Speaking of keys, it’s his dad that Jordan credits as being key to shaping his musical influences. “My dad was a huge Country music fan – Kenny Rogers, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Lawrence. All the guys from that ‘90s era have always been big influences for me as well.”
Jordan picked up the guitar at 15, aided by a deal with his father. "If he saw me with the guitar in my hands every day when he came home from work, I didn't have to do any chores that summer. I was like, 'Deal!' Of course, I had no idea how hard it would be to learn. I'm completely self-taught. Watched a few YouTube videos and from there it was simply trial and error. I started writing songs about the same time and they were god-awful." Jordan’s first gig was a county fair where he played four of his favorite covers for a crowd of 50. “When I got offstage I walked up to my mom and said, 'That was fun. I want to do that forever.'"
Easier said than done as a high school student, but Jordan’s competitive drive found a way – with a little help from his family. "Most places you had to be 18 to even get in," Jordan says. "My mom would call to talk the manager into it. She'd walk me in, sit in the front row and walk me out. It was, 'Don't touch anything. Don't talk to anyone. Don't take anything from anyone. Just play and slip out.'"
Barry Williams, Jason Aldean's father, came on board at this time. "We met through a mutual friend from playing county fairs," Jordan says. "He booked shows, set up meetings and got songwriting appointments when I was about 17 or 18. That was my first connection to Nashville.”
In 2013, after years of playing the club scene, frat parties and college bars - while also traveling to Nashville for a week each month to write - Jordan received a call from Jeremy Stover, producer for Justin Moore and Craig Campbell, among others. The #1 charting producer was looking for an acoustic opener for Justin Moore’s Off the Beaten Path Tour and thought Jordan was the perfect fit.
Jumping onto a fast-moving national tour was a prodigious leap. The young artist held his own, playing acoustically between seasoned veterans and #1 hit makers Randy Houser and Moore. It also proved to be an invaluable education. "The biggest thing I learned offstage was how to treat people. Justin and his crew were always patient when stuff didn’t go right. Onstage, I learned how to interact with a crowd. For the first month of that tour, I’d play my set, run all my stuff back to the bus, then sit front-of-house for Justin’s whole show. I would just watch and learn everything I could. What does he do during different songs? How does he talk to the crowd? What does he do if something goes wrong? It was really great to see that at a young age. I learned so much about how to carry yourself on and off stage.”
Rager spent fall of 2013 through the first half of 2014 on the tour. He signed a joint management deal with Barry Williams and Peter Hartung (Justin Moore/ Dustin Lynch) and signed with Broken Bow Records the following September. Shortly after landing his record deal, he went back on tour with Justin Moore – this time with a full band.
On stage, Jordan’s competitive drive, instilled in him at such a young age, immediately shines through. There are moments at the plate where one must stand and deliver – and Jordan, unflinchingly, does. "When I go to a show, I want to be entertained just like everybody else. So when it's me onstage, I try to give the crowd what I would want to see. When the groove is going, the band is rocking and I'm rocking, then the crowd starts giving it back - that's as good as it gets."
One of the Good Ones
Jordan Rager Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I could think about was how to get you on my tailgate
Spinnin' round, a little hidin' mess
Lookin' like you were lookin' for somethin' to break
I had to spit every bit of my game, just to catch your name
And now it's, where you from? Baby, what you drink?
Have you every partied down to Hank?
Tell me, does Country music rock your world?
Where'd you get the bluest eyes I've ever seen?
I wanna split, baby right now, what ya think?
I just got to know everything, now that I know your name
There's a big moon, a big fire now
But my eyes are locked on you
Starlight, a little glow
Lightin' up the smile I love, but now you know
I could listen to you talk all night
And if you need it girl, I got your ride
Where you from? Baby what's your drink?
Have you ever partied down to Hank?
Are you a Ford or a Chevy girl?
Tell me, does Country music rock your world?
Where'd you get the bluest eyes I've ever seen?
I wanna split, baby right now, what ya think?
I just got to know everything, now that I know your name
Yeah that first kiss sure tasted right
I wanna learn what turns you on tonight
So where you from? Baby, what you drink?
