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.
Miller's Cave
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Amongst the swamps and everglades
There's a hole in Tiger Mountain
God help the man who gets lost in Miller's Cave
I had me a girl in Waycross, Georgia
But she had unfaithful ways
She made me feel I was unwanted
Like the bats and the bears in Miller's Cave
I caught her out one Sunday mornin'
With some guy they called Big Dave
Meanest man in Waycross, Georgia
I'd rather fight a mountain lion in Miller's Cave
So I said "You're gonna pay, both you and David, cause I'm gonna see you in
your grave." And they laughed at me... and then I shot 'em. And then I dragged their
cheatin', schemin' bones to Miller's Cave
I couldn't stand the way she did me
Well I guess I showed her I was brave
Most wanted man in the state of Georgia
They're never gonna fine me cause I'm lost...
In Miller's Cave
The song "Miller's Cave" by Bobby Bare tells the story of a man who used to have a girlfriend from Waycross, Georgia, but their relationship ended because of her unfaithfulness. One Sunday morning, the man caught her with a guy named Big Dave, whom he described as the meanest man in Waycross. Enraged by his girlfriend's betrayal, the man vowed to make them pay and shot them. He then disposed their bodies in Miller's Cave from where he never returned. The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of infidelity and the severe consequences that may come with betrayal.
The singer employs vivid language to paint an eerie picture of Miller's Cave's mystique, portraying it as a fearsome and dangerous place. The swamps and everglade's reference add an extra layer of danger, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and foreboding. The undeniable sense of danger is emphasized by the singer's words when disapproving his girlfriend's infidelities and driving her to her death. The song builds a sense of tension and reinforces the idea that every action has a reaction, and we must be careful about the choices we make.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down in the State of Georgia
In the southern state of Georgia, where the terrain is characterized by swamps and everglades.
Amongst the swamps and everglades
Surrounded by the swampy and wet areas that are common in this part of Georgia.
There's a hole in Tiger Mountain
There is a large pit or cave in a mountain called Tiger Mountain.
God help the man who gets lost in Miller's Cave
The cave is dangerous and difficult to navigate, and anyone who becomes lost in it is sure to have a very difficult time.
I had me a girl in Waycross, Georgia
There was a woman who was romantically involved with me when I lived in Waycross, Georgia.
But she had unfaithful ways
However, this woman was not loyal or faithful to me.
She made me feel I was unwanted
Her behavior made me feel as if I was not appreciated or desired.
Like the bats and the bears in Miller's Cave
In the same way that bats and bears are unwelcome in Miller's Cave, I felt that I was unwanted with this woman.
I caught her out one Sunday mornin'
One Sunday morning, I discovered that the woman was being unfaithful to me.
With some guy they called Big Dave
She was with a man named Big Dave.
Meanest man in Waycross, Georgia
Big Dave was considered the most unpleasant and difficult person in Waycross, Georgia.
I'd rather fight a mountain lion in Miller's Cave
I would prefer to take on a mountain lion in the dangerous Miller's Cave than confront Big Dave.
So I said "You're gonna pay, both you and David, cause I'm gonna see you in your grave."
I threatened both the woman and Big Dave, saying that I would make sure they paid for their infidelity with their lives.
And they laughed at me... and then I shot 'em.
They both laughed at my threat, and I responded by pulling out a gun and shooting them.
And then I dragged their cheatin', schemin' bones to Miller's Cave
After I killed them, I disposed of their bodies by dragging them to Miller's Cave.
I couldn't stand the way she did me
The woman's betrayals were too much for me to bear.
Well I guess I showed her I was brave
By killing her and her lover, I proved that I was not afraid to stand up for myself.
Most wanted man in the state of Georgia
As a result of my violent actions, I am now one of the most sought-after criminals in the state of Georgia.
They're never gonna fine me cause I'm lost...
However, I believe that the authorities will never catch me because I am hiding away in Miller's Cave.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack H. Clement
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind