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.
Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The onions are frying the neon is bright and the jukebox is startin' to play
And the sign on the wall says In God We Trust all others have to pay
And it's two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The short order cook with the momma tattoo he's a turnin' them hamburgers slow
Eggs over easy whole wheat down, y'all want that coffee to go
He never once dreamed as a rodeo star that he'd wind up here today
At two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
She's been to the doctor then called up a man
And now wonders just which way could turn
She stares at her coffee then looks toward the ceiling
But Lord it's a strange place to pray
At two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
There's a guy in a tux and he stands in the corner feedin' the jukebox his dimes
He just had a woman and thought that he'd bought
But found he'd just rented some time
And he couldn't sleep so he came back to see if anyone else wants to play
At two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
Now there's an old dollar bill in the frame on the wall
The first one that Rose ever made
It was once worth a dollar a long time ago but like Rose it's beginnin' to fade
She's back of the register dreamin' of someone and how things would be if he'd stay
But it's two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The stoop shouldered man and his frizzy haired woman
It's strange how their eyes never meet
He's playin' the pinball she's fixin' the blanket of the baby asleep on the seat
He's out of work she's puttin' on weight and they never did have too much to say
It's two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The waitress Darlene she sits at the counter paintin' her fingernails blue
And the short order cook he yells move it or lose it and pick up an order of stew
But someday a rich handsome man'll walk in and carry her far far away
From two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The shaggy haired hippie he's finished his meal
And he's countin' the change in his jeans
Burger and coffee are 85 cents and he's only got 23
He smiles at Rose and she winks back at him but Lord that's a high price to pay
At two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The baby faced sailor he leans on the phone and dials the number again
While the guy in the tux tells the girl in the jeans bout wonderful places he's been
And a wino comes in off the street and starts shoutin'
Bout fortunes that he threw away
And Rosalie's asking the shaggy haired hippie if he's got a warm place to stay
And the short order cook takes a five from the till while Rosie's looking away
And the onions keep frying the neon is bright and the jukebox continues to play
And it's two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
Bobby Bare's song "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe" depicts the lives of different people who find themselves under the same roof at two in the morning on a Saturday night. The lyrics portray a snapshot of what happens in a regular small-town diner that provides 24/7 service. It describes a scene where people from varying walks of life try to find refuge or take a break from their current situation.
The song starts by saying that onions are frying, neon lights are illuminating the inside of the cafe, and the jukebox is playing. The singer introduces us to the different people in the diner, including the short order cook, the tall skinny girl in the booth, a guy in a tux, an old dollar bill in a frame, a stoop-shouldered man with his frizzy-haired partner and baby, a waitress painting her fingernails, a shaggy-haired hippie, a baby-faced sailor, and Rosalie, the cafe owner.
Each character has a story to tell, and the lyrics suggest that even in the same place, everyone has different experiences and motivations. The diner serves as a microcosm of life, with each person having their own struggles, successes, or desires. The song's overall mood is melancholic and reminiscent, as if the singer is looking back and reflecting on the fleeting moments in life.
Overall, Bobby Bare's "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe" is a poetic and insightful portrayal of human nature and the small things in life that can sometimes hold great meaning. The song reminds us that we are all just passing through, trying to find our place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's two in the morning on Saturday night at Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe
The scene is set at a diner in the early hours of a weekend night.
The onions are frying the neon is bright and the jukebox is startin' to play
The diner is lively, with the kitchen making food, lights shining, and music playing.
And the sign on the wall says In God We Trust all others have to pay
A sign on the wall reminds customers that they will have to pay for their food.
The short order cook with the momma tattoo he's a turnin' them hamburgers slow
A tattooed cook is carefully cooking hamburgers for customers.
Eggs over easy whole wheat down, y'all want that coffee to go
Customers are ordering breakfast dishes with coffee to go.
He never once dreamed as a rodeo star that he'd wind up here today
The cook likely did not expect to be cooking in a diner, given his past as a rodeo star.
There's a tall skinny girl in the booth in the back wearin' jeans and a second hand fur
A thin girl is sitting in the back wearing jeans and a secondhand fur coat.
She's been to the doctor then called up a man
And now wonders just which way could turn
The girl has just left a doctor's appointment and is contemplating her next move with a man she called.
She stares at her coffee then looks toward the ceiling
But Lord it's a strange place to pray
The girl is holding her coffee and gazing at the ceiling, but it's an unusual place for her to be praying.
There's a guy in a tux and he stands in the corner feedin' the jukebox his dimes
A man in a tuxedo is putting money into the jukebox in the corner.
He just had a woman and thought that he'd bought
But found he'd just rented some time
The man in the tuxedo recently had a romantic encounter but realizes that he only rented her time, not purchased anything.
Now there's an old dollar bill in the frame on the wall
The first one that Rose ever made
An old dollar bill is framed on the wall, which is the first one that Rose ever earned.
It was once worth a dollar a long time ago but like Rose it's beginnin' to fade
The dollar was once valuable, but like Rose's diner, it has lost some of its value with time.
The stoop shouldered man and his frizzy haired woman
It's strange how their eyes never meet
A man with slumped shoulders and his curly-haired partner are both at the diner, but they never make eye contact.
He's playin' the pinball she's fixin' the blanket of the baby asleep on the seat
The man is playing pinball, while the woman fixes the blanket of the sleeping baby sitting next to them.
He's out of work she's puttin' on weight and they never did have too much to say
The man is currently unemployed, and the woman is gaining weight. They don't have much to talk about.
The waitress Darlene she sits at the counter paintin' her fingernails blue
A waitress named Darlene is sitting at the counter painting her nails blue.
And the short order cook he yells move it or lose it and pick up an order of stew
The cook is shouting out orders to the waitress to pick up stew dishes.
But someday a rich handsome man'll walk in and carry her far far away
Darlene hopes that someday a wealthy man will come into the cafe and take her away.
The shaggy haired hippie he's finished his meal
And he's countin' the change in his jeans
A hippie with shaggy hair is done eating and counting his remaining change.
Burger and coffee are 85 cents and he's only got 23
The burger and coffee that he ordered cost 85 cents, but he only has 23 cents left.
He smiles at Rose and she winks back at him but Lord that's a high price to pay
The hippie exchanges a smile and a wink with Rose, the woman running the diner, but he knows that the price is high.
The baby faced sailor he leans on the phone and dials the number again
A young sailor is leaning on the phone, trying to reach someone.
While the guy in the tux tells the girl in the jeans bout wonderful places he's been
The man in the tux is telling the girl in jeans about the amazing places he's visited.
And a wino comes in off the street and starts shoutin'
Bout fortunes that he threw away
A drunkard has entered the diner and starts loudly talking about the fortunes he's wasted.
And Rosalie's asking the shaggy haired hippie if he's got a warm place to stay
Rose is inquiring whether the hippie has a comfortable place to stay since he doesn't have enough money.
And the short order cook takes a five from the till while Rosie's looking away
The cook secretly steals a five-dollar bill from the cash register while Rose isn't looking.
And the onions keep frying the neon is bright and the jukebox continues to play
Despite all of the activity and happenings at the diner, life goes on, and the scene keeps moving.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind