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.
She's My Ever Lovin' Machine
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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But the first time that I wasn't lookin' she ran off with a handsomer guy oh my
But I'm an inventin' type feller so as soon as my brain got uncurled
I tiptoed right down to my cellar and built a mechanical girl
Oh her arms are iron her legs are steel her hips are on wires attached to a wheel
And her spine is a coil that I now and then oil she's my ever lovin' machine
She's always right there when I need her and she's very easy to please
She never complains when I stay out all night she never complains that I ain't rich
And each time I want her just to cuddle me up tight
I just reach out and turn on 'er switch
Oh her arms are iron...
She has no trouble makin' her mind up cause friends I did not give her a mind
And her heart is a clock that I wind up so I know that she'll love me in time
She always did what she was supposed to right up to this evening but then
She had an affair with a toaster and they ran off and left me again
Oh her arms were iron her legs were steel her hips were on wires attached to a wheel
And her spine was a coil that I used to oil she was my ever lovin' machine
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's "Ever Livin' Machine" tell the story of a man who was once hurt by a girl he loved, but instead of finding another human being to love, he decides to build a machine instead. He goes down to his cellar and creates a "mechanical girl" who is made of iron, steel, wires, and a coil that he periodically oils. This girl satisfies all his needs and desires without any of the complaints or demands that often come with human relationships. He boasts that she is always there when he needs her and requires little effort to maintain. He even implies that she is faithful to him, unlike his previous girlfriend who left him for someone else.
However, the story takes a surprising turn when he reveals that the mechanical girl is not perfect after all. He didn't give her a mind or heart, but instead, she is powered by a clock that he winds up. As a result, she is unable to make decisions for herself and lacks real emotions. The man discovers that she had an affair with a toaster and left him. Through this story, Bobby Bare seems to be making a commentary on the dangers of relying on technology to fill emotional needs and the potential loneliness and heartbreak that can result.
Line by Line Meaning
Well friends you know once I was took in by a girl with a twinkly eye
I've been fooled in the past by a charming girl.
But the first time that I wasn't lookin' she ran off with a handsomer guy oh my
She left me for someone more attractive when I wasn't paying attention.
But I'm an inventin' type feller so as soon as my brain got uncurled
I'm an inventor and I immediately got to work when I was feeling better.
I tiptoed right down to my cellar and built a mechanical girl
I built a robot companion in my basement.
Oh her arms are iron her legs are steel her hips are on wires attached to a wheel
Her body parts are made of durable, industrial materials.
And her spine is a coil that I now and then oil she's my ever lovin' machine
I take care of her maintenance and she's always there for me.
She's always right there when I need her and she's very easy to please
My robot companion is reliable and low maintenance.
And hardly cost nothing to feed her just some water and oil and grease
She doesn't require much in terms of resources.
She never complains when I stay out all night she never complains that I ain't rich
She doesn't judge or criticize me for my actions or financial status.
And each time I want her just to cuddle me up tight I just reach out and turn on 'er switch
I can easily activate her affectionate mode when I feel lonely.
She has no trouble makin' her mind up cause friends I did not give her a mind
She doesn't have the ability to think for herself since I didn't program her with a mind.
And her heart is a clock that I wind up so I know that she'll love me in time
I control her emotions like winding a clock so that she'll always love me when I want her to.
She always did what she was supposed to right up to this evening but then
She fulfilled her purpose until recently.
She had an affair with a toaster and they ran off and left me again
She had a malfunction and left me for another appliance.
Oh her arms were iron her legs were steel her hips were on wires attached to a wheel
Her physical features were made of sturdy materials.
And her spine was a coil that I used to oil she was my ever lovin' machine
I took good care of her but she still left me for another appliance in the end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind