.
Line by Line Meaning
Right through the middle of my hometown
There is a river that runs through the center of my hometown
Runs a river I used as my playground
I used to play in this river when I was younger
Skipping flat rocks and catfish fishing
I enjoyed skipping rocks and fishing for catfish in the river
Supper time, mama knew if I was missing
My mother knew I was at the river during dinner time
I was down by the river, down by river
I spent a lot of my time at the river
With the first drag off of a lucky strike
The first time I smoked a Lucky Strike cigarette
Was a taste of freedom rolled up tight
It felt like I was experiencing freedom when I smoked the cigarette
Daddy's six pack turned into five
My father drank one less beer when he found out I was at the river
When he caught me there was nowhere to hide
My father found me at the river and I couldn't escape
Katie was the match to my gasoline
Katie was the perfect fit for me
And we fell on the banks like Adam and Eve
We fell in love and spent time together by the river
The preacher man washed my sins downstream
The preacher helped me feel forgiven for any wrongdoings I committed by the river
The water was muddy but my soul was clean
Even though the water was dirty, I felt spiritually refreshed after being by the river
Well, I went and grew up and I moved away
I grew up and left my hometown
I met a girl, bought a house
I fell in love and settled down with a partner and bought a home
Now I spend my days working like crazy
I work hard all day
Running like hell, have to go back home to find myself
Sometimes I feel like I need to return to my hometown to remember who I am
When I die, raise your glasses
When I pass away, please have a drink in my honor
Drinks on me, just spread my ashes
I want my ashes to be spread by the river and for my loved ones to have a drink in my memory
Down by the river
The river was always an important place to me
Writer(s): Dan Couch, Ryan Tyndell, Jackson Michelson, Oscar Charles
Contributed by Ian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Susie Dial
I LOVE this song!
skyblue
Such a bloody cool singer with this awesome song .... Cheers.
Patricia Spear
Last nights concert was amazing 😍😍
Unpopular
good job! nice song
Brenda Waxdahl
AWESOME !!!! Seen him in Sioux Falls South Dakota
Stacy White the Fam
Good song
Jeremy Boies
Good old Willamette river!
Grace
He signed my hat