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.
Able Bodied Man
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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Got a ticket for Missouri and there's things I need to say before I go
If I could I'd have you meet me but I don't see how I can
I don't have enough to pay your fare
There's a factory in Columbus hirin' now I understand
And they're looking for an able bodied man
Baby you should get some money in the letter that I mailed two days ago
That I was goin' to lose my job in such a little while
Now I guess we'll have to change our plan
They may not hire me in Columbus but I'm pretty sure they will
Cause they're looking for an able bodied man
If I had more education now I'd a' made a better life for me and you
But just simple manual labor is the only kind of work that I can do
The bus is loadin' for Missouri so I guess I'd better go
Hon I'll call you up as soon as I can
I'll be sending you a ticket cause I know I'll get a job
If they're looking for an able bodied man
I'll be sending you a ticket cause I know I'll get a job
And remember I'm your able bodied man
The song "Able Bodied Man" by Bobby Bare is about a man who is leaving his partner behind to go find work in another state. The man is calling from the station and has little time to explain everything before he leaves. He is heading to Missouri to find a job, and he doesn't think he has enough money to pay for his partner to come with him. He tells his partner to look for work at a factory in Columbus that is currently hiring. He also mentions that he has mailed her some money to help her out.
The man feels guilty that he promised his partner she could come to him, but then he lost his job and doesn't have the means to support them both. He believes that if he had more education, he could have made a better life for them, but he has to settle for manual labor jobs. As he leaves, he reassures his partner that he will call her as soon as he can and will send her a ticket once he gets a job. He ends the conversation by telling her that he's her "able bodied man," implying that he will do whatever it takes to take care of her.
The lyrics of this song not only speak to the difficulties of finding work and providing for oneself and one's family, but they also touch on themes of guilt and sacrifice. The man in the song feels guilty for having to leave his partner behind, but he is willing to make that sacrifice in order to find work and provide for them both. The song is ultimately optimistic, as the man believes he will find a job and be able to bring his partner to live with him once again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm calling from the station and I haven't got much time to let you know
I am making this call briefly to inform you about my immediate departure.
Got a ticket for Missouri and there's things I need to say before I go
I have a ticket to Missouri and some things to say before I leave.
If I could I'd have you meet me but I don't see how I can
I wish I could meet you, but the circumstances don't allow me to do so.
I don't have enough to pay your fare
I can't afford to pay for your travel expenses.
There's a factory in Columbus hirin' now I understand
I heard that the Columbus factory is currently hiring.
And they're looking for an able bodied man
They require someone physically capable for the job.
Baby you should get some money in the letter that I mailed two days ago
You will receive some money from the letter I sent you two days ago.
But when I wrote the letter saying you could come to me I didn't know
I didn't know at the time I wrote the letter that my job will be in jeopardy.
That I was goin' to lose my job in such a little while
I am about to lose my job soon.
Now I guess we'll have to change our plan
We need to make a new plan since my situation has changed.
They may not hire me in Columbus but I'm pretty sure they will
They might not employ me, but I have confidence that they will.
Cause they're looking for an able bodied man
The job opening requires someone capable of performing physical tasks.
If I had more education now I'd a' made a better life for me and you
I regret not having more education to improve our lives.
But just simple manual labor is the only kind of work that I can do
I am limited to doing only manual labor for work.
The bus is loadin' for Missouri so I guess I'd better go
I have to board the Missouri-bound bus now.
Hon I'll call you up as soon as I can
I'll call you as soon as I get the chance, my dear.
I'll be sending you a ticket cause I know I'll get a job
I will send you a ticket since I am confident I'll get the job.
And remember I'm your able bodied man
Always keep in mind that I am your physically capable partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL RICE, JERRY FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind