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.
A Dear John Letter
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn
And tonight I wed another dear John
I was overseas in battle when the postman came to me
He handed me a letter and I was just as happy as I could be
Cause the fighting was all over and the battles have all been won
But then I opened up the letter and that started dear John
When I tell you who I'm wedding you won't care dear anyhow
And it hurts me so to tell you that my love for you has gone
But tonight I wed your brother dear John
And tonight I wed another dear John
The song "Dear John Letter A" by Bobby Bare is a heart-wrenching ballad depicting a woman's decision to end her relationship with John through a letter. The song starts with her informing John how much she hates to write this letter, but she is compelled to let him know that her love for him has withered away, much like the grass on the lawn. Adding insult to injury, the woman informs John that she is getting married to another man the same night.
The second verse takes an even more gut-wrenching turn as the woman admits that she had received the letter while she was fighting overseas. Her initial excitement turned to heartbreak upon reading that her love was no more, and that was the beginning of the "dear John" letter. She concludes by telling him to send back her picture, as the man she is marrying now wants it. She hesitates to mention that she is marrying John's brother and that her love for him has vanished.
Overall, the song portrays the theme of heartbreak and betrayal. The woman is unable to continue her relationship with John and has found someone else to love. The use of the letter format adds an emotional depth to the song, painting a picture of the woman's regret and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear John oh how I hate to write
I feel sad to write this letter to you, John
dear John I must let you know tonight
I must inform you tonight, John
That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn
My love for you has vanished, John
And tonight I wed another dear John
I am getting married to someone else tonight, John
I was overseas in battle when the postman came to me
I was away in war when I received the letter
He handed me a letter and I was just as happy as I could be
I was thrilled to receive a letter from you
Cause the fighting was all over and the battles have all been won
I thought I could finally enjoy some peace after the war
But then I opened up the letter and that started dear John
I read the letter and realized that it was a 'Dear John' letter
Won't you please send back my picture my husband wants it now
Can you please return my picture? My husband wants it now
When I tell you who I'm wedding you won't care dear anyhow
I know you won't care when you find out who I am marrying
And it hurts me so to tell you that my love for you has gone
It pains me to admit that I no longer love you
But tonight I wed your brother dear John
Tonight, I am marrying your brother, John
Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY BARTON, CHARLES FUZZY OWENS, LEWIS A. TALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dunhillan8360
Skeeter
Dear John, oh how I hate to write
Dear John, I must let you know tonight
That my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn
And tonight I wed another, dear John.
Bobby
I was overseas in battle when the postman came to me
He handed me a letter and I was just as happy as I could be
Cause the fighting was all over and the battles have all been won
But then I opened up the letter and that started, dear John
Won't you please send back my picture my husband wants it now
When I tell you who I'm wedding you won't care dear anyhow
And it hurts me so to tell you that my love for you has gone
But tonight I wed your brother, dear John.
Skeeter
And tonight I wed another, dear John.
@mevb
The swedish version of this song has a monologue that goes like this: I was drafted, far from all honor and neatness. Every day I wrote to my fiancee but she didn't write that often. But one day, a letter came and when I overjoyed ripped it up I noticed that it formally began with "Dear John. Would you send back my photo, for my future husband wants it." The guys at the hatch thought it was a bummer since I only lived for her. And you know about guys, they gatheted all the pictures they had of girls and made me write this: " I don't remember how you look. Please choose your photo and send back the others. Signed, Your dear John."
@juditjuhasz9395
It's good for my heart that you wrote this. Thx : )
@Rcaneneophyte8906
My parents were fans of Skeeter Davis. I grew up listening to this song, my dad was always sad whenever this song played & I never knew why. 30 years later this song still strikes a melancholic chord with me after my ex of 13 years left me to marry some guy off a dating app while I was posted abroad...Sad songs always tell a story dad...now I understand.
@piusokwu3560
Like, if you are under 30 but love this song. You have an old soul.
@oluwaseunajose3474
This song has been living rent free in my heart for some days.. love it.
@sheryljones5207
Both Bobby and Skeeter sounded so well together. I sure miss singer and song writer's like this. They both were so talented.
@williamrolls8075
Hello Sheryl
@Alhajiakosaqueen
This song makes me remember my childhood days โฆ I miss u mum
@michillene
Remember this as a little girl,loved it then,love it now.Wonder how many actually lived this beautiful,sad song.
@charlesbritto2779
I loved this song and still do. Beautiful memories.