Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
In the fifties after many failed attempts to sell his songs, he finally was signed up with Capitol Records and recorded a few rock and roll songs without much chart success. Just before he was drafted into the Army, he wrote a song called 'The All American Boy' and did a demo for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn and record it. Read Full BioBobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
In the fifties after many failed attempts to sell his songs, he finally was signed up with Capitol Records and recorded a few rock and roll songs without much chart success. Just before he was drafted into the Army, he wrote a song called 'The All American Boy' and did a demo for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn and record it. Instead of using the version Bill Parsons did later, the record company, Fraternity Records, decided to use the original demo done by Bobby Bare. The record reached number 2 on the Billboard Top 100, but it was wrongly credited to Bill Parsons.
His real big break came when RCA boss and guitarist Chet Atkins signed him to the RCA label. The first song he released on this label, 'Shame On Me', sold nearly a million copies and pushed Bobby Bare to fame overnight. His second RCA release, 'Detroit City' won him a Grammy for the best song of the year. Then a surge of hits followed, including '500 Miles Away From Home', 'Four Strong Winds' and others. He has also recorded two very successful albums with Skeeter Davis and has also dueted with Lacy J. Dalton and Rosanne Cash and additionally had a major hit as part of a trio with Norma Jean (singer) and Liz Anderson in 1967 titled 'The Game of Triangles'.
He moved to Mercury label in 1970 and had two big hits from early Kris Kristofferson compositions, 'Come Sundown' and 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends' before returning to RCA label where he produced his own records. Later Bare moved to CBS label and in 1979, he helped establish Rosanne Cash's career by singing with her on "No Memories Hangin' Round". Bare's singles for Columbia Records included 'The Jogger', 'Tequila Sheila', 'Gotta Get Rid Of This Band', 'When Hippies Get Older' and 'Numbers'. He later recorded for EMI with little success.
Bobby Bare is a versatile singer, and in the 70s started to release novelty songs recorded live with selected audiences. One of such songs, 'Marie Laveau' about a witch, reached the number one position on the country chart. This song was written by his friend, a very talented song writer, poet, author and cartoonist Shel Silverstein. He also penned many other songs for Bobby Bare including a Grammy nominated hit called 'Daddy What If' which he recorded with his five year old son, Bobby Bare Jr, who later became a star on his own. Bobby Bare later recorded a very successful album with his family and penned mainly by Shel called 'Singing in The Kitchen'. It was nominated for best group category in Grammy Awards but was declined by Bobby himself.
He later took chances recording strange, controversial material as 'Dropkick Me Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life)' (a 1976 Grammy nominee) and the expletive-driven 'Redneck Hippie Romance' with much success.
Bobby Bare is also the first to come up with a concept album called 'Bird Named Yesterday' which was very successful. His most successful concept album is 'Lullaby Legends and Lies'.
Bobby Bare was also given an opportunity to star in the movies. He did a Western with Troy Donahue called A Distant Trumpet, and a few episodes of a TV series called No Time for Sergeants. He turned his back on Hollywood to pursue his career in Country Music.
In 1998 he formed the band Old Dogs together with his friends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Waylon Jennings.
In addition to the above, Bobby Bare is credited for introducing Waylon Jennings to RCA. He is also one of the first to record from many well known song writers such as Jack Clement, Harlan Howard, Billy Joe Shaver, Mickey Newberry, Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, and many others. He later had a TV series called 'Bobby Bare & Friends, A Song Writer Showcase'. Recently, he has recorded a new album after over 20 years called 'The Moon Was Blue' produced by his son. His son, Bobby Bare, Jr., is also a musician.
In the fifties after many failed attempts to sell his songs, he finally was signed up with Capitol Records and recorded a few rock and roll songs without much chart success. Just before he was drafted into the Army, he wrote a song called 'The All American Boy' and did a demo for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn and record it. Read Full BioBobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
In the fifties after many failed attempts to sell his songs, he finally was signed up with Capitol Records and recorded a few rock and roll songs without much chart success. Just before he was drafted into the Army, he wrote a song called 'The All American Boy' and did a demo for his friend, Bill Parsons, to learn and record it. Instead of using the version Bill Parsons did later, the record company, Fraternity Records, decided to use the original demo done by Bobby Bare. The record reached number 2 on the Billboard Top 100, but it was wrongly credited to Bill Parsons.
His real big break came when RCA boss and guitarist Chet Atkins signed him to the RCA label. The first song he released on this label, 'Shame On Me', sold nearly a million copies and pushed Bobby Bare to fame overnight. His second RCA release, 'Detroit City' won him a Grammy for the best song of the year. Then a surge of hits followed, including '500 Miles Away From Home', 'Four Strong Winds' and others. He has also recorded two very successful albums with Skeeter Davis and has also dueted with Lacy J. Dalton and Rosanne Cash and additionally had a major hit as part of a trio with Norma Jean (singer) and Liz Anderson in 1967 titled 'The Game of Triangles'.
He moved to Mercury label in 1970 and had two big hits from early Kris Kristofferson compositions, 'Come Sundown' and 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends' before returning to RCA label where he produced his own records. Later Bare moved to CBS label and in 1979, he helped establish Rosanne Cash's career by singing with her on "No Memories Hangin' Round". Bare's singles for Columbia Records included 'The Jogger', 'Tequila Sheila', 'Gotta Get Rid Of This Band', 'When Hippies Get Older' and 'Numbers'. He later recorded for EMI with little success.
Bobby Bare is a versatile singer, and in the 70s started to release novelty songs recorded live with selected audiences. One of such songs, 'Marie Laveau' about a witch, reached the number one position on the country chart. This song was written by his friend, a very talented song writer, poet, author and cartoonist Shel Silverstein. He also penned many other songs for Bobby Bare including a Grammy nominated hit called 'Daddy What If' which he recorded with his five year old son, Bobby Bare Jr, who later became a star on his own. Bobby Bare later recorded a very successful album with his family and penned mainly by Shel called 'Singing in The Kitchen'. It was nominated for best group category in Grammy Awards but was declined by Bobby himself.
He later took chances recording strange, controversial material as 'Dropkick Me Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life)' (a 1976 Grammy nominee) and the expletive-driven 'Redneck Hippie Romance' with much success.
Bobby Bare is also the first to come up with a concept album called 'Bird Named Yesterday' which was very successful. His most successful concept album is 'Lullaby Legends and Lies'.
Bobby Bare was also given an opportunity to star in the movies. He did a Western with Troy Donahue called A Distant Trumpet, and a few episodes of a TV series called No Time for Sergeants. He turned his back on Hollywood to pursue his career in Country Music.
In 1998 he formed the band Old Dogs together with his friends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Waylon Jennings.
In addition to the above, Bobby Bare is credited for introducing Waylon Jennings to RCA. He is also one of the first to record from many well known song writers such as Jack Clement, Harlan Howard, Billy Joe Shaver, Mickey Newberry, Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, and many others. He later had a TV series called 'Bobby Bare & Friends, A Song Writer Showcase'. Recently, he has recorded a new album after over 20 years called 'The Moon Was Blue' produced by his son. His son, Bobby Bare, Jr., is also a musician.
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500 Miles Away from Home
Bobby Bare Lyrics
I'm five hundred miles away from home
Teardrops fell on momma's note
When I read the things she wrote
She said we miss you son we love you come on home
Well I didn't have to pack
I had it all right on my back
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
I know this is the same road I took the day I left home (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
But it sure looks different now (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
And I guess I look different too (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
'Cause time changes everything (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
I wonder what they'll say (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
When they see their boy looking this bad (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
Oh I wonder what they'll say when I get home
Can't remember when I ate
It's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
If my luck had been just right (away from home)
I'd be with them all tonight (away from home)
But I'm five hundred miles away from home (away from home)
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Oh, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Bobby Bare, Hedy West, Charlie Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
1978garfield
Glad you like it.
There are many, any different versions of this song.
I recommend checking them all out.
Hedy West has the copyright and she freely admitted she did not deserve it.
It was an old folk song she learned and rearranged and in the 60's that was enough to get a copyright.
Many of he folk versions have a chorus of "Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two, Lord I'm 3, Lord I'm 4, Lord I'm 500 miles away from home."
When I moved 400 miles for work I felt that chorus every time my trip odometer clicked over another 100 miles.
Play some old country for your friends.
Many young people listen to modern "Top 40 with a cowboy hat" becase that is all they are exposed to.
As a real little kid I loved country music but by 10 years old I fell in to the stupid belief you could like country or rock but not both.
I dismissed all country music and convinced myself I liked the synth driven trash oozing out of the top 40 in the 80's.
I grew sick of Top 40, spent my early teens as a metal head and finally came back to real country.
I still love Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath but I also love Johnny Cash, Willie, Waylon and many many others.
Music isn't a religion.
If you like a song for you it is a good song.
It is too easy to get hung up on fandoms, scenes, clubs and cliques.
None of that matters.
Just the music does.
Sorry this turned into a book.
Md. Raisul Islam
I'm five hundred miles away from home.
Teardrops fell on mama's note when I read the things she wrote
She said, "We miss you son, we love you come on home."
Well, I didn't have to pack, I had it all right on my back
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home.
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles
Away from home.
I know this is the same road I took the day I left home
But it sure looks different now
Well, I guess I look different too cause time changes everything
I wonder what they'll say when they see their boy looking this way
Oh, I wonder what they'll say when I get home.
Can't remember when I ate it's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
If my luck had been just right I'd be with them all tonight
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home.
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles
Away from home...
philip halim
I'm 500 miles away from home
Teardrops fell on momma's note
When I read the things she wrote
She said we miss you son we love you come on home
Well I didn't have to pack
I had it all right on my back
Now I'm 500 miles away from home
Away from home away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm 500 miles away from home
I know this is the same road I took the day I left home,
But it sure looks different now. And I guess I look
Different too, cause time changes everything. I wonder what
They'll say, when they see their boy looking this bad.
Oh I wonder what they'll say when I get home
Can't remember when I ate
It's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still 500 miles away from home
If my luck had been just right
I'd be with them all tonight
But I'm 500 miles away from home
Away from home away from home
Oh I'm still 500 miles away from home
Marjorie Esguerra
I wish some of the teenager's now appreciate this kind of masterpiece. I'm only 18 but i can say that a song like this is more beautiful rather than the new songs now. I love it! Specially, country music 💗
El Dios
Im 22 my grandfather showed me this song 👌 I’ve been showing him my playlist he noticed it’s los lobos Paul Anka and the shonets and all that so he’s starting to show me some stuff which is amazing
Dylan Couch
I’m 20 now and I’ve been listening to this and making my friends listen to it for about 5 years now lmaooo
Jack the Ripper
wish granted. I'm 15 turning 16 in December.
joshua john
@1978garfield skipped a lot of sentences but this deserves a heart ❤
1978garfield
Glad you like it.
There are many, any different versions of this song.
I recommend checking them all out.
Hedy West has the copyright and she freely admitted she did not deserve it.
It was an old folk song she learned and rearranged and in the 60's that was enough to get a copyright.
Many of he folk versions have a chorus of "Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two, Lord I'm 3, Lord I'm 4, Lord I'm 500 miles away from home."
When I moved 400 miles for work I felt that chorus every time my trip odometer clicked over another 100 miles.
Play some old country for your friends.
Many young people listen to modern "Top 40 with a cowboy hat" becase that is all they are exposed to.
As a real little kid I loved country music but by 10 years old I fell in to the stupid belief you could like country or rock but not both.
I dismissed all country music and convinced myself I liked the synth driven trash oozing out of the top 40 in the 80's.
I grew sick of Top 40, spent my early teens as a metal head and finally came back to real country.
I still love Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath but I also love Johnny Cash, Willie, Waylon and many many others.
Music isn't a religion.
If you like a song for you it is a good song.
It is too easy to get hung up on fandoms, scenes, clubs and cliques.
None of that matters.
Just the music does.
Sorry this turned into a book.
Daniel Butler
This is real country music. It reaches down inside you and tugs at your heart. You can feel the story like you are there.
Carlyle Ramcharan
I was only 8 years old when this was released now I'm 67. Still beautiful after all these years. Just bought me a new copy on eBay.
Sharon
Me too
Michael Kinzer
Must've listened to this a hundred times on the drive from Austin, Texas to Bozeman, Montana. Through wind, rain, and snow... creates an emotion too hard to describe.