Jack Ingram with Patty Griffin – “Seeing Stars”

Songwriters: Jack Ingram and Chris Tompkins.

As Lennon and McCartney once famously said, sometimes all it takes is a little help from some friends. Such is the case for Texas singer/songwriter Jack Ingram on his latest single, “Seeing Stars.” Exactly which friend did he call upon for a little help on this number? The one and only Patty Griffin–and it’s a good thing he did.

Ingram’s latest album, Big Dreams & High Hopes was exactly that—wishful thinking, on both his part and that of country critics–that he would transcend the mediocre reviews so many similar artists receive. Unfortunately, Big Dreams fell short of its high expectations and landed in the monotonous, mainstream middle Ingram has since been known for inhabiting.

“Seeing Stars,” however, does not fit that average mold, thanks largely in part to Griffin’s contributions. This isn’t the first time Ingram has called upon the critically acclaimed folk singer/songwriter for collaboration, either–she also contributed to two tracks on his 2002 album Electric. Not a stranger to country, she recently recorded a duet with Dierks Bentley, “Beautiful World” (from Feel That Fire), as well.

In an interview with CMT, Ingram said that “Seeing Stars” is about failing to maintain a relationship with “God or with Jesus or with anybody that you follow religiously,” and the painful guilt that ensues. This is a sentiment known all too well by far too many, making it likely to strike a chord with most listeners more earnestly than, say, another song about another breakup.

Ingram and Griffin take this topic, which could be lyrically heavy-handed, and make it pleasantly digestible through their gentle, sincere delivery–a refreshing change of pace from similar “inspirational” songs that try and force trite messages down listeners’ proverbial throats through over-produced harmonies and soaring, hyperbolic instrumentation.

Griffin’s virtuosic delicacy balances out Ingram’s grit. Backed by gently rhythmic, melodic acoustic guitar lines, the song is successful in its inherent simplicity. It would have been nice to hear a bit more from Griffin on the track, but as they say, beggars can’t be choosers. Creative collaboration exists to bring out the best in the involved parties, and this song does exactly that. It’s just a shame there’s only so much of Patty to go around.

Listen: Jack Ingram – “Seeing Stars”