Have you ever partied down to Hank?
Are you a Ford or a Chevy girl?
Tell me, does Country music rock your world?
Where'd you get the bluest eyes I've ever seen?
I wanna split, baby right now, what ya think?
I just got to know everything, now that I know your name
Now that I know your name
Wanna split, baby what ya think?
I just gotta know everything
Oh, now that I know your name
The lyrics of "Now That I Know Your Name" by Jordan Rager talks about a man who is trying to impress a girl he sees at a party. He notices her tan legs and tries to catch her attention by asking her questions about her interests and preferences, such as if she likes Country music, if she is a Ford or Chevy girl, if she has partied to Hank, and where she is from. He wants to know everything about her, and now that he has caught her name, he can't help but be attracted to her. He admires her blue eyes and is drawn to her smile, and he wants to spend the night getting to know her better. He even promises to make sure she gets home safely.
The song's lyrics reflect the typical behavior of young men trying to impress women they find attractive, by showing a keen interest in their likes and dislikes. The song's lyrics focus on the stereotypical traits associated with Country music and American culture, such as partying to Hank, driving Ford or Chevy trucks, and hanging out on tailgates. The song also explores the idea of love at first sight, with the singer immediately feeling drawn to the girl he sees at the party.
Line by Line Meaning
You stepped out, your tan legs
As soon as you stepped out with your tanned legs, it caught my attention.
All I could think about was how to get you on my tailgate
The thought of getting you on my tailgate kept running in my mind repeatedly.
Spinnin' round, a little hidin' mess
You acted like you were trying to hide behind your movement, but I still noticed you.
Lookin' like you were lookin' for somethin' to break
From your appearance, it appeared as though you were looking for something to break or find trouble in.
I had to spit every bit of my game, just to catch your name
I had to use all the tricks I had under my sleeves to get your name.
And now it's, where you from? Baby, what you drink?
Currently, I'm curious to know your place of origin, your drink preference, etc.
Have you every partied down to Hank?
Have you danced to songs by Hank Williams Jr. before?
Are you a Ford or a Chevy girl?
Do you prefer Ford or Chevy cars?
Tell me, does Country music rock your world?
Are you a massive fan of country music?
Where'd you get the bluest eyes I've ever seen?
I'm curious to know where you got your blue eyes which I find captivating.
I wanna split, baby right now, what ya think?
Are you interested in leaving with me?
I just got to know everything, now that I know your name
Now that I have your name, I want to learn every other thing about you.
There's a big moon, a big fire now
Currently, there's a big moon and a big fire.
But my eyes are locked on you
Despite the view, my attention is solely on you.
Starlight, a little glow
The stars have illuminated the area a bit.
Lightin' up the smile I love, but now you know
Your smile brightens up the environment, but I had to let you know that.
I could listen to you talk all night
You have an interesting voice, and I can listen to you talk all night long.
And if you need it girl, I got your ride
If you are in need of a ride or transportation, I'm available to help you out.
Yeah that first kiss sure tasted right
Our first kiss tasted great or perfect.
I wanna learn what turns you on tonight
Today, I want to learn what makes you happy or excited.
Wanna split, baby what ya think?
Are you interested in leaving with me?
I just gotta know everything
I'm very curious, and I want to learn everything about you.
Oh, now that I know your name
Now that I have your name, I'm more interested in learning more about you.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JASON GANTT, CHRIS JANSON, JEREMY STOVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aprilrutherford2174
I love this song
@minimomlisa2100
Wow ok Jordan you go
@Suplexmaschine
Good! Greets from Germany!
@maryellenc7582
Love this song!!! Can't stop listening!!
@keithwarshel731
This one is going to be big on the radio I can feel it
@beaubutler6460
This song is one of the good ones
@bfrfilms1902
Beau Butler your ktm is one of the good ones, you race or just ride ?
@AtLMxV
Congrats on the new single! Been playing it throughout the day!
@jonathonkrause1402
🤠 Jordan love the new song. We are dying for a new full length album!
@tannerholtzapple117
Good job my best friends 😀😁🎤🎶🎸👍👋👍