What are the rich guys doing tonight?
It’s a simple question, but it’s the question Jackson James keeps asking throughout his new country song “Rich Guys.”
And by the end of the song, you might find yourself asking a different question:
What does being rich actually mean?
For Curly’s latest Unfiltered & Undiscovered Music Discovery, we’ve headed to Nashville via Australia’s Mid North Coast and discovered an artist who has turned a simple backyard party into a reflection on friendship, time and the things money can’t buy.
Unfiltered & Undiscovered — Australia’s Home of Independent Music Discovery.
Meet Jackson James
Jackson James is an Australian-born coastal-country artist who has made the move to Nashville, Tennessee.
Raised on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, his music carries influences from both Australian country and the American South.
But Jackson isn’t only a musician.
His background also includes filmmaking, photography and work as a multi-instrumentalist, giving him a particularly visual approach to storytelling.
His move to Nashville has placed him in the middle of one of the world’s great songwriting communities.
And perhaps that’s part of what makes “Rich Guys” so interesting.
Because despite being immersed in the world of Nashville country music, the song isn’t about chasing the biggest lifestyle.
It’s about appreciating the one you’ve already got.
I Wonder What the Rich Guys Are Doing Tonight
The song opens with a wonderfully uncomplicated picture.
Dust off the lawn chairs.
Someone get the drinks on ice.
There’s no dress code.
No last call.
No need to bring anything.
It’s a backyard party.
And Jackson is having a pretty good time.
Then comes the hook:
“I wonder what the rich guys are doing tonight.”
It’s an immediately memorable idea.
But rather than simply mocking the wealthy, Jackson uses the question to create a comparison.
Perhaps the rich guys have everything.
Valet parking.
Champagne flutes.
Skyline views.
But Jackson has something else.
A backyard.
His friends.
The moon.
And a night that doesn’t require much money at all.
A Different Kind of Five Star
One of the nicest ideas in the song is Jackson’s description of his version of five-star living:
Hanging out with the moon.
That’s the beauty of the song.
It’s not complicated.
It doesn’t require a luxury resort.
It doesn’t require an expensive restaurant.
It doesn’t even require a particularly elaborate party.
Sometimes the setting doesn’t matter as much as the people you’re sharing it with.
And that’s where Rich Guys moves beyond being simply a feel-good country party song.
The Line That Changes Everything
For Curly, there’s one line that really stands out:
“We spend our time, not cash / On things we can’t get back.”
That’s the song’s real thesis.
Money comes and goes.
You can earn more.
You can spend it.
You can save it.
You can buy more things.
But time is different.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
You don’t get that Saturday night back.
You don’t get the conversation with an old friend back.
You don’t get the backyard party back.
You don’t get that particular moment under the moon again.
And Jackson’s argument is that those moments are worth investing in.
Not financially.
Emotionally.
Rich in the Things That Matter
There’s an interesting shift in perspective throughout the song.
At first, Jackson appears to be asking what the rich guys are doing.
By the end, it becomes clear that he’s not particularly interested in swapping lives with them.
He says:
“Wouldn’t wanna trade this life / No way you’d change my mind.”
That’s a pretty strong statement.
He’s found his version of wealth.
And it isn’t measured by a bank balance.
It’s measured in experiences.
Friendship.
Freedom.
Time.
Memories.
Good times with good people.
That’s a message almost anyone can relate to.
It’s Not an Anti-Rich Song
And this is an important distinction.
Rich Guys doesn’t really feel like an attack on wealthy people.
Jackson isn’t saying that champagne is bad.
He’s not saying skyline apartments are bad.
He’s not suggesting that having money automatically makes you unhappy.
He’s simply asking whether those things are better.
Does a more expensive experience automatically mean a better experience?
Does a bigger house create better memories?
Does a higher price tag make a night with friends more meaningful?
Jackson’s answer seems pretty clear.
Not necessarily.
There’s Something Very Australian About It
There’s also something particularly familiar about the attitude behind Rich Guys.
Despite Jackson now calling Nashville home, there’s a relaxed Australian sensibility running through the song.
It’s uncomplicated.
There’s no pretence.
There’s no need to dress up.
Just get the lawn chairs out and invite your mates around.
That idea of finding enjoyment in the ordinary is something that feels very comfortable within Jackson’s coastal-country identity.
And perhaps that’s an interesting combination:
Australian coastal roots meeting Nashville country songwriting.
The Australian in Nashville
Jackson’s journey makes the song even more intriguing.
He’s travelled from Australia’s Mid North Coast to Nashville to immerse himself in the American country music scene.
He’s working with experienced musicians and songwriters and building his career in Music City.
That’s a place where ambition is everywhere.
Yet Rich Guys isn’t telling us to chase more.
It’s telling us to appreciate what we have.
There’s no contradiction there.
You can chase a dream without forgetting to enjoy the life you’re living along the way.
In fact, perhaps that’s one of the richest things you can do.
A Song About the Good Stuff
Musically and lyrically, Rich Guys doesn’t need to overcomplicate itself.
The hook is catchy.
The imagery is easy to picture.
The story is accessible.
And the message reveals itself gradually.
You start by wondering about the rich guys.
Then you start thinking about your own version of a good night.
And eventually you might start wondering whether you’ve been measuring wealth the wrong way.
That’s good songwriting.
It takes an ordinary idea and gives you a slightly different way of looking at it.
Curly’s Verdict
For Curly, “Rich Guys” is an easy recommendation.
It’s a relaxed, feel-good country track that delivers a message without becoming preachy.
The song celebrates something we can all understand:
A good time with good people doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
And perhaps the best part is that Jackson doesn’t seem to be trying to convince anyone.
He’s simply telling us that he’s found something he’s not willing to trade.
The backyard.
The friends.
The moon.
The memories.
The time.
And when you put it that way, maybe Jackson James has a point.
So, What Are the Rich Guys Doing Tonight?
We don’t know.
Maybe they’re enjoying their champagne.
Maybe they’re looking out over a spectacular skyline.
Maybe they’re having a great time.
But Jackson James seems pretty happy where he is.
And perhaps that’s the real message of “Rich Guys.”
You don’t have to be rich to live a rich life.
Sometimes the best things don’t come with a price tag.
Sometimes they’re sitting in your backyard.