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.
Me and Bobby Mcgee
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waitin' for the train
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Just before it rained
Rode us all the way to New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
And was playing soft
With them windshield wipers slappin' time
I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
We sang every song that driver knew
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free
Feelin' good was easy, Lord,
When he sang the blues
And feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
From Kentucky coal mines
To the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Through all kinds of weather, Lord
Through everything I done
Bobby baby kept me from the cold
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord
I let him slip away
Lookin' for the home I hope he'll find it
And I'd trade all of my tomorrows
For one single yesterday
Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin' left is all that Bobby left me
Feelin good was easy, Lord
When he sang the blues
And buddy, that was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song "Me and Bobby McGee" tell the story of two lovers, who hit the road and travel through different states of the USA. The first verse sets the scene in Louisiana, where the singer is "Busted flat in Baton Rouge," broke and feeling worn out. He is waiting for a train, and his companion, Bobby, hitches a ride on a diesel train. They ride all the way to New Orleans, singing every song that the driver knows, while the windshield wipers set the rhythm. The chorus then kicks in, expressing the idea that freedom means having nothing to lose.
The second verse alludes to their journey from the Kentucky coal mines to California. During their travels, Bobby was the one person who knew the singer's secrets and had the power to heal his soul. The singer credits Bobby for being the person who kept him from the cold, both literally and figuratively. However, somewhere along the journey, the singer lost Bobby somewhere near Salinas. He continues on the journey alone, hoping that Bobby finds his way home. The lines, "And I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday, holding Bobby's body next to mine," suggest the deep grief the singer feels and how he would do anything to get Bobby back.
The entire song emphasizes the idea of freedom, with the singer expressing that "feeling good was easy when he sang the blues." The song emphasizes that having nothing left to lose was freeing, even though it cost the singer his love for Bobby, leaving him alone and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Busted flat in Baton Rouge
I am stranded in Baton Rouge with no money or resources.
Waitin' for the train
I am waiting for transportation to take me out of Baton Rouge
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
I am very tired and worn out.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Bobby hitchhiked a ride on a truck.
Just before it rained
The weather got worse right after we started the journey.
Rode us all the way to New Orleans
The truck driver took us to New Orleans.
I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna
I took out my harmonica from my red bandanna, which was very dirty.
And was playing soft
I played the harmonica quietly.
While Bobby sang the blues
Bobby sang some sad songs.
With them windshield wipers slappin' time
The sound of the windshield wipers matched the rhythm of our music.
I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine
I was holding hands with Bobby.
We sang every song that driver knew
We sang all the songs that the truck driver knew.
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Freedom means having no obligations or possessions, but also means having no security.
Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free
Things that have no value are free.
Feelin' good was easy, Lord,
It was easy for me to feel good.
When he sang the blues
I felt good when Bobby sang sad songs.
And feelin' good was good enough for me
Feeling good was satisfactory for me.
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
Bobby and I were content with that level of happiness.
From Kentucky coal mines
I am from the coal mines of Kentucky.
To the California sun
I came to California, where it is sunny and warm.
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul
Bobby knew my deepest thoughts and feelings.
Through all kinds of weather, Lord
Bobby was with me through good times and bad times.
Through everything I done
Bobby was with me through everything I did.
Bobby baby kept me from the cold
Bobby kept me warm and protected me.
Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord
Somewhere close to Salinas, a town in California.
I let him slip away
I lost Bobby.
Lookin' for the home I hope he'll find it
I hope that Bobby finds his own home.
And I'd trade all of my tomorrows
I would exchange all of my future days.
For one single yesterday
To have one day in the past with Bobby.
Holdin' Bobby's body next to mine
I wish to hold Bobby once again.
Feelin good was easy, Lord
It was simple for me to feel good in Bobby's company.
When he sang the blues
I felt good when Bobby sang sad songs.
And buddy, that was good enough for me
I was content with that level of happiness in Bobby's company.
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee
Bobby and I were content with that level of happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred L. Foster, Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind