Raised in Corvallis, Oregon, Jackson Michelson kicked off his country caree… Read Full Bio ↴Raised in Corvallis, Oregon, Jackson Michelson kicked off his country career on the West Coast, carving out a sound that blended the rootsy twang of the American South with the sunny, feel-good spirit of the Pacific Coast. Nashville — the official capital of country music — lay 2,300 miles to the southeast, but Michelson focused on his home turf first, building an audience of West Coast fans who were drawn to his high-energy shows and relatable songwriting. By the time he did move to Nashville, he'd already spent years on the road, growing his fan base show-by-show and earning a record contract with Curb Records in the process.

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.

Your Love
Jackson Michelson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Daily grind, ladder climb
The city life don't know no limits
American pie, get a slice
If you close your eyes you just might miss it
Pretty girl, it's a crazy world
And the only thing that keeps me
From going out of my mind
Is your love, Sunday morning than easy

Your love, it's got that high school, prom night feeling
Your love is barefoot, running wild on sacred ground
Your love is like a small town
From a mom and pop diner
Off the beaten path down some back road
To the open air, town square
Flag waving at the top of that pole
Friday nights, football lights
The stadium packed, full of home team pride
Yeah, that's what it feel like
Your love, Sunday morning than easy
Your love, it's got that high school, prom night feeling
Your love is barefoot, running wild on sacred ground
Your love is like a small town
Baby, got your name spray painted all over my heart
And I'm fifteen, climbing that water tower in the dark
Yeah, in the dark
Your love, Sunday morning than easy
Your love, it's got that high school, prom night feeling
Your love is barefoot, running wild on sacred ground

Your love is like a small town
Your love is like a small town

Overall Meaning

In Jackson Michelson's song "Your Love", he sings about the stress and chaos of the fast-paced city life, but how the love of his partner is the one constant that keeps him grounded. He mentions the daily grind and the pressure to climb the ladder, but how it all fades away when he's with the person he loves. He compares their love to the feeling of a small town, where things are slower and simpler. He talks about the comfort and nostalgia that comes with that feeling, using imagery such as a mom and pop diner, a water tower, and a football game on a Friday night.

The lyrics are essentially saying that amongst all the craziness of life, love is what makes it all worthwhile. It's the one thing that brings true happiness and meaning to life. The use of small-town imagery is a nod to the way these places seem to have a sense of community and belonging that is sometimes missing in bigger cities. The mention of high school and prom night feelings brings up a sense of innocence and nostalgia that is often associated with young love.

Line by Line Meaning

Daily grind, ladder climb
Life is busy and you're constantly striving for something better

The city life don't know no limits
Living in the city is full of endless possibilities and opportunities

American pie, get a slice
Everyone is trying to get their piece of the American dream

If you close your eyes you just might miss it
Life moves fast and if you blink, you might miss out on something great

Pretty girl, it's a crazy world
The world can be overwhelming, but having someone special by your side can make it all feel ok

And the only thing that keeps me From going out of my mind
Love is what keeps us grounded and sane in an otherwise chaotic world

Is your love, Sunday morning than easy
His partner's love makes everything feel calm and relaxed, like an easy Sunday morning

Your love, it's got that high school, prom night feeling
His love feels young and exciting, like a high school dance

Your love is barefoot, running wild on sacred ground
His love feels carefree and adventurous, like running barefoot through a sacred place

Your love is like a small town From a mom and pop diner Off the beaten path down some back road To the open air, town square Flag waving at the top of that pole
His love feels warm and wholesome, like a small town USA where the community comes together

Friday nights, football lights The stadium packed, full of home team pride
His love feels like a classic American experience, like going to a high school football game

Yeah, that's what it feel like
His love feels like a momentous occasion, something to be cherished and remembered

Baby, got your name spray painted all over my heart
He is head over heels in love with his partner, so much so that he's willing to put it out there for everyone to see

And I'm fifteen, climbing that water tower in the dark
His love makes him feel young and alive, like he's on top of the world

Your love is like a small town
His love is warm, welcoming and filled with appreciation for simple things.

Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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