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.
Hey You
Jack Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you ever get bored with the crowd
If they have so much to say
Would they have to talk so loud
Why don't we get out of here
'Cause I want to whisper in your ear
[Chorus]
Are you listening to me
I've got to tell you what you mean to me
You're the one I want to tell my secrets to
Hey you
There's some things I need to say
There's some things we've got to talk about
I've got to have your full attention
I don't want to have to shout
Even though you're right here near me
Well I wonder if you ever hear me
[Chorus]
Hey you
Hey you
Everybody's just dyin' to be heard
Everybody they want to know why
Everybody's got to have the last word
And it's always got to be goodbye
Why don't we get out of here
'Cause I want to whisper in your ear
[Chorus: x2]
Hey you
Hey you
In Jack Ingram's song "Hey You," the singer expresses his yearning to connect with someone on a deeper level. He begins by questioning the constant noise and chatter that surrounds them, wondering if it ever gets overwhelming for the person he's addressing. He suggests that they leave the noisy environment so that he can whisper his secrets to them because he desires their undivided attention.
The chorus is a concise representation of the song's overarching message. The singer wants the person he's addressing to know how important they are to him, that he has some things that he needs to tell them, and that he trusts them to keep his confidences safe. He's looking for a genuine connection, not just a surface-level relationship where everyone has to shout to be heard.
In the second verse, the singer continues to express his frustration with how hard it is to communicate effectively. He wants to be heard without having to shout, and he wonders if the person he's addressing truly hears him or just pretends to. The bridge emphasizes that everyone wants to be heard and understood, but most people get stuck in the cycle of trying to have the last word, which results in disconnection. The singer implores the person to leave this cycle behind and focus on their connection, which is what he desires most.
Overall, "Hey You" is a song about the desire for genuine connection in a world that's too often characterized by noise and surface-level relationships. The singer wants to whisper his secrets into the ear of the person he's addressing, hoping to establish a true connection based on trust and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you ever get tired of the noise
Do you ever feel exhausted from all the chaos and commotion around you?
Don't you ever get bored with the crowd
Do you find yourself feeling uninterested in the people and environment around you?
If they have so much to say
Even though everyone talks so much, do they actually have anything valuable to say?
Would they have to talk so loud
If they have something important to say, shouldn't they be able to say it at a reasonable volume?
Why don't we get out of here
Let's leave this noisy environment and find somewhere quiet
'Cause I want to whisper in your ear
I have something private and personal that I want to share with you in a quiet setting
Hey you
Are you listening to me
I've got to tell you what you mean to me
You're the one I want to tell my secrets to
Hey you
I need your undivided attention because you're important to me, and I want to share my personal thoughts with you
There's some things I need to say
There are some important things that I need to communicate with you
There's some things we've got to talk about
We need to have a meaningful conversation about important things that concern us
I've got to have your full attention
I need all of your concentration and focus for this conversation
I don't want to have to shout
I don't want to raise my voice because that won't help us have a productive conversation
Even though you're right here near me
Well I wonder if you ever hear me
Although you're physically present, I'm starting to question whether you're really listening to me
Everybody's just dyin' to be heard
Everyone is eager to speak their mind and be listened to
Everybody they want to know why
Everyone wants to understand things better and have their questions answered
Everybody's got to have the last word
Everyone wants to have the final say in a conversation
And it's always got to be goodbye
The conversation always ends rather negatively with someone saying goodbye
Hey you
Hey you
I still need your attention and I'm trying to get through to you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK INGRAM, TOM LITTLEFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind