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 Lot of Soul
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There were those who could pick it clean or better
But didn't I pick my cotton with a lot of soul
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
I'd say hmm with meaning yeah I sang my songs of life with a lot of soul
[ dobro ]
I never was great at words so fancy oh but my woman knew I loved her so
There were those who could give her more and better
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
I'd go hmm with meaning but Lord I love that woman with a lot of soul
[ dobro ]
When I leave this life I'll be forgotten cause I never made big tracks upon its roads
Things I've done will never last forever but didn't I do it all with a lot of soul
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
The lyrics of the song "A Lot of Soul" by Bobby Bare are an expression of the singer's pride in the effort he puts into his work and life, despite not being the best at it. The metaphor of picking cotton is used to illustrate the idea that there may be others who are more skilled at a particular task, but that it's possible to achieve great results by approaching it with passion and heart. The phrase "a lot of soul" is repeated throughout the song to emphasize this point and serves as a reminder to the listener to always put effort and passion into everything they do.
However, the lyrics of the song can also be interpreted more broadly as a celebration of individuality and personal style. The singer suggests that it's not necessary to conform to societal expectations of what is considered "great" or "successful," but instead, to embrace one's own strengths and character. This sentiment is reflected in the lines "I never was great at words so fancy / but my woman knew I loved her so," which highlight the importance of genuine emotions and simple gestures over material possessions or grand gestures.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Lot of Soul" are a testament to the value of effort, passion, and individuality in all aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I never was great at pickin' cotton but Lord I always carried all my rows
I may not have been as proficient as others in picking cotton, but I always did my part with dedication and hard work.
There were those who could pick it clean or better
Others may have been more skilled at picking cotton than me.
But didn't I pick my cotton with a lot of soul
Despite not being the best, I put my heart and soul into picking cotton.
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
When I hummed while picking cotton, I did it with genuine emotion.
I'd say hmm with meaning yeah I sang my songs of life with a lot of soul
In life, I may not have been great with words, but I expressed myself with heartfelt songs.
[ dobro ]
Instrumental break in the song.
I never was great at words so fancy oh but my woman knew I loved her so
I may not have been articulate or eloquent, but my wife knew that I loved her deeply.
There were those who could give her more and better
Others may have been able to provide more material things, but my love was genuine.
But didn't I loved that woman with a lot of soul
Despite not being able to offer much, I loved my wife wholeheartedly.
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
When expressing my love, I did it with genuine emotion.
I'd go hmm with meaning but Lord I love that woman with a lot of soul
My love for my wife was not just superficial, it came from the depths of my soul.
[ dobro ]
Instrumental break in the song.
When I leave this life I'll be forgotten cause I never made big tracks upon its roads
I'm aware that I won't be remembered for anything great because I didn't achieve anything extraordinary.
Things I've done will never last forever but didn't I do it all with a lot of soul
Although my accomplishments may not be remembered, I did them all with heart and soul.
I'd go hmm with feeling I'd go hmm with soul
In everything I did in life, I infused it with genuine emotion and soul.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Curly Putman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind