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.
I Won't Go With Her
Jack Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I were to tell you the truth
And the truth is she ain't been gone that long
But I've been wondering what I'm supposed to do
Call her up, tell her I miss her
I do but I don't wanna be with her
I can feel myself getting weaker
And I just know I've gotta see her
[Chorus]
I don't go with her when she leaves
But where she's goin' she takes me
I don't go with her when she leaves
But where she's goin' she takes me
You see I'm the kinda guy who likes to drive
And she's got a fast car so you know I like that
While I'm never asked to pay for gas
If it should happen I could fix a flat
You see that's the times when I come through
It's one rare moment she don't know what to do
Now I know that don't seem like much
But hey it's just enough to keep in touch
[Chorus]
Takes me
Take me
Now some folks like it
If at night they stay at home all by themselves
But me I go crazy thinkin'
Maybe there might not be someone else
Knocking on my door and ringing my phone
Comin' to my house and taking me home
There's only one reason she don't stay
It's 'cause I work so damn hard to push her away
[Chorus]
I won't go with her
No no I won't go with her
No I won't go with her when she leaves
But where she's goin' she takes me
Take me
Take me
Take me
Please take me.
The lyrics of Jack Ingram's song "I Won't Go With Her" contain a mix of conflicting emotions of love, longing, and detachment. The song tells the story of a man who realizes that his relationship with his lover is falling apart, and even though he won't go with her when she leaves, where she is going takes him with her. The first verse of the song shows the man's reluctance to be honest with his lover as he knows that the truth might make things worse for both of them. He admits that he misses her, but he doesn't want to be with her. He feels weaker because he knows he has to see her again.
In the second verse, he talks about why he likes being around her despite their differences. He likes to drive, and she has a fast car, and he likes that. He also likes that sometimes he can help her with car troubles, and that makes him feel useful. He realizes that these moments are few and far in between, but it is enough to keep in touch.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the main idea that he won't go with her when she leaves, but where she's going takes him with her. The man is saying that he can't escape the memories and feelings he has for her, and they will still be with him, even when she's not around.
Overall, "I Won't Go With Her" is a powerful song that paints a picture of a man who is struggling to come to terms with the end of his relationship. He wants to move on and live his life, but he can't shake off the memories, feelings, and emotions he has for his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
This beer is colder than the shoulder you'd give me
The beer is very cold, even more so than the coldness I would receive from you if I were being truthful with you.
If I were to tell you the truth
I am hesitant to be honest with you.
And the truth is she ain't been gone that long
In reality, my ex-girlfriend has not been out of my life very long.
But I've been wondering what I'm supposed to do
I am conflicted and unsure of what I should do.
Call her up, tell her I miss her
I am thinking about reaching out to my ex and expressing my feelings for her.
I do but I don't wanna be with her
Although I miss her, I am not sure if reuniting with her is the right decision.
I can feel myself getting weaker
My emotions are taking a toll on me and making me feel vulnerable.
And I just know I've gotta see her
Despite my inner conflict, I feel the need to see her.
I don't go with her when she leaves
I am not accompanying her when she is leaving my life.
But where she's goin' she takes me
Her absence still affects me and I still feel connected to her.
You see I'm the kinda guy who likes to drive
I enjoy driving and being on the road.
And she's got a fast car so you know I like that
My ex-girlfriend has a car that I admire because it is fast.
While I'm never asked to pay for gas
She never requires me to pay for gas when I am with her.
If it should happen I could fix a flat
I am capable of fixing a tire if it were to go flat.
It's one rare moment she don't know what to do
Occasionally, she does not know how to deal with me in a certain situation.
Now I know that don't seem like much
The things that I offer to her may not appear to be significant.
But hey it's just enough to keep in touch
Although they may not be much, these actions are enough to keep us in communication with each other.
Now some folks like it
Some people prefer to be alone.
If at night they stay at home all by themselves
At night, those people choose to stay home and be alone.
But me I go crazy thinkin'
I become restless and crazy when I am alone.
Maybe there might not be someone else
I worry that I may be alone forever.
Knocking on my door and ringing my phone
I wish someone would reach out to me and spend time with me.
Comin' to my house and taking me home
I want someone to come to my house and take me away from my loneliness.
It's 'cause I work so damn hard to push her away
The reason why my ex does not stay with me is because I push her away with my conflicted emotions.
No no I won't go with her
I am refusing to go with her when she is leaving my life.
Take me
I want to be taken away from my loneliness and be with someone.
Please take me.
I am begging for someone to take me away from my loneliness.
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ALLEN SCOTT MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind