Tell Me You Get Lonely

Album: Frankie Ballard (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Country music singer Frankie Ballard first came to the public's attention after winning Kenny Chesney's Next Big Star competition for Michigan in 2008. Ballard subsequently opened shows for Chesney at Michigan venues. After signing to Reprise Records Nashville in 2010 he released "Tell Me You Get Lonely" as his debut single.
  • Dallas Davidson and Marty Dodson penned the song. Though he has in the past always written his own material, Ballard opted to allow Nashville songwriters to fill out his debut album. "I get one shot to make my first record, and the fans deserve the best songs that I could possibly find," Frankie explained to The Boot. "The truth of it is, in a town like Nashville, you're not always going to write the best song because the best songwriters in the world live here. The fans deserve the best songs that fit me. I do have some songs on there that I wrote, but the best songs wins. My songs are fighting to get on the record just like all the other songs that I didn't write."
  • The music video was directed by the American country music singer and songwriter Marcel, who previously helmed Clay Walker's clip for "She Won't Be Lonely Long." Ballard discussed the video with The Boot: "I really enjoyed the process of making the video," he noted. "I wanted to do it differently than what other people do with their videos. I didn't think that 'Tell Me You Get Lonely' should be this big production. It needed to fit the song. The song is about being lonely, and it's a little dark. That's what I wanted the video to be like. I'm the only person in the video, and it's not because we couldn't afford to put extras in the video; it's because it's about being lonely and you don't see anybody else in the video. You get it. It feels lonely. I am proud of the video, and I am proud that people are liking it, too."
  • Ballard revisited the song on his 2014 Sunshine & Whiskey album. He explained it was, "a song people identify with me that we're including as a bonus."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.