“I have a hard time singing or writing about something I can’t relate to,” she says, and that philosophy is front and center on her Arista Nashville debut album, co-produced by nine-time CMA Award-winning producer Tony Brown and two-time GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Paul Overstreet.
“Paul got the ball rolling,” Kristen says. A chance meeting at a 2010 benefit concert impressed Overstreet enough to invite her to write with him, sparking a chain of events that ultimately led to her record deal. But Kristen was far from an “overnight” discovery.
Born in Waco, Texas, Kristen Kelly grew up in the country, living on 10 acres in small-town Lorena, Texas. “You blink, you miss it,” she smiles. She credits her outdoorsy, adventurous spirit in adult life to those days of “simple country living.”
She sang in talent shows and high school choir, and by middle school had taken an interest in poetry, beginning the foundation for the songwriting that would emerge years later. “I grew up in love with music,” Kristen recalls. Her late grandfather, Sterling Kelly, was a country musician – “I still have 45s of him and his band” – while her dad helped instill her affinity for classic rock, as well as her determination. “He’s a simple, hard-working man who never quits – and I think that’s where I get some of my ‘workaholic’ from is him.” Along the way, she adds, “I fell in love with the blues.”
While bartending in 2001, an impromptu performance earned Kristen an on-the-spot invitation to sing with a regional classic-rock cover band. That night launched a three-year part-time gig with the band as she moved closer to a life in music, co-writing her first song (“Down in Flames” with Brandon Jenkins and Stoney LaRue) in 2004, the same year she began a two-year music degree at Waco’s McLennan Community College.
In her final semester, a friend asked her to sing harmony on songs he was recording. They began writing and recording with Kristen on lead vocals, as well, resulting in their self-released album, The Highway Is My Home, as Modern Day Drifters. Initially a duo, they added a few players to flesh-out their live sound, and the act earned airplay and acclaim around Texas. But with the departure of her original partner in late 2008, Kristen took the reins and recorded her debut under the banner Kristen Kelly & The Modern Day Drifters, producing all but one song on 2010’s independent Placekeeper.
Her musical style embraces influences ranging from Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and Bob Seger to singer/songwriter Patty Griffin to the blues and soul of Ray Charles, Susan Tedeschi, and Bonnie Raitt, while her country roots were shaped in part by the sounds of the ‘80s and ‘90s. “I grew up listening to The Judds and Reba and George Strait and Willie Nelson,” she says, adding that her biggest influence is Merle Haggard.
“I think I’m such a big fan of Merle Haggard’s music and his songwriting because it’s simple. I’ve always believed that country music was three chords and the truth, and that’s more or less what he did – and what all the great blues musicians did.”
Kristen mines her own truth with a lighthearted look at love gone awry on the groove-filled “Ex-Old Man,” while the deeply personal “Feelin’ Nothing” is the culmination of lyric lines that had been in her thoughts for years. “There stands a man I used to love / his hands my skin they used to touch / the very hands that once held my heart” begins the ballad of time-won healing.
“I’m a happy person,” Kristen offers, “but what I write has a lot of angst and realness to it, whether it’s something that I’ve personally experienced or somebody close to me has experienced. To be able to give voice to pain that I’ve felt, to be able to say ‘it hurts’ when it hurts, is part of my music. And if something I’ve gone through helps somebody get through something in their life, then I think that’s the ultimate reward for being a survivor.”
From the pen of acclaimed singer/songwriter Matraca Berg, Kristen pours out the emotional restlessness of a strained-but-committed relationship in another album highlight, “How Leaving Feels.” “I think maybe every man and woman at some point has wanted to know what leaving would feel like,” she says, “but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gonna do it.”
But there are times when leaving has its place, and Kristen’s dynamic vocals soar on the rocked-out blues of “Turn and Face Memphis,” a spirited kiss-off to a my-way-or-the-highway ultimatum that mirrors a time in her own life.
The strength and passion of her delivery further shine on the soulfully sexy “He Loves to Make Me Cry,” which she wrote with Overstreet and Even Stevens. But there’s another Overstreet co-write, “Signs,” that speaks to an important side of Kristen Kelly. While the lyric is about a relationship, there’s a deeper meaning that reflects some of the inspiration that brought her to this point in her career.
“There’ve been little signs along the way,” she shares. “I’m no holy roller, but it’s like, ‘All right, I’m listening.’ I see it, I hear it, I feel that little nudge – and I’m gonna go with it.”
That faith is at the heart of Kristen Kelly, and it’s visible on the inside of her right wrist, with a tattoo of the word “Believe.”
“If you’ve got a dream, keep dreaming,” she says. “Believe. Ten years ago, I’d have never dreamed I’d be sitting right here, but I am.”
www.KristenKellyMusic.com
Kiss By Kiss
Kristen Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to figure out where we'll be years from now
We got this old porch swing and a bottle of wine
Baby let′s take our time
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
I wanna get used to this
Boy you got me falling ain't no stalling
I wanna take it nice and slow
Hold on tight and don′t let go
No time to waste boy I wanna tatse every minute of this
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
If you want we can put a little soft music on
With a full moon shining a night like this can′t go wrong
Got a feeling tonight might be a remember when
Oh but until then...
