That's a Man

Album: Big Dreams and High Hopes (2008)
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Songfacts®:

  • This celebration of commitment was written by Mark D. Sanders, Steven Dale Jones and Ed Hill. Ingram explained to AOL what attracted him to this tune: "What is connecting with people when they hear this song is the same thing that I gravitated to. The song addresses something important. It's about standing up and being accountable. These days, that doesn't happen all the time - whether you are talking business, politics, or family. I don't want to get too preachy, but when you have a song that is a damn good example of how to handle the trials and challenges in life, it connects."
  • Ingram explained to CMT News: "There's three verses in the single. The first verse is about a 19-year-old, second verse is about two marines who go off to war and only one returns and the third is a farmer living off the land where his family has lived for a century. Repeat the chorus after each verse with 'that's a man.'"

Comments: 1

  • Jesse from Dallas, TxThis song is in the same vein as another Ingram song, "Wherever You Are", in that both talk about the commitment it takes to make things happen. This song is one that established the Red Dirt singer to a national audience and really helped put Big Machine Records on the map.
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