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.
Long Black Limousine
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Their fancy cars are such a sight to see, oh, yeah
They're all of your rich friends who knew you in the city
And now they've finally brought, brought you home to me
When you left you know you told me that some day you'd be returnin'
In a fancy car all the town to see, oh, yeah
Well, now everyone is watching you, you finally had your dream
You know the papers told of how you lost your life, oh, yeah
The party, the party and the fatal crash that night
Well, the race upon the highway, oh, the curve you didn't see
When you're riding in that long black limousine
You're riding in that long black limousine
Through tear filled eyes I watch as you ride by, oh, yeah
A chauffeur, a chauffeur at the wheel dressed up so fine
Well, I never, I never, never, never, oh, my heart, all my dreams
Yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
The lyrics to Bobby Bare's song Long Black Limousine paint a picture of a funeral procession in a small town, with a long line of mourners driving down the road in their fancy cars. The mourners are all rich city friends of the deceased person who had finally brought them back home to be buried. The song implies that the deceased had left the town with a promise to return one day in a fancy car, and now they have finally fulfilled that dream, albeit in death.
The song goes on to suggest that the reason for the funeral procession was a fatal crash that happened after a party, presumably involving the deceased. The lyrics describe a race on the highway, and the curve that the deceased didn't see, which left them riding in a long black limousine to their final resting place. The song also touches on the grief of the singer, as they watch their loved one pass by in the limousine, knowing that their heart and dreams are with them.
Overall, the lyrics to Long Black Limousine paint a vivid and emotional picture of a small town funeral, highlighting the wealth and status of the mourners and the tragic circumstances of the deceased's death.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a long line of mourners driving down our little street
There are many mourners driving down our small street in a procession.
Their fancy cars are such a sight to see, oh, yeah
Their luxurious cars are quite impressive to witness.
They're all of your rich friends who knew you in the city
These are wealthy acquaintances of yours from the urban area.
And now they've finally brought, brought you home to me
They have returned you to me after a long time.
When you left you know you told me that some day you'd be returnin'
You indicated that you would return someday when you left.
In a fancy car all the town to see, oh, yeah
You mentioned that you would return in a car that would attract attention.
Well, now everyone is watching you, you finally had your dream
People are now observing you as you have achieved your wish.
Yeah, and you're ridin' in a long black limousine
You are traveling in a lengthy, dark limousine.
You know the papers told of how you lost your life, oh, yeah
The newspapers reported on the circumstances surrounding your death.
The party, the party and the fatal crash that night
It was caused by the accident at the party that evening.
Well, the race upon the highway, oh, the curve you didn't see
The incident on the road involved speed and a missed turn.
When you're riding in that long black limousine
The accident occurred while you were traveling in the dark limousine.
Through tear filled eyes I watch as you ride by, oh, yeah
I am watching you drive by with tears in my eyes.
A chauffeur, a chauffeur at the wheel dressed up so fine
The driver at the wheel is dressed quite elegantly.
Well, I never, I never, never, never, oh, my heart, all my dreams
I am struck by disbelief and sadness, all my hopes have vanished.
Yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
All my wishes and aspirations are accompanying you in the lengthy, dark limousine.
Yeah, yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
My unfulfilled desires are traveling with you in the dark limousine.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're with you in that long black limousine
My unattained goals are journeying with you in the lengthy, dark limousine.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY GEORGE, VERN STOVALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill Busse
I was in radio 60s-70s and this is the version I best remember. Bobby Bare did a great job on everything he tackled.
Perry
the last bobby bear Long Black Limousine when I was 22 years old my girlfriend was in a car crash like that and they did bring her back through town in a big black limousine and it always reminded me of that and I hope Lori rest in peace I love her and I always will and the thing that was really not good about it is really that fighting we're in a fight when she got in that car I'll regret it for the rest of my life
Betty McGinnis
Love this version! Love Glen Campbell singing it too!
Shannon Burns
The great songwriter Vern Stovall wrote this heartbreak classic. Been listening seems like forever since my high school days to this song and Bare. Took my Shannon to Bobby Bare’s Bear trap in Nashville. He had a big bear sitting in the doorway. He told her she could have it if she could move it out of there. The shop was moving, and of course we declined. Foreign car I think we had back then. I miss My Shannon. Gone 14 months now, and it hurts like it was 14 minutes ago. Love you My Bear! Your Denny.
none
Sorry for your loss! That's a good story about Bobby bare, thanks for sharing it.
Andrew Fenech
Nothin compares to bobby re this song....u strike a real deep cord....thanks a million
foxholemusic76
+Andrew Fenech have you heard Elvis` Version?
Jon West
Best rendition to date. What album is this on?
C Dollars
best version of this song. you weapon bobby bare!
Ray Green
Good but Merle Haggard's live version on Austin City Limits 1978 is beyond compare.