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.
Rollin
Jackson Michelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But girl you got that country charm
And it's working on me tonight
Yeah it's working on me tonight
There's something 'bout your Southern drawl
Honey every time you say y'all
I fall a little more, I fall a little more
And those deep blue eyes
And your smile taking me straight to heaven
You got me rollin' on a river
Floating on a raft together
Toes hanging down in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
Blondie blowing out your window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You got me rollin', you got me rollin'
Yeah, well honey how about you take my hand
I'll lead you out for one slow dance
And spin you right around, yeah, spin you right around
We can rock right cross the floor
Grab your coat and hit the door
The moon's out tonight, oh it's shining bright
Down on them deep blue eyes
And they're locked in on mine
And your smile taking me straight to heaven
You got me rollin' on a river
Floating on a raft together
Toes hanging down in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
Blondie blowing out your window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You got me rollin', you got me rollin'
Got me rollin'
We got all night
Take a, take a little midnight ride
On an airplane or a freight train
Baby I'm just sayin'
You got me rollin' on a river
Floating on a raft together
Toes hanging down in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
Blondie blowing out your window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You got me rollin', oh you got me rollin', yeah
Well I ain't sayin' you grew up on a farm
But girl you got that country charm
And it's working on me tonight
Yeah it's working on me tonight
In this song, "Rollin'" by Jackson Michelson, the singer is expressing his love for a girl who exudes southern charm. He begins by acknowledging that she may not have grown up on a farm, but she has that country appeal that he finds irresistible. He gets drawn in by her southern drawl and the way she uses "y'all" in her speech. As they spend time together, he finds himself falling deeper for her, especially when he looks into her deep blue eyes and sees her smile that takes him to heaven.
The chorus sees the two of them drifting on a river on a raft, enjoying each other's company with their toes dipped in the water. They drive down back roads with her blonde hair blowing in the wind, and her beauty making her even hotter than the summer sun. The bridge feels like an invitation to go on an adventure with her, proposing a spontaneous midnight ride on a plane or a freight train, emphasizing the carefree and wild essence of their love.
The song's core message is about the power of love and the excitement that comes with discovering new love. The singer is infatuated with this girl's southern charm, and something about her draws him to her. The lyrics are straightforward and easy to understand, yet they convey the beauty of discovering love in a simple way that is relatable to many people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I ain't sayin' you grew up on a farm
I'm not implying that you were raised on a farm
But girl you got that country charm
But you possess the charm and appeal of a country girl
And it's working on me tonight
And your charm is having a strong effect on me tonight
Yeah it's working on me tonight
Yes, your charm is definitely working on me tonight
There's something 'bout your Southern drawl
There's something attractive about the way you pronounce words with a Southern accent
Honey every time you say y'all
Every time you use the word 'y'all', it endears you to me
I fall a little more, I fall a little more
I become a little more infatuated with you each time
And those deep blue eyes
Your deep blue eyes
When they're locked in on mine
When they are staring intently into mine
And your smile taking me straight to heaven
When you smile at me, it feels like I'm in paradise
You got me rollin' on a river
You have me feeling ecstatic and carefree
Floating on a raft together
We are enjoying each other's company while floating on a raft
Toes hanging down in the water
Our toes are dipped in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
You have me feeling delighted while cruising on a rural road
Blondie blowing out your window
Your blonde hair is blowing through the car window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You are extremely attractive
Yeah, well honey how about you take my hand
How about you hold my hand, honey
I'll lead you out for one slow dance
I'll escort you to the dance floor for a slow dance
And spin you right around, yeah, spin you right around
And I'll spin you around in a circle
We can rock right cross the floor
We can dance across the floor
Grab your coat and hit the door
Let's grab your coat and leave
The moon's out tonight, oh it's shining bright
The moon is out tonight and it's shining brightly
Down on them deep blue eyes
It's shining down on your deep blue eyes
And they're locked in on mine
And your eyes are fixated on mine
You got me rollin' on a river
You have me feeling ecstatic and carefree
Floating on a raft together
We are enjoying each other's company while floating on a raft
Toes hanging down in the water
Our toes are dipped in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
You have me feeling delighted while cruising on a rural road
Blondie blowing out your window
Your blonde hair is blowing through the car window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You are extremely attractive
Got me rollin'
You have me feeling ecstatic and carefree
We got all night
We have the entire night
Take a, take a little midnight ride
Let's go on a late-night drive
On an airplane or a freight train
We can travel by airplane or freight train
Baby I'm just sayin'
I'm just suggesting
You got me rollin' on a river
You have me feeling ecstatic and carefree
Floating on a raft together
We are enjoying each other's company while floating on a raft
Toes hanging down in the water
Our toes are dipped in the water
You got me rollin' down a back road
You have me feeling delighted while cruising on a rural road
Blondie blowing out your window
Your blonde hair is blowing through the car window
Girl you couldn't get any hotter
You are extremely attractive
You got me rollin', oh you got me rollin', yeah
You have me feeling ecstatic and carefree, yeah
Well I ain't sayin' you grew up on a farm
I'm not implying that you were raised on a farm
But girl you got that country charm
But you possess the charm and appeal of a country girl
And it's working on me tonight
And your charm is having a strong effect on me tonight
Yeah it's working on me tonight
Yes, your charm is definitely working on me tonight
Writer(s): Byron Oliver, Daniel Couch
Contributed by Savannah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stimulusupdates9229
Man I just cant get enough!!!! Your absolutely amazing
@johnswift5183
Still one of my favorite boatin jams.
@Tillerjunkey
He kicks ASS!!!!
@rileyetchison9160
I saw you in concert Saturday night you were amazing dude!!
@Tillerjunkey
This guy is AWESOME
@shimmyblakedakid9324
I love this song
@haleycomstock5548
I saw you at the Yuma county fair this year in April.
@finleycate8073
You came to my moms work and my hole family was there. But I was to shy to take a pic with you
@forliberty1805
Where's the version that's on Spotify?
@victorangerame4568
For Liberty new boots