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
I wanna get used to this
Boy you got me falling ain't no stalling
Baby I′m all in
I wanna take it nice and slow
Hold on tight and don't let go
No time to waste
Boy I wanna tatse every minute of this
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
Let′s pull our arms around each other
Won't take long ′til we discover
One little kiss is gonna lead to another
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
I wanna get used to this
Boy you got me falling ain't no stalling
Baby I'm all in
I wanna take it nice and slow
Hold on tight and don′t let go
No time to waste boy
I wanna tatse every minute of this
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
Yeah Yeah Yeah
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh.
In "Kiss By Kiss" by Kristen Kelly, the lyrics convey a sense of being in the present moment and enjoying the journey of a romantic relationship. The song encourages embracing spontaneity and avoiding the need to plan every aspect of the future. The line "We don't have to sit right here and map it all out, try to figure out where we'll be years from now" suggests a willingness to let go of control and simply enjoy the present.
The reference to an "old porch swing and a bottle of wine" brings to mind a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, symbolizing a laid-back and intimate connection between the couple. The lyrics express a desire to savor each moment, taking the relationship step by step, "kiss by kiss." This concept signifies a deliberate intention to fully experience and appreciate the progression of their love.
The repetition of "I wanna take it nice and slow, hold on tight and don't let go" emphasizes the importance of treasuring the journey and not rushing through the process. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and willingness to fully invest in the relationship, with the line "Boy, you got me falling, ain't no stalling, baby I'm all in."
The final verse suggests that the couple's physical connection, expressed through kissing, will inevitably lead to further intimacy. The lyrics describe the natural progression of a relationship, with one kiss leading to another. The resounding repetition of "I wanna take it kiss by kiss" in the chorus reflects the desire to savor every moment and fully experience the depth and growth of the romance.
Overall, "Kiss By Kiss" celebrates the joy of being present in a romantic relationship, recognizing the beauty in taking things slowly and appreciating each intimate moment. The lyrics encourage a sense of exploration and discovery, allowing love to unfold naturally and fully enjoying every step of the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
We don't have to sit right here and map it all out
We don't need to plan every detail of our future.
Try to figure out where we'll be years from now
We don't need to worry about predicting our long-term future.
We got this old porch swing and a bottle of wine
We have a simple but enjoyable set up for a romantic evening.
Baby let's take our time
Let's not rush anything and enjoy the present moment.
I wanna take it kiss by kiss
I want to savor and appreciate each individual kiss we share.
I wanna get used to this
I want to become familiar and comfortable with this relationship.
Boy you got me falling ain't no stalling
You make me fall in love without any hesitation or doubts.
Baby I'm all in
I am fully committed and invested in this relationship.
I wanna take it nice and slow
I want to progress in this relationship at a relaxed pace.
Hold on tight and don't let go
Let's hold onto each other and not allow anything to break us apart.
No time to waste boy I wanna taste every minute of this
We shouldn't waste any time, I want to savor every moment we spend together.
If you want we can put a little soft music on
If you'd like, we can create a more romantic atmosphere with some soft music.
With a full moon shining a night like this can't go wrong
The presence of a full moon makes this night perfect and magical.
Got a feeling tonight might be a remember when
I have a strong intuition that tonight might become a cherished memory.
Oh but until then...
But until that moment arrives, let's take things slowly and enjoy the present.
Let's pull our arms around each other
Let's embrace each other tightly.
Won't take long 'til we discover
It won't take much time until we realize.
One little kiss is gonna lead to another
Each kiss we share will naturally lead to the next.
Yeah Yeah Yeah
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm.
Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Vocalization of a melodic refrain.
Writer(s): Wade Kirby, Phil O'donnell, Kristen N. Kelly
Contributed by Caroline W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nubelialeandro3722
You should be killing them charts girl....amazing!
@Cattlerest
Great song love it
@tntsher
Kristen, it was great hearing you for the first time and meeting you at High South Fest. This song is as good as ANYTHING on the charts right now!! You have great heart and and feeling in your music. Keep the faith! BELIEVE as your wrist says and I look forward to hearing bigger and better things for you! I really love your Bluesy songs and btw, my wife and I listened to the Fire cd 4 or 5 times on our 4 hour drive home from High South Fest. LOVED every song!!
@kalyciadiming8551
Great voice kristen kelly
@KW-qt6df
You are amazing artist You have your own unique style in a good way ✨ 🌠🌠
@douglasbaker9289
Awesome .. love it11
@aurora.a6645
SO BEAUTIFUL, SOOOOO CHARMING KRISTEN!!!!!!
@KW-qt6df
Amazing song!!!!!!! And you are beautiful
@coltsfan69
Awesome song and video
@juvezidane21
My girl.. Kara... Would have loved this... You rock....