Kilgore’s course was set. He spent the next several years working the club scene playing classic country, first in Oregon, then in Phoenix, where a romantic breakup first inspired him to try his hand at writing his own songs. Soon Kilgore’s original songs were getting more requests at his shows than his covers. Jerry then spent two more years honing his chops in North Carolina before deciding to take a shot at Nashville. The young musician dragged his possessions into the yard and put a For Sale sign out, and the next day he loaded whatever hadn’t sold into his pickup truck and headed out for Music City.
Within a few short years Kilgore began to have success as a songwriter, penning “Love Lessons” for Tracy Byrd, “Leavin’ Comin’ On” for Mark Wills, “Cover You in Kisses” for John Michael Montgomery, and “If A Man Ain’t Thinking About His Woman” for Clay Walker. Kilgore’s songs caught the attention of powerhouse country producer Scott Hendricks, who had produced Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, and Brooks and Dunn among many others. Hendricks was President of Virgin Records’ new Nashville office at that time. “He came out to a club and saw me play,” Kilgore says, “and a week later he offered me a record deal on Virgin Records as the first male artist that they were signing.”
The result was 1999’s Love Trip, which brought together Kilgore’s classic influences like Haggard, Buck Owens, Gene Watson, George Strait and Ricky Skaggs in a contemporary country album that critics and fans alike hailed as the debut of a major new traditionalist. Kilgore got to live out many of his dreams, including playing the Grand Ole Opry and going on tour with George Strait, who had inspired him in the first place. “It was kinda full circle,” Kilgore recalls. “I got to go on his tour as an opening act. It was great. It was a lot of fun.” Though Love Trip’s title song was a Top 40 hit, Virgin Nashville was struggling financially, and the label soon folded, leaving Kilgore out on tour and with records in stores, but no label support. “Things were rolling, but the label wasn’t,” Kilgore says. “So that was that.”
Jerry Kilgore spent the next several years re-grouping, playing, writing new songs and recording, figuring out his next move. In 2007 he formed his own label and released his second album Loaded and Empty, which he co- produced with Matt Rollings. “I always kept writing, and I just accumulated enough songs that I felt would be a good record,” Kilgore states. “I cut it in pieces, a few songs here and a few songs there, until it led to having a finished record.” Songs like “What’s It Take To Get A Drink In Here”, “Looking For A Highway”, “Loaded And Empty” and “Aint Got One Honky Tonk” continue in the Kilgore tradition of classic-yet-contemporary country. “There was never really any thought about having to find the right single and picking the right song like I did on the Virgin project,” Kilgore says. “You know, you kinda look at ‘What can I do that radio will like?’ This record I didn’t think about any of that; I went in and cut songs the way I thought they should sound, and the songs I liked singing”.
Loaded and Empty is Jerry Kilgore’s strongest work to date, and the word of mouth has been tremendous. “I’ve been selling CDs overseas, , and I’m getting really great response from this record, great reviews,” Kilgore says. Loaded And Empty was considered by Country Music magazine one of the ten best cd’s of the year. “Loaded And Empty” is distributed through CD Baby. Also, a video for “What’s It Take To Get A Drink In Here” is showing on GAC. Kilgore is currently working on a new cd to be released summer of 2010.
Don't Tell Me You're Not In Love
Jerry Kilgore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your eyes sparkle, oh, how they shine
But you keep saying
You can't take another heartache
The way you hold me, the way that you move
Your feelings keep showing through
You can't hide it
Don't tell me, you're not in love
When your heart beats like it does
Your trembling body tells on you
Each time we touch
You can tell me you're afraid
I am too and that's okay
I got eyes, I can see
Baby, don't tell me you're not in love
Sweet love songs bring you to tears
Come on, baby, don't hide in your fear
Let your lips say
What your heart already knows
Your denial is a last thing to fall
The only brick left holding the wall
Don't hold back
Speak with your heart and your soul
Don't tell me you're not in love
When your heart beats like it does
Your trembling body tells on you
Each time we touch
You can tell me you're afraid
I am too and that's okay
I got eyes, I can see
Baby, don't tell me you're not in love
I got eyes, I can see
Baby, don't tell me you're not in love
The lyrics to Jerry Kilgore's song "Don't Tell Me You're Not In Love" tell the story of a man who is trying to convince his partner that she is in love with him despite her attempts to deny it. He can see the signs in her eyes and the way she holds him, but she keeps insisting that she cannot handle the pain that comes with love. The man urges her to be honest with herself and him about her true feelings, even if it means admitting her vulnerability and fear.
Throughout the song, the singer encourages his partner to express her emotions and not hide behind fear and denial. He acknowledges that being in love can be frightening, but he believes that it’s worth taking the risk. The lyrics suggest that love is a powerful force that cannot be denied or suppressed, and that it’s important to acknowledge and embrace our feelings honestly.
The song's message is uplifting and empowering, reminding listeners to be honest with themselves and to not be afraid of love. It’s a heartfelt declaration of love and a plea to not let fear hold someone back from happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're ready, you show all the signs
I can see that you are ready for love and you are giving me all the signs that you are interested.
Your eyes sparkle, oh, how they shine
I can see the happiness and excitement in your eyes.
But you keep saying / You can't take another heartache
Despite your interest, you are hesitant because you have been hurt in the past and don't want to experience heartache again.
The way you hold me, the way that you move / Your feelings keep showing through
Your physical actions reveal your true feelings for me, even if you try to hide them.
You can't hide it / It's written all over your face
Even though you try to hide your feelings, your true emotions are visible and apparent to me.
Don't tell me, you're not in love / When your heart beats like it does / Your trembling body tells on you / Each time we touch
Your actions and reactions show me that you are in love, even if you are denying it with your words.
You can tell me you're afraid / I am too and that's okay / I got eyes, I can see / Baby, don't tell me you're not in love
It is okay to be afraid of love, but don't deny your true feelings because they are obvious to me and denying them will only cause you more pain.
Sweet love songs bring you to tears / Come on, baby, don't hide in your fear / Let your lips say / What your heart already knows
Love songs affect you deeply, and you should let your true feelings be expressed instead of hiding behind your fears.
Your denial is a last thing to fall / The only brick left holding the wall / Don't hold back / Speak with your heart and your soul
Your denial is the only thing preventing you from fully embracing love, and you should let go of any reservations and speak from your heart and soul.
I got eyes, I can see / Baby, don't tell me you're not in love
I can see your true feelings for me, so don't deny them or try to hide them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bobby Wood, Kim Williams, Tony Colton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind