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.
Daddy ยด S Been Around the House Too Long
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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(Daddy's been around the house too long
He's watchin' TV drinking beer and singing crazy songs
He don't ever yell at us so something must be wrong
Cause daddy's been around the house too long)
(Daddy he just says the times are bad
He gets up drinks his coffee and reads the want ads
Daddy's been around the house too long)
Oh I wanna hear that factory whistle blow just the way it used to sound before
And maybe it'll scare away the wolf that's at my door
I wanna hear that factory whistle blow
(Daddy used to spend his weekends lazy now momma says he's bout to drive her crazy
He's in the kitchen fussing till the Secret Storm comes on
Daddy's been around the house too long)
I wanna hear that factory whistle blow yeah daddy's been around the house too long
The song Daddy's Been Around the House Too Long by Bobby Bare portrays a father who has become seemingly complacent with his life, no longer engaging with his family, and losing his drive and ambition due to the difficult economic times. The family notices a change in his behavior as he spends most of his days watching TV, drinking beer, singing crazy songs, and wandering around the house. The family is concerned about the father as he never yells or screams, something he used to do in the past, suggesting the drastic change in his behavior. The father has become aimless and spends his days reading want ads and mowing the lawn without a sense of direction.
The lyrics illustrate the effects of unemployment and the negative impact on individuals and families that often accompany economic hardship. The reference to the factory whistle reminds us of an era of prosperous jobs where people had a sense of purpose and tied their value to their work. The father may be longing for the days of the past, where he had purpose and took pride in his work. The reference to the wolf at the door suggests that the economic downturn has put the family under considerable financial strain.
In conclusion, with the opening line repeating, "Daddy's been around the house too long," the song highlights the father's lack of action, and his realization of how he's become disengaged with his family. Bobby Bare's lyrics provide insight into the struggles of those affected by the economic turbulence, and how the effects manifest in individuals like Daddy.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy's been around the house too long
Daddy has been at home for too long and it seems to be affecting him
He's watchin' TV drinking beer and singing crazy songs
Daddy is sitting around being unproductive and engaging in odd behavior
He don't ever yell at us so something must be wrong
Daddy is not behaving like himself, and his lack of yelling is a sign of his unusual behavior
Daddy he just says the times are bad
Daddy is using the state of the world as an excuse for his behavior and lack of productivity
He gets up drinks his coffee and reads the want ads
Daddy is not looking for work, but rather reading the want ads out of habit
Then he wanders round the house or maybe mows the lawn
Daddy is not completing any necessary tasks, but instead aimlessly roaming around the house
Oh I wanna hear that factory whistle blow just the way it used to sound before
The singer is yearning for the structure and routine of the past where work at the factory provided order
And maybe it'll scare away the wolf that's at my door
The artist is hoping that the sound of the factory whistle will ward off the troubles they are currently facing
Daddy used to spend his weekends lazy now momma says he's bout to drive her crazy
Daddy has changed from his previous behavior of lazy weekends, to being a nuisance to the rest of the family
He's in the kitchen fussing till the Secret Storm comes on
Daddy is engaging in pointless activities, such as fussing in the kitchen until his favorite TV program comes on
Daddy's been around the house too long
Summarizing the song by reiterating that Daddy has been at home too long and his behavior is affecting those around him
I wanna hear that factory whistle blow yeah daddy's been around the house too long
The artist wants to hear the sound of the work whistle to bring back some order and routine to their current situation, highlighting that Daddy's unproductive behavior has been a strain on the family
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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