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.
Goin' Up's Easy Comin' Down's Hard
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After the honky tonks closed
No one had credit
And no one had no place to go.
Just crazy kids with 'lectric machines
And some soul
Turnin' them crowds on
By playin' some loud rock'n roll.
Then came the man with a suit and a tie
And the promise of contracts and bread
With all our joy he gave us to fame and fortune
That left us half dead.
Goin' up's easy
When you got the song
That comes from the depth of the soul
Where it really belongs.
Comin' down's hard when you find
That you just can't sing it no more
Your emerald ring with the solid gold band
Reflects back the face of a whore.
Freddie would play on his guitar all day
And sometimes his firgers would bleed
Sam would ride on his drum
Like a magnificent steed.
Ben on the bass would make the thunder
And the lighting with love
And I'd sing the lyric of life
That I felt the part of.
Then came the money and Freddie dropped out
To start him a band of his own
Sam bought a frenchise and Bennie OD'd
And I'm soon the label alone.
Goin' up's easy
When you got the song
That comes from the depth of the soul
Where it really belongs.
Goin' up's easy
When you got the song
That comes from the depth of the soul
Where it really belongs...
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song "Goin' Up's Easy Comin' Down's Hard" tell a story of a group of young musicians who played in motels and honky tonks, without much credit or a place to go. They were just "crazy kids with electric machines and soul," playing loud rock 'n roll to turn crowds on. However, despite their humble beginnings, the group were discovered by a man with a suit and tie who promised them fame and fortune through contracts and bread. But the joy that came with their success was short-lived, leaving them "half dead."
The song is a cautionary tale about the price of fame and what happens when it's acquired too quickly. Going up (in terms of success) may be easy when you have a song that comes from the depth of your soul, but coming down is hard when you realize you can no longer sing it. The emerald ring with the solid gold band reflects back the face of a whore, signifying the hollowness of fame and material success.
The second verse of the song talks about the members of the band, with Freddie playing his guitar until his fingers bled, Sam riding his drum like a magnificent steed, and Ben on the bass making thunder and lightning with love. But with success came its consequences, with Freddie dropping out to start his own band, Sam buying a franchise, and Benny overdosing. The song ends with the singer being left alone with the label.
Overall, "Goin' Up's Easy Comin' Down's Hard" tells a story of the cost of success and the toll it can take on one's soul and relationships with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember the nights we would jam in the motels
Recalling the nights of playing music in motels
After the honky tonks closed
After closing of honky-tonks
No one had credit
Financial instability of the group
And no one had no place to go.
Lack of accommodation for the night
Just crazy kids with 'lectric machines
Young and enthusiastic kids with electric instruments
And some soul
With passion
Turnin' them crowds on
Entertaining the crowds with enthusiasm
By playin' some loud rock'n roll.
Through playing loud rock music
Then came the man with a suit and a tie
Man with formal attire
And the promise of contracts and bread
Offering contracts for fame and fortune
With all our joy he gave us to fame and fortune
Despite bringing happiness, fame and fortune left them partially ruined
That left us half dead.
Left them in distress
Goin' up's easy
Reaching heights is easy
When you got the song
Having an excellent song
That comes from the depth of the soul
Originating from the depth of soul
Where it really belongs.
It should be genuine
Comin' down's hard when you find
Difficult to come down when you realize
That you just can't sing it no more
Unable to sing the same song anymore
Your emerald ring with the solid gold band
Symbolizing wealth and fame
Reflects back the face of a whore.
Exposing the hypocritical nature of fame and fortune
Freddie would play on his guitar all day
Freddie would spend his entire day playing the guitar
And sometimes his firgers would bleed
Sometimes his fingers would start to bleed
Sam would ride on his drum
Sam would beat the drums vigorously
Like a magnificent steed.
Similar to a majestic horse
Ben on the bass would make the thunder
Ben on bass would generate thunderous sounds
And the lighting with love
Generating vibrant music with passion
And I'd sing the lyric of life
Bobby would sing the lyrics of life
That I felt the part of.
With which I could easily relate.
Then came the money and Freddie dropped out
Freddie left the band after receiving money
To start him a band of his own
To start his own band
Sam bought a frenchise and Bennie OD'd
Sam purchased a franchise, Bennie had an overdose
And I'm soon the label alone.
Bobby was the only one left in the label
Goin' up's easy
Reaching heights is easy
When you got the song
Having an excellent song
That comes from the depth of the soul
Originating from the depth of soul
Where it really belongs.
It should be genuine
Lyrics © MIRANDA MILLSAP D/B/A IRONSIDE MUSIC
Written by: B. MILLSAP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind