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.
Childhood Hero
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I laughed and said if you are what I think you are I'd like to meet you too
She said you've taught me lots of things
But I'll bet there's some things that I could teach you
And though you don't know me I sure know you
Cause you are my childhood hero she said
I got all your records I know all your songs
And I got your picture tacked over my bed
And I don't believe that a night that was spent
By a girl with her childhood hero could ever be wrong
A thousand songs a hundred poems and a half half a fifth of Chivas Regal
While my picture on the wall looked down and winked at me as if the bastard knew
And he listened as she whispered hold me close so I can dream about this later
When you've forgotten me I'll remember you
Cause you are my childhood hero...
The song Childhood Hero by Bobby Bare tells the story of a man who meets a woman who is a big fan of his music. She confesses her admiration for him, telling him that she has all his records and even has his picture tacked up over her bed. She admits to writing him a letter in the past and goes on to express that he was her childhood hero. The man is surprised yet flattered by her admiration and the two spend the night together, drinking and talking about life.
The lyrics suggest that the woman sees the man as a role model, someone she looks up to and admires. However, the man seems to be in a state of disbelief, almost as if he cannot fathom that someone could think so highly of him. Despite this, he is willing to spend time with her and learn from her as well, acknowledging that even he has things to learn.
The song explores the idea of nostalgia and the lasting impact that someone can have on another person's life. The woman's love for the man's music and the image she has of him in her mind allows her to hold onto her childhood memories and remain connected to a time in her life that was full of wonder and innocence. The song is a wonderful reminder of how a piece of music can capture the heart and soul of another person and become a symbol of their personal journey through life.
Line by Line Meaning
She smiled and said if you are who I think you are I'd really like to meet you
She expressed excitement at the possibility of meeting someone she believes is her childhood hero
I laughed and said if you are what I think you are I'd like to meet you too
He reciprocated her excitement, indicating that he also would like to meet her
She said you've taught me lots of things
She acknowledged that the person she believes is her childhood hero has had a positive impact on her life
But I'll bet there's some things that I could teach you
She implied that despite her admiration for him, she believes she could offer him knowledge or skills in return
And though you don't know me I sure know you
She acknowledged that he does not know her, but she has been a long-time admirer and is familiar with his work
Cause you are my childhood hero she said
She reiterated that she views the person she is speaking to as her childhood hero
I got all your records I know all your songs
She demonstrated her deep familiarity with his work, having collected all his records and knowing all his songs
And I got your picture tacked over my bed
She revealed that she has a picture of him displayed prominently in her personal space, further showing her admiration for him
And you know I once wrote you a letter she said
She disclosed that she had previously attempted to contact him by writing a letter to him
And I don't believe that a night that was spent
She expressed her belief that spending a night with her childhood hero could not be wrong
By a girl with her childhood hero could ever be wrong
She implied that she had romantic feelings towards him and suggested that spending a night together would not be inappropriate
A thousand songs a hundred poems and a half half a fifth of Chivas Regal
The artist listed various things that have been a part of his life, including many songs and poems, as well as alcohol
While my picture on the wall looked down and winked at me as if the bastard knew
He described feeling as if the picture on his wall, likely of himself, was mocking him with knowledge of his intimate encounter with a fan
And he listened as she whispered hold me close so I can dream about this later
He described listening as the fan whispered to him, hoping to feel close to him and potentially fantasize about their encounter in the future
When you've forgotten me I'll remember you
She implied that she would never forget their encounter, even if he moves on from it
Cause you are my childhood hero...
The fan reiterated her view of the artist as her childhood hero
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind