Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is a… Read Full Bio ↴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. 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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Are You Sincere
Bobby Bare Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are you sincere when you say "I love you?"
Are you sincere when you say "I'll be true?"
Do you mean every word that my ears have heard?
I'd like to know which way to go, will our love grow?
Are you sincere? (Are you sincere?)

Are you sincere when you say you miss me? (You miss me)
Are you sincere every time you kiss me? (You kiss me)
And are really mine every day, all the time?
I'd like to know which way to go, will our love grow?
Are you sincere? (Are you sincere?)

Are really mine every day, all the time?
I'd like to know (I'd like to know)
Which way to go (Which way to go)
Will our love grow ? (Will our love grow?)
Are you sincere?

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Bobby Bare's "Are You Sincere" concern the singer's doubts about the authenticity of their lover's declarations of love and faithfulness. The repeated question, "Are you sincere?" gives the song its title and creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and confusion. The singer is seeking reassurance and a commitment from their partner, but they are not convinced of their partner's sincerity. The lyrics directly ask whether the words spoken by their lover carry real meaning, and whether they truly love and are honest in their relationship.

The lyrics express a yearning for stability and security in the relationship, with the singer wanting to know "which way to go," and whether "our love will grow." The repetition of this question throughout the song emphasizes the singer's anxiety and urgency for a resolution. The lyrics also include a reference to physical intimacy, with the questions about whether the partner is sincere when they say they miss and kiss the singer.

Overall, the song is a plea for honesty and transparency in a romantic relationship. Its lyrics convey the confusion and uncertainty that can arise in relationships when one partner is unsure of the other's intentions and authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

Are you sincere when you say "I love you?"
Do you truly and genuinely love me?

Are you sincere when you say "I'll be true?"
Do you promise to be faithful to me and not deceive me?

Do you mean every word that my ears have heard?
Do your words hold true meaning and come from your heart?

I'd like to know which way to go, will our love grow?
I need to decide if I should continue this relationship and if it has potential for growth.

Are you sincere when you say you miss me? (You miss me)
Do you truly miss my presence and companionship?

Are you sincere every time you kiss me? (You kiss me)
Do your kisses hold true passion and love behind them?

And are really mine every day, all the time?
Do you love me exclusively and commit to me every single day?

I'd like to know which way to go, will our love grow?
I need to decide if I should continue this relationship and if it has potential for growth.

Are you sincere? (Are you sincere?)
Are you being truthful and honest with me?

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUCKY MOELLER, WAYNE P. WALKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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