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.
Dialogue: Back Home in Huntsville Again
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warden come down here and kiss me hello cause I'm back home in Huntsville again
This suit that I'm wearing cost two hundred dollars
But I got it free with a three dollar knife
I got tailor made shirts with them long pointy collars
And all it's gonna cost is ten years of my life
So open the gates up...
I've been rousted and turned out at three in the morning
I've been roughed up and shook down and stood on my ear
I've tried to find work but they called me a jailbird
So I went for the bundle and I've wound up back here
So open the gates up...
I found me a woman as warm as the sunshine took her a year to slip out of her dress
She talk about havin' a little rose covered cottage
But roses cost money and you know the rest
So open the gates up...
Yes I'm back home in Huntsville again
In Bobby Bare's song Back Home in Huntsville Again, the singer is being released from prison and is heading back to his hometown of Huntsville. The opening lines speak to the familiarity he has with the employees at the prison's gates, implying that this is not his first rodeo. The warden is even called to greet him, indicating that the singer may have some sort of notoriety within the prison. Throughout the rest of the song, the singer reflects on his past choices and the consequences that have led him back to prison. He humorously mentions the expensive suit he's wearing, which he obtained through a shady trade-off. He also discusses the difficulty he's had finding legitimate work due to his criminal record, ultimately leading him back to a life of crime. Additionally, he mentions a woman he met who he had hoped to settle down with, but financial hardships prevented them from realizing their dreams. Overall, the song is an observation on the cyclical nature of life and the challenges that come with breaking old habits.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was written by Shel Silverstein, who is known for his children's books such as "The Giving Tree" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends." Silverstein also wrote several hit country songs, including "A Boy Named Sue," which was made popular by Johnny Cash. "Back Home in Huntsville Again" was released in 1970 and was a minor hit, peaking at #37 on the U.S. country singles chart. The song has been covered by several other artists, including country artist, Jerry Reed.
Line by Line Meaning
Open the gates up hey screw did you miss me Jimmy I see that you found a new friend
Addressing the prison staff and fellow inmates, asking if they missed him and acknowledging that by the looks of it, his friend has moved on.
Warden come down here and kiss me hello cause I'm back home in Huntsville again
Requesting a greeting from the warden because he's returned to Huntsville prison.
This suit that I'm wearing cost two hundred dollars
Highlighting the cost of his suit.
But I got it free with a three dollar knife
Admitting that he stole the suit with a cheap knife.
I got tailor made shirts with them long pointy collars
Boasting about his fashionable shirts.
And all it's gonna cost is ten years of my life
Acknowledging that his criminal actions resulted in him serving ten years in prison.
I've been rousted and turned out at three in the morning
Reflecting on times when he's been suddenly woken up and kicked out at three in the morning.
I've been roughed up and shook down and stood on my ear
Recounting times when he's been physically abused or shaken down by prison staff.
I've tried to find work but they called me a jailbird
Admitting that he's tried to find work outside of prison, but his criminal record made it difficult.
So I went for the bundle and I've wound up back here
Admitting that he resorted to crime again, resulting in him ending up back in prison.
I found me a woman as warm as the sunshine took her a year to slip out of her dress
Describing a relationship he had with a woman in detail.
She talk about havin' a little rose covered cottage
Recalling how his partner talked about wanting a small, idyllic home together.
But roses cost money and you know the rest
Admitting that he couldn't afford to provide for her and ultimately lost her as a result.
Yes I'm back home in Huntsville again
Confirming that he is back in prison in Huntsville again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind