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.
LEAVING ON A JETPLANE
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome, I could die
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
There are so many times, I've let you down
So many times, I've played around
I tell you now that they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your weddin' ring
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
The time has come to leave you alone
Let me kiss you so close your eyes
And honey, I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Leaving on a jet plane
The song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Bobby Bare tells the story of a man who is leaving someone he loves behind to go on a journey. The lyrics convey a sense of sadness and regret as the man expresses his feelings of leaving and missing his loved one. He's apologizing for all the times he has let her down and promises to come back with her wedding ring. The chorus of the song is the most famous part and represents the moment when the man must leave: "I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Oh babe, I hate to go."
The song's lyrics are quite melancholic, and they capture the sense of longing, sadness and uncertainty that goes with long-distance travel. The man is going on an adventure, but he also knows that without the person he loves, the journey will be meaningless. The song has a unique emotional impact that comes from its heartfelt lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I have prepared myself to leave and all my belongings are packed
I'm standin' here outside your door
I am outside your door, about to leave
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I don't want to disturb your sleep, but I have to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
It is early in the morning and the sun is starting to rise
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
The taxi is waiting for me and the driver is honking his horn to hurry me up
Already I'm so lonesome, I could die
I am already feeling very lonely and sad
So kiss me and smile for me
Please kiss me and smile at me as a way of saying goodbye
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Promise me that you will wait for me to come back
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Embrace me tightly as if you never want to let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I am leaving on an airplane
Don't know when I'll be back again
I don't know when I'll return
Oh babe, I hate to go
I am sad to leave
There are so many times, I've let you down
I have disappointed you so many times in the past
So many times, I've played around
I have been unfaithful to you multiple times
I tell you now that they don't mean a thing
I want you to know that those actions were meaningless and I truly care about you
Every place I go, I'll think of you
No matter where I am, you will always be on my mind
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
Every song I sing, I will dedicate to you
When I come back, I'll bring your weddin' ring
When I return, I will bring your wedding ring as a symbol of my commitment to you
The time has come to leave you alone
It is time for me to leave you and be on my own
Let me kiss you so close your eyes
Allow me to kiss you so passionately that you close your eyes
And honey, I'll be on my way
And then, my love, I will be on my way
Dream about the days to come
Think about the future and the good times we will have together
When I won't have to leave alone
When I won't have to leave by myself anymore
About the times, I won't have to say
Think about a time when I won't have to say goodbye to you
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN DENVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind