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.
Dropkick Me Jesus
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
Make me, oh, make me, Lord, more than I am
Free from the earthly tem pestion below
I've got the will, Lord, if You got the toe
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
Bring on the brothers who've gone on before
And all of the sisters who've knocked on your door
All the departed, dear, loved ones of mine
Stick 'em up front in the offensive line
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
A lowly bench warmer I'm contented to be
Until the time when you have need of me
The flash on the scoreboard that shines upon high
And the big Super Bowl way up in the sky
And Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them, righteous up rights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
The song "Dropkick Me Jesus" by Bobby Bare is a light-hearted country song that uses football terminology to talk about faith and the afterlife. The title refers to a dropkick, a type of kick in American football where the player drops the ball and kicks it just after it hits the ground. The singer is asking Jesus to dropkick him through the goal posts of life, essentially asking for guidance and a clear path forward through the struggles of life.
Throughout the song, the singer uses football metaphors to describe his desire to be a part of God's plan. He asks to be made "a piece in Your master game plan", and imagines departed loved ones as players on a divine football team. He also describes himself as a "lowly bench warmer", content to wait for God's call to join the game.
While the song's use of football terminology may seem irreverent to some, it can also be seen as a playful and creative way to talk about faith and the afterlife. The use of sports language to describe spiritual concepts may help to make them more relatable and accessible to listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life
Asking Jesus to guide or direct me through the journey of life, overcoming obstacles as a football is dropkicked through the goal posts.
End over end, neither left nor to right
The path that Jesus is guiding me on is straight and narrow, without any deviation.
Straight through the heart of them, righteous of rights
My efforts to live righteously will overcome any hindrances in my path.
Make me, oh, make me, Lord, more than I am
Requesting Jesus to transform me and make me a better person than I currently am.
Make me a piece in Your master game plan
Asking Jesus to make me a pawn in his bigger plan for the world.
Free from the earthly temptations below
Asking to be protected from the worldly indulgences that might distract me from my goal in life.
I've got the will, Lord, if You got the toe
I am willing to take on the challenges of life if Jesus is there to guide me along the way.
Bring on the brothers who've gone on before
Invoking the souls of those who have departed before me to support me on my journey.
And all of the sisters who've knocked on your door
Invoking the souls of the female believers who have gone before me to support me on my journey.
All the departed, dear, loved ones of mine
Requesting divine intervention from those who I have lost and dearly loved.
Stick 'em up front in the offensive line
Asking that my departed loved ones be my front-line supporters in my journey.
A lowly bench warmer I'm contented to be
I am willing to wait for my turn to be called upon to contribute to the overall plan.
Until the time when you have need of me
I trust that Jesus has a plan for me and that I will be called upon when the time is right.
The flash on the scoreboard that shines upon high
The final victory that is waiting for me due to my dedication to the game of life.
And the big Super Bowl way up in the sky
The ultimate victory and reward that I am hoping to achieve in the afterlife.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Charles Craft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Candas Hall
My son would go through the house singing this, never had heard it. We played it at his funeral today.
Cotton Top
Hey it’s hard to read that. Prayers to you and your family
KatyBeth Morgan
I am so sorry for your loss.
Chuwee
Am sorry for your loss. That was sad to read. He’s in a better place now
M N
I'm here because my Dad told me how my grandmother used to waitresses were Bobby Bare woul play... I heard here say you gods even if Jesus has to drop kick you to heaven...I thought what?? Your son is in heaven waiting to welcome you when its your time... along with my grandmother 👵
Michael Sinclair
Wow...
Very Sorry to Hear That.
May GOD BLESS You and Your Family.
Asdf Qwerty
"Dropkick me jesus through the goalposts of life" is the best lyric I've ever heard
Jappy Happy
"I've got the will lord, if you've got the toe." best line
Gaynor Cote
I always thought it was "dough"!
George Pope
Tha's Billy Graham, not Jesus. . . :D