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.
Juanita
Jack Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause she told me I never would again
But I've got to get a message to her somehow
So I'm asking you this favor as a friend
If you see Juanita ask her for me
Why she's holding on to something that I need
If you see Juanita ask her nicely
She can keep all my Willie Nelson records
She can have my velvet poster of the king
She can keep almost everything she's taken
?Cause I all I really want is just one thing
If you see Juanita ask her for me
Why she's holding on that something that I need
If you see Juanita ask her nicely
Won't she please bring back my heart to me
If you see Juanita ask her for me
Why she's holding on that something that I need
If you see Juanita ask her nicely
Won't she please bring back my heart to me
Juanita, give back my heart to me
The song "Juanita" by Jack Ingram is a heartfelt ballad about a man who has lost his heart to a woman named Juanita. The singer in the song reveals that Juanita has left him, taking something that he desperately needs with her. He pleads with a third party, asking them to relay a message to Juanita, begging her to bring back his heart. The singer even offers to let Juanita keep tangible things of his, such as his Willie Nelson records and his velvet poster of Elvis Presley. However, those material possessions are meaningless to him without his heart.
The chorus of the song is a plea from the singer to find Juanita and ask her why she's holding onto something that he needs. He begs the third party to ask Juanita "nicely" to bring back his heart to him. The repetition of this plea emphasizes the pain the singer is feeling over losing something so vital to his being.
Overall, "Juanita" is a moving song about loss and the importance of emotional connections. The singer's desperation to get his heart back from Juanita encapsulates the deep longing and hurt that can come from a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I know that you'll see her before I do
I understand that you will encounter Juanita before I do.
'Cause she told me I never would again
Juanita informed me that I would not see her again.
But I've got to get a message to her somehow
I need to communicate a message to Juanita one way or another.
So I'm asking you this favor as a friend
As a friend, I request your help with this favor.
If you see Juanita ask her for me
If you happen to come across Juanita, please ask her something for me.
Why she's holding on to something that I need
Could you inquire why Juanita is keeping something that I require?
If you see Juanita ask her nicely
Please politely request Juanita for me.
Won't she please bring back my heart to me
Will she kindly return my heart to me?
She can keep all my Willie Nelson records
Juanita is welcome to retain my Willie Nelson records.
She can have my velvet poster of the king
Juanita may keep my velvet poster of the king.
She can keep almost everything she's taken
Juanita has the option to keep virtually all of the items she has taken.
?Cause I all I really want is just one thing
Since all I genuinely desire is one specific thing.
Juanita, give back my heart to me
Finally, I request that Juanita return my heart to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK INGRAM, TOM LITTLEFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind