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.
Blowin´ In The Wind
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Bobby Bare's song "Blowin' In The Wind" is a timeless masterpiece that focuses on key social and political issues that humanity continues to grapple with. The singer ponders several essential questions that challenge people's perceptions and convictions about various aspects of life. The opening lines, "How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?" confronts traditional societal expectations of masculinity and proposes the idea that a man's manhood should not be based on physical and material accomplishments but rather on values and principles.
Bare's second verse continues the theme of perception by asking, "how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?" This line encapsulates the idea that empathy and compassion should be at the core of one's humanity. The third verse tackles the issues of freedom and the acceptance of diversity, with lines like "how many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free?" and "how many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn't see?" These lyrics highlight the need for human rights and social justice, a cause that is still relevant today.
Overall, "Blowin' In The Wind" is a profound song that encourages listeners to reflect on the world they live in, and consider how they can contribute to making it a better place for everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many different experiences and challenges must a person endure before they can truly be considered a grown and mature adult?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many journeys and adventures must one go on before they find a place to rest and settle down?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
How much destruction and violence must occur before society realizes the need for peace and takes action to prevent it?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
The solution to these complex and difficult questions is not easy to come by, and is instead something that seems to be constantly changing and elusive.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many obstacles must one overcome before they can truly appreciate and engage with the beauty of the world around them?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How much empathy and understanding is required before one can really understand the pain and suffering of others?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
At what point will society finally take action to prevent unnecessary loss of life and suffering?
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
How long can something seemingly permanent and unchanging last in the face of nature's powerful forces and persistent change?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
How long must societal oppression and injustice persist before true freedom and equality can be established for all individuals?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
How much denial and avoidance of uncomfortable truths must someone engage in before they finally confront and acknowledge reality?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Despite the difficulty and complexity of these important issues, the solution is ultimately within reach and constantly changing, but requires active engagement and an open mind to find.
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pieter Domburg
The best performance ever of this great song!
yonaka923
His bass voice is very beautiful and clear.Better than Bob Dylan.
Ammis
The voice