Colt Ford is “Back”! Not that he’s been M.I.A. or anything. “Back” is simply the title of his brand-new single, from his upcoming new album, which is due this summer.

“This is such a personal song for me,” Ford writes on his website. “It’s my life. It’s about my past and my future. I talk about friends that are no longer here and I talk about the way I grew up.”

And helping him out on the song is none other than Jake Owen.

“To have one of my best friends in the music business, Jake Owen, be a part of this song with me is a big deal. It’s a song that I wanted a friend of mine to be a part of, and Jake is just on fire, and one of my favorite singers.”

Written by Ford, Shannon Houchins, Noah Gordon, and Mike Hartnett, it’s a gently sentimental, immediately likable song that reminisces about family, friends, and growing up–a time “when this old world had way less worries” (“I didn’t know I’d miss it so bad”). Jake’s smooth vocals are a beautiful counterpoint to Ford’s country-rap chorus.

“I think everyone, when they hear this song, will want to call home,” writes Ford.

Curious to hear it? You can stream it right now on Ford’s website. It will be available for purchase iTunes starting July 10. And Colt’s new album, Declaration of Independence, is scheduled to hit stores August 7.

- Kurt Wolff, CBS Local