Jackson Dean: How A Rising Country Star Writes His Amazing Songs
Jackson Dean, representing the great state of Maryland, is Kelly Ford’s Backstage Country co-host for the whole week! He’ll talk about the stories behind his music and his latest song, “Heavens to Betsy.”
“Heavens to Betsy”
According to Dean, “Heavens to Betsy” can be considered a heartbreak song. “A lot of people have heartbreak songs that are about heartbreak and love and all that stuff. But this is a different kind of love.”
Dean said that the inspiration for the song is about a father looking down on his daughter from heaven. “The vision of this song flashed in my head, and it was a dad sitting on the outskirts of heaven, on the edge of a cloud, looking down on his daughter. Just looking down. Just watching over.”
He also shared that during meet and greets, fans would come up to him and tell him, “I know this is going to sound crazy and weird and I don’t want it to sound like that, but I think my dad was in the room when you wrote this.” Dean added that the men who come to him told him his song made them “look in the mirror for a minute.”
“Don’t Come Lookin’”
Ford told Jackson Dean that when she heard his first hit “Don’t Come Lookin,’” it was different than the songs playing on the radio. The song was co-written by Luke Dick, who also produced it. The song came about when he and Dick were just hanging out at a motorcycle club just bouncing ideas around and trying to get a rhythm, when Dean said, “Don’t come back and don’t come look out.” Dean said Dick just whipped his head and asked him what he said. “And I said it again. And it’s something I used to say to my mom.”
Dean shared a story about growing up near the woods and a giant swamp. “When I used to run off in there, my mom would say ‘Stay alive no matter what occurs. If you get hurt, just start yelling and walking.’” He added, “I used to run off in there and I’d say, ‘Mama, if I don’t come back, don’t come looking for me. I don’t want to be found.’” Dean chuckled as he reminisced about his past misbehavior. “And, you know, I love my mom. And it was just always answered with an eye roll.”
“Fearless”
As for “Fearless,” Dean shared that he, Dick, and John Sherwood finished the song in an hour and a half. “So that chorus came so quick. But that was really a joint effort between the three of us.” He added, “And, you know, John and I have written so many songs together and Luke and I obviously have. But it was really cool.”
For more of Jackson Dean’s music, visit his website at www.jacksondeanmusic.com.
