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.
No Memories Hangin' 'round
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't want no teardrops
What else is love to talk about
Cause I ain't yours you ain't mine
The song don't fit and the words don't rhyme
Old memories keep standing in the way
You lost her I lost him
We don't need no memories hanging round
Since she's gone it don't seem right
Better off left alone at night
I ain't faking feelings far away
The days just come and disappear
You can't talk when I don't hear
It don't make no difference anyway
I lost her you lost him
Two old hearts just won't love again
I don't need no memories hanging round
I want her you need him
Two old fire won't burn again
We don't need no memories hanging round
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's "No Memories Hangin' Round" are a poignant reflection on the end of a relationship. Both parties involved have experienced heartbreak in the past and are hesitant to open themselves up to the vulnerability of love again. The opening lines set the tone that the relationship has already come to an end, and neither of them wants any more heartache or tears. The chorus highlights the fact that their memories of past loves are getting in the way of their ability to trust and love again. The singer is keen to move on from the past, but cannot do so until they are free of the memories that plague them both.
The second verse talks of the singer's struggle to remain emotionally honest. They do not want to pretend to feel something that they do not, and find it difficult to connect with the other person. The line "You can't talk when I don't hear" suggests that the singer has shut down emotionally and is unable to communicate with their partner. The singer is resigned to the fact that their relationship will not work because they are both carrying too many memories from past loves.
Overall, "No Memories Hangin' Round" is a beautifully written song that speaks to the universal human experience of heartbreak and the struggle to move on. Bobby Bare's lyrics are simple yet powerful, and his emotive delivery conveys the pain and longing expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't want no more heartaches
You don't want to suffer from heartbreaks anymore
And I don't want no teardrops
I don't want to cry anymore
What else is love to talk about
We don't have anything else to talk about besides love
Cause I ain't yours you ain't mine
Because we're not in a committed relationship
The song don't fit and the words don't rhyme
Our love story is not a good match and doesn't make sense
Old memories keep standing in the way
Our past memories are still affecting us and preventing us from moving on
You lost her I lost him
You lost your love and I lost mine
Two old hearts just won't love again
Our hearts have been broken before and won't love again
We don't need no memories hanging round
We don't need our past memories to be a constant reminder of our pain and heartbreak
Since she's gone it don't seem right
Since your love is gone, everything seems wrong
Better off left alone at night
It's better to be alone at night rather than feeling the pain of lost love
I ain't faking feelings far away
I'm not pretending that my feelings for you are distant
The days just come and disappear
The days pass by quickly without you noticing
You can't talk when I don't hear
We can't communicate if we're not listening to each other
It don't make no difference anyway
It doesn't matter either way
I lost her you lost him
You lost your love and I lost mine
Two old hearts just won't love again
Our hearts have been broken before and won't love again
I don't need no memories hanging round
I don't need our past memories to be a constant reminder of our pain and heartbreak
I want her you need him
You want your love and I need mine
Two old fire won't burn again
Our passion has died out and won't reignite
We don't need no memories hanging round
We don't need our past memories to be a constant reminder of our pain and heartbreak
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODNEY J. CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CountryKen
After I first heard this on the radio, I went out and bought Roseanne's first album! This is what's good about country music!
@waltnygard9269
Great song and pretty cool hearing Bobby Bare with this great lady . . .
@user-jd9jb2gf9v
Love Rosanne since many years ago and sing along on the radio..never get tired of her sound..still new in my heart..now and always!!โคโค
@keketsomolaoa8287
Thanx God I stumbled into this song. I last heard it in the 90s
@thomasclark8242
Beautiful. 2 of the greats. Regards from England. ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
@MrDanBlather
Roseanne has one of the cleanest voices in music.
@saabman93aero
Great duet and helped Rosanne get known by the country fans. Beautiful.
@larryhiebert7791
The best of the best
@colerainfan1143
This is an under appreciated gem. Both the song, and the performances.
@julioleura2159
Roseanne beautiful voice and abeautiful lady.