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.
I've Got A Thing About Trains
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I see a passenger train
In this fast movin' world we live in
Nobody rides them much these days
Oh, maybe I'm just sentimental
'Cause I know that things have to change
But I still like to go for a train ride
Train, train, train, you're out of place these days
But you've had your days of glory, train, train, train
Train, they say you're too slow for travelin'
But I'm gonna miss you some day
When my little boy says
"Daddy, what was it like to ride a train?"
I'll say it was a good way to travel
When things didn't move quite so fast
And I'm sorry that you can't ride one
But trains are the thing of the past
Train, train, train, you're fading from the scene
But I'm gonna mourn your passing, train, train, train
So if you're tired of people and buildings
Weary of worry and strain
Then you ought to go on a train ride
And look out the window at things
Go for a ride down to Memphis
The night train is still right on time
But I read in the papers this mornin'
Next week they're gonna take it off the line
Train, train, train, blow your whistle proudly and loud
As you roll to your place in history, train, train, train
I've got a thing about trains
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song titled "I've Got A Thing About Trains" express the singer's love for trains and the nostalgic feeling that he experiences upon seeing them. The opening lines suggest that the sight of a passenger train makes him sad in today's fast-paced world where people rarely travel by train. Despite knowing that things have to change, the singer still cherishes going for a train ride as he has a soft spot for them. The repetition of the refrain "Train, train, train" further emphasizes the singer's attachment to trains.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that people consider trains too slow for traveling, but he knows that he will miss them when they are gone. He imagines a future conversation with his son, where he will describe to him the experience of traveling by train, which he considers a good way to travel when things did not move as fast as they do today. The third verse urges people to go on a train ride if they are weary of the city life, buildings and stress, as it offers a unique opportunity to look out the window and appreciate the surroundings. The final lines express the singer's pride in trains and their historical significance.
Overall, the song presents a nostalgic reflection on the changing times and the importance of preserving the past. It represents the singer's passion for trains and his admiration for their role in shaping the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I get a sad kind of feeling
Whenever I see a passenger train, I feel a kind of sadness.
When I see a passenger train
I feel sad whenever I catch a glimpse of a passenger train.
In this fast movin' world we live in
In this world of fast-paced living that we are currently a part of,
Nobody rides them much these days
Very few people use trains for transportation in modern times.
Oh, maybe I'm just sentimental
Perhaps what I feel is just nostalgia.
'Cause I know that things have to change
I am aware that change is constant and thus, things eventually have to change.
But I still like to go for a train ride
However, I still enjoy a ride on a train.
'Cause I've got a thing about trains
This is because of my affection for trains.
Train, train, train, you're out of place these days
Trains are seemingly out of place in modern times.
But you've had your days of glory, train, train, train
Trains have had their moments in the past.
Train, they say you're too slow for travelin'
Trains have been criticized for being too slow for modern travel.
But I'm gonna miss you some day
One day, I am going to miss trains.
When my little boy says
If my son should ever ask me
"Daddy, what was it like to ride a train?"
"Father, what was it like to travel on a train?"
I'll say it was a good way to travel
I will say that it was an excellent way to travel.
When things didn't move quite so fast
During a time when everything moved at a slower pace.
And I'm sorry that you can't ride one
I regret the fact that you can't experience it.
But trains are the thing of the past
However, trains are now relics of the past.
Train, train, train, you're fading from the scene
Trains are slowly losing their relevance.
But I'm gonna mourn your passing, train, train, train
However, I will still grieve the day when trains are completely gone.
So if you're tired of people and buildings
If you are fed up with society and its structures
Weary of worry and strain
If you are exhausted from worrying and being under pressure
Then you ought to go on a train ride
Then you should take a journey on a train.
And look out the window at things
Take the time to observe things outside the window.
Go for a ride down to Memphis
Take a trip to Memphis.
The night train is still right on time
The night train departs as scheduled.
But I read in the papers this mornin'
But I came across a newspaper article this morning
Next week they're gonna take it off the line
The following week, the train is expected to stop operating on this route.
Train, train, train, blow your whistle proudly and loud
Trains, sound your horn loudly and proudly
As you roll to your place in history, train, train, train
As trains gradually become part of history.
I've got a thing about trains
I love trains.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JACK CLEMENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Gavin
He sings about that beautiful restlessness that characterizes America
Daniel Newport
Grew up besides the railroad tracks, that was over 50 years ago, but I still miss the sound of the train at night
DustyRusty81
yes I do! got a thing about Trains too, thanks for Posting this BeMisty
BeMisty
You're welcome! =) Glad you liked it!
Alruneroden Larsen-Rothmeier
DustyRusty81 ; Here is "Little red riding hood.. It's called "Ulven Peter "Peter the wolf"
nitropost
Love Bobby still glad that over time he was wrong, nah they wont be steamers of course but economicaly they survive more and more and people if you can afford it hitch a ride on the Rocky Montaineer in Alberta and BC, yep the rides are now different but dam it you still get the feeling.
olddjmusic1
just passing by stopped in for a country fix big ups from a/- KIWI =FRED
BeMisty
Thanks for stopping by, Fred! =)