Ingram was born in Houston, Texas. He started writing songs and performing while studying psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he was member of Alpha Tau Omega.
Jack Ingram began his music career singing at a privately owned bar near the TCU campus of Fort Worth, Texas, which was owned by his friend John Clay Wolfe. Later, during the early 1990s, Jack toured the state of Texas opening for Mark Chesnutt and other acts. His first release was his self-titled album in 1995 via the Rhythmic label, followed by 1995's Lonesome Questions. Warner Bros. Records eventually signed him and released a live album entitled Live at Adair's, and re-issued his first two indie albums.
In 1997 he had his first and only time on the 22nd season of Austin City Limits. That same year, he released Livin' or Dyin' via Rising Tide Records, which produced his first chart single in the No. 51-peaking "Flutter". Two years later came Hey You via Lucky Dog, a division of Epic Records, which accounted for a No. 64 country single in "How Many Days". In 2000, he collaborated with Charlie Robison and Bruce Robison for the live album Unleashed Live.
Electric, his second album for Lucky Dog, was also his first album to enter Top Country Albums, despite not producing a chart single. This album was supplemented a year later by an EP entitled Electric: Extra Volts before he left Lucky Dog. Two more live albums followed before he signed to Columbia Records for the release of Young Man in 2004, which accounted for no singles. Another live album, Acoustic Motel, was issued in 2005.
On Sunday, February 3, 2013, H-E-B premiered their 'Texas Myths' Super Bowl commercial featuring Jack Ingram.
In 2005, Ingram signed to the independent record label Big Machine Records. Under the Big Machine banner, Ingram released a predominantly live album entitled Live: Wherever You Are. His first single release on that record label, "Wherever You Are", became Ingram's first top 40, and later his first Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, as well as the first Number One for the Big Machine label. "Love You", the only other studio track on Live: Wherever You Are, was also released as a single, peaking at No. 12 on the charts. This song was also recorded by Trent Summar & the New Row Mob (whose frontman, Trent Summar, co-wrote it) on their 2005 album Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. This is also where he met famous country music artist Taylor Swift. Jack stated they were developing a relationship though she wasn't interested.
In late 2006, Ingram released a cover of Hinder's song "Lips of an Angel". Ingram's cover peaked at No. 16 on the country charts "Lips of an Angel" was the lead-off single to This Is It, his second album for Big Machine. This album also produced the No. 18 "Measure of a Man" (a Radney Foster co-write) and the No. 24 "Maybe She'll Get Lonely".
In 2008, Ingram appeared at the Argyle Education Foundation Black Diamond Affiar.
He won the Academy of Country Music award for top new male vocalist on May 19, 2008. Ingram also filled in for radio host Bob Kingsley on the countdown show "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40" for the week of September 20–21, 2008.
According to CMT, Ingram's Big Dreams & High Hopes album has "more guts" and Ellis Paul's "The World Ain't Slowing Down" may be the song that takes Ingram to the "next level". Ingram says "It'll be fun for me to expose people to a fantastic song from an artist who's had a 20-year career of being a very successful folk artist." The song was cut from the album. Its lead-off single "That's a Man" charted in the Top 20, followed by "Barefoot and Crazy," which became his second Top 10 hit. The album's next three singles all failed to enter the Top 40: "Seeing Stars" (a duet with Patty Griffin), "Free" and a re-recording of "Barbie Doll" with guest vocals from Dierks Bentley.
On August 26, 2009, Ingram set a Guinness record for the most radio interviews in one day, when he was interviewed 215 times.
Ingram and Big Machine amicably parted ways in late 2011.
As a sideline, Ingram does voice imaging for a number of country stations, including KRYS-FM Corpus Christi; WSIX-FM Nashville; WMIL-FM Milwaukee; KWJJ-FM Portland, Ore.; and KSCS Dallas.
In 2013, Jack teamed up with actor Matthew McConaughey and University of Texas at Austin football coach Mack Brown to create a fundraiser for their favorite children's charities. Dubbed Mack, Jack & McConaughey, the affair was held April 11–12 at Austin's ACL Live at the Moody Theater and featured a gala, golf tournament, fashion show and two nights of music. Mack, Jack & McConaughey returned in 2014.
Barbie Doll
Jack Ingram Lyrics
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You're getting braver with every drink but
I am telling you something you need outta know
She may look like a sweet young thing
Talking to him but she ain't hearing a thing
If you were smart you'd turn around and let her go
A Barbie doll
She's real good-looking but she's got no heart at all
She puts on her makeup and drives to the bar in her
Boyfriend's old man's brand-new car
She got no idea what she does or why
She does whatever she wants I guess
Whatever comes first, whatever looks best
Nobody I know has ever seen her cry
She's a barbie doll
Ya a barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
She's a barbie doll
Ya a Barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
You should have seen her last Saturday night
She had a friend of mine treating her right
She was hanging on him until she found a better deal
You should have seen how cold she got
My buddy asked why and she said why not
Nobody I know swears she's even real
Ya she's a barbie doll
ya she's a barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
Ya she's a barbie doll
Ya a barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
Ya she's a barbie doll
A barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking, she ain't got no heart.
The song "Barbie Doll" by Jack Ingram is a warning to those who fall for the facade of a stunningly beautiful woman without bothering to learn more about her true nature. The singer warns the male protagonist and the audience of the deceptive appearance and attitude of a certain woman, whom he calls a Barbie Doll. Every time she steps into a bar, she looks all dolled up, drives in her boyfriend's car, and does whatever she wants, eventually causing trouble for everyone. The writer encourages the singer to turn around and let her go, as she is not what she appears to be.
The lyrics convey the message of the "Barbie Doll" as an individual who may have stunning physical beauty, but no emotional connections or depth. The song explores the themes of physical beauty over personality and "charm" that can manipulate and play with others' emotions. This song reveals the emptiness that surrounds these women who succumb to their outer beauty without exploring who they truly are. They may be alluring on the outside but have a hollow soul that does not make for meaningful relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you looking and I know what you think
I know you're eyeing her and you like what you see
You're getting braver with every drink but
You're building up some courage with each sip of alcohol
I am telling you something you need outta know
I'm giving you a heads up about something you should know
She may look like a sweet young thing
She may appear as an innocent and attractive woman
Talking to him but she ain't hearing a thing
She's not really paying attention to the man she's talking to
If you were smart you'd turn around and let her go
You should be wise and walk away from her
She puts on her makeup and drives to the bar in her
She applies her cosmetics and drives to the bar in her
Boyfriend's old man's brand-new car
Her boyfriend's dad's latest car
She got no idea what she does or why
She has no clue about her actions or their motives
She does whatever she wants I guess
She does whatever she pleases, I suppose
Whatever comes first, whatever looks best
She picks whatever comes first or looks the best to her
Nobody I know has ever seen her cry
No one I know has ever witnessed her weeping
You should have seen her last Saturday night
Last Saturday, you should've seen her
She had a friend of mine treating her right
She had a friend of mine treating her well
She was hanging on him until she found a better deal
She was holding onto him until a more favorable opportunity arose
You should have seen how cold she got
You should have seen how dispassionate she turned
My buddy asked why and she said why not
When asked, she replied with a casual 'why not'
Nobody I know swears she's even real
No one I know can believe she's even genuine
Ya she's a barbie doll
Yes, she's like a Barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
Yes, she is truly attractive, but she has no compassion
Ya a barbie doll
Yes, a like a Barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking but she's got no heart at all
Yes, she is really attractive but she's heartless
Ya she's a barbie doll
Yes, she's like a Barbie doll
Ya she's real good looking, she ain't got no heart.
Yes, she's very alluring, but she's heartless.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jack Owen Ingram, Todd Daniel Snider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind