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 Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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To dream about you though you left me I wonder where you are tonight
That old rain is cold and slowly falling upon my window pane tonight
And though your heart was even colder I wonder where you are tonight
Then came the dawn the day you left me I tried to smile with all my might
But you could see the pain within me that lingers in my heart tonight
That old rain is cold and slowly falling
These lyrics from Bobby Bare's "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" depict the emotions of someone who's been left behind by someone they loved. The singer seems to be in a state of melancholy, where their heart is weary, and they are not sure whether they are right or wrong to dream about their loved one who left them. The singer misses the person they love and can't help but wonder where they are tonight.
The lyrics also speak of rain and how it falls slowly on the singer's window. The rain provides a contrast to the singer's feelings where rain signifies sadness and loneliness. Even though the loved one's heart was colder, the singer still pines for them and wonders where they are tonight.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the day their loved one left them. They tried hard to put on a brave face and smile even though they knew they were hurting deeply inside. The pain still lingers in the singer's heart, and they feel it tonight as they listen to the sound of the falling rain.
Overall, the lyrics represent the emotions of someone who's heartbroken and longing for someone who left them. The imagery of the rain falling outside represents their sadness and loneliness, while their thoughts continue to revolve around their loved one, wondering where they are and what they are doing.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight I'm sad my heart is weary I'm wondering if I'm wrong or right
I am feeling sad and tired tonight and questioning whether it was right to still have feelings for you after you left me
To dream about you though you left me I wonder where you are tonight
Even though you broke my heart, I still think about you and wonder where you are now
That old rain is cold and slowly falling upon my window pane tonight
I am watching the rain fall outside my window, feeling the same sadness and loneliness as the rain
And though your heart was even colder I wonder where you are tonight
Even though you were not kind to me, I still have unanswered questions and curiosity about your current whereabouts
Then came the dawn the day you left me I tried to smile with all my might
When you left me, I forced myself to be strong and put on a brave face in the morning
But you could see the pain within me that lingers in my heart tonight
Despite my attempts to hide my heartache, you could still see the hurt that I carry with me tonight
That old rain is cold and slowly falling
The rain remains a symbol of my sadness and heartache, falling slowly and continuously
Lyrics © JOHNNY BOND PUBLICATIONS
Written by: JOHNNY BOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind