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.
Four Strong Winds
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All these things that don't change come what may
But my good times are all gone and I'm bound for moving on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way
I may go out to Alberta weather's good there in the fall
Got some friends that I can go to workin' for
Still I wish you'd change your mind if I asked you one more time
But we've been through that a hundred times or more
If I get there before the snow flies and things are going good
You could join me if I sent you down the fare
But if you'll wait until it's winter it would do no good
But the winds sure can blow cold way out there
Four strong winds that blow lonely
The Four Strong Winds by Bobby Bare is a song about a man who is leaving his lover to move on to other places. He talks about the winds that are lonely, seven seas that are high, and things that don't change. Despite this, he still longs for his lover to change her mind and go with him. He mentions that he might go to Alberta, where the weather is good and he has some friends to work with. He further laments about trying to convince his lover to come with him, but she has refused a hundred times or more. He suggests that if things are going well and he gets to Alberta before the snow flies, she could join him. But he warns her that if she waits until it's winter, it would be too late because the cold winds will blow her way out there.
The song's meaning is a metaphor for life changes, and how we must accept that some things in life won't change, no matter what we do. The four strong winds represent the forces that keep people apart emotionally or physically. It's a bittersweet song about the inevitability of moving on, but also about the hope that maybe someday things will change. Four Strong Winds has become an iconic song due to its poignant lyrics and memorable melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Four strong winds that blow lonely
The harsh winds represent the melancholy feeling experienced when being separated from a loved one.
Seven seas that run high
The vast oceans are a symbol of the distance and separation between the singer and their loved one.
All these things that don't change come what may
Despite the passage of time and changes that may occur in the singer's life, their love for the other person remains unwavering.
But my good times are all gone and I'm bound for movin' on
The artist's happy moments have come to an end, and they must continue with their life journey.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way
The artist still holds onto the hope of reuniting with their loved one if their paths cross again.
I may go out to Alberta weather's good there in the fall
The singer is considering moving to Alberta, in part because of the pleasant weather during autumn.
Got some friends that I can go to workin' for
The singer may have some employment opportunities through their friends in Alberta.
Still I wish you'd change your mind if I asked you one more time
The artist still has hope that their loved one will reconsider and agree to be with them.
But we've been through that a hundred times or more
The artist and their loved one have had the same conversation many times, and they know that it's unlikely to produce a different outcome.
If I get there before the snow flies and things are goin' good
The artist hopes to arrive in Alberta before the winter and establish a stable life there.
You could join me if I sent you down the fare
The singer would be willing to help their loved one journey to Alberta by providing them with the transportation expenses.
But if you wait until it's winter, it will be no good
If the loved one delays their journey to Alberta, it would be detrimental to their wellbeing due to the harsh winter conditions.
For the winds sure can blow cold way out there
The singer reminds their loved one of the bitter cold weather in Alberta during the winter, reinforcing their previous point.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ian Tyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jerry king
THIS GUY IS SO UNDERESTIMATED,,,,HE IS ONE OF THE FINEST C/W SINGERS EVER
diden
Yep, David Houston, Randy Travis & Conway I put into that category - and oops, a bit of a balladeer....Ray Price....I've probably missed a heap
Liz DeLeuil
Nobody CAN do it better than Bobby Bare!
sniperturtle1
Maybe Charley Crockett!
David King
Ian Tyson (the man who wrote it) says Hold My Beer and watch how it’s done
Peter Burian
Rest in peace, Ian Tyson. You wrote a great song.
Bobby did a very nice version too.
Angela Allen
I've always loved his voice & his songs. They're still great as ever. ♓♓♓♬♬♬♬♬♬
michael bonner
I loved this song when it came out and it still takes me back to the 60s A beautiful and, I suspect, eternal song
Pauline Gulas
That is very true!👍I am with you on that!
Felicia v Yates
Great song