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.
Abilene
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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Women there don't treat you, mean in Abilene my Abilene
Crowded cities ain't nothing free nothing in this town for me
How I wish that I could be in Abilene my Abilene, Abilene, Abilene
I sit alone most every night watch those trains pull out of sight
How I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene
Sweet Abilene, Abilene, Abilene
Bobby Bare's song "Abilene" is a melancholic ballad about a man's longing for the town he left behind – Abilene, the prettiest town he's ever seen. The main theme of the song revolves around the feeling of displacement and the longing for a place to call home. The singer's observations about other cities he's been to are contrasted with his recollection of how warmly he was treated in his hometown. The singer is expressing his dissatisfaction with the life he is living now and the yearning for home, for a town where women are kind and nothing is really holding him back.
The song's lyrics are poignant, and the character's yearning for home is palpable. He sits alone at night, watching the trains pass by, wishing he was on one of these trains, headed back to Abilene, where he felt happiest. The repetition of the name of Abilene in the lyrics gives an impression that the town has great significance to the singer, and he finds it hard to let go of his memories of it.
Overall, "Abilene" is a somber ode to a hometown that has a special place in the heart. The song's theme is universal as it can relate to anyone who has experienced the feeling of displacement, and the search for a place that feels like home.
Line by Line Meaning
Abilene, Abilene prettiest town I've ever seen
Abilene is a beautiful town that I have ever seen.
Women there don't treat you, mean in Abilene my Abilene
The women in Abilene are not rude, they are kind and treat you well.
Crowded cities ain't nothing free nothing in this town for me
Living in a crowded city is of no use for me as there is nothing free in the city.
How I wish that I could be in Abilene my Abilene, Abilene, Abilene
I feel nostalgic and wish to be in Abilene, the town that I love.
I sit alone most every night watch those trains pull out of sight
I spend most of my evenings alone watching the trains disappear with a sense of longing.
How I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene
I wish that the trains were carrying me back to Abilene.
Sweet Abilene, Abilene, Abilene
Abilene is my sweet and lovely town.
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene
The women in Abilene are kind and do not treat anyone rudely.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Gibson, John Loudermilk, Lester Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind