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.
Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurtin' Me
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're happy when I'm out of my mind
You don't love me yet you won't let me be
Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me
You must think I look bad with a smile
For you haven't let me have one in such a long long while
Still I keep running back how can this be
Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me
The lyrics to Bobby Bare's song "Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurtin' Me" are about an unhealthy and tumultuous relationship where the singer is constantly being hurt by their partner. The first line "You make my eyes run over all the time" refers to crying as a result of the pain caused by their partner. The next line "You're happy when I'm out of my mind" suggests that the partner is pleased to have control or power over the singer's emotions.
The chorus "You don't love me yet you won't let me be, Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me" highlights the contradicting nature of the relationship, where the partner doesn't seem to love the singer, yet won't let them break free. The singer questions why the partner continues to hurt them, asking "Still I keep running back how can this be, Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me". The final line "You must think I look bad with a smile, For you haven't let me have one in such a long long while" suggests that the partner enjoys seeing the singer unhappy and that they may even have control over the singer's ability to be happy.
The lyrics in this song are relatable to anyone who has experienced a toxic relationship where they feel trapped and unable to break free from the person who is hurting them. It paints a picture of the cycle of abuse and the confusion that can come with loving someone who continually causes you pain.
Line by Line Meaning
You make my eyes run over all the time
Your actions constantly bring tears to my eyes.
You're happy when I'm out of my mind
You find pleasure in causing me distress and confusion.
You don't love me yet you won't let me be
You don't have true feelings for me, yet you insist on keeping me close and under your control.
Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me
Do you ever become exhausted from inflicting emotional pain upon me?
You must think I look bad with a smile
You seem to disapprove of my happiness and positive demeanor.
For you haven't let me have one in such a long long while
You have prevented me from experiencing any form of joy for an extended period of time.
Still I keep running back how can this be
Even though you continuously hurt me, I still find myself returning to you.
Don't you ever get tired of hurtin' me
Is there ever a point where you become weary of intentionally causing me emotional harm?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HANK COCHRAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind