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.
SleepTight Good Night Man
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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The situation calls for more than sand
You been cryin' all night long
Tossin' and turnin' and it's almost dawn
Count on me instead of countin' sheep
Close your eyes and leave the rest of me.
You'll have sweet dreams that'll last all night
And easy feeling in the morning light
Drift away with the touch of the hand
From the sleep tight goodnight man.
Soft and soothing as a lullaby
I'll kiss the tears from those weary eyes
And in the morning you will understand
You've been touched by the goodnight man
I'll rock you gently like a rolling wave
Hold you in my arms till you drift away
Just lay back and leave the rest to me.
You'll have sweet dreams that'll last all night
And easy feeling in the morning light
Drift away with the touch of the hand
From the sleep tight goodnight man.
You'll have sweet dreams that'll last all night
And easy feeling in the morning light
Drift away with the touch of the hand
From the sleep tight goodnight man.
You'll have sweet dreams that'll last all night
And easy feeling in the morning light
Drift away with the touch of the hand
From the sleep tight goodnight man...
Bobby Bare's song "Sleep Tight Goodnight Man" is a soothing lullaby that speaks of a friend who comes to offer comfort to someone who has been crying all night long only to find that counting sheep isn't working. The singer in this song is "the Sleep Tight Goodnight Man," who takes on the role of a guardian angel, coming to the rescue of the person in distress. The first verse opens with the realization that counting sand won't help, implying that the troubled person needs a more profound level of comfort. The second verse says that the singer will take care of them and hold them until they drift off to sleep. The chorus reassures them that they will dream sweet dreams that will last all night, and in the morning, they will wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
The Sleep Tight Goodnight Man is caring, compassionate, and loving, and provides comfort to the person in distress, possibly a child or a lover, who is having trouble sleeping due to emotions like anxiety or sadness. Bobby Bare's song speaks in a peaceful and reassuring tone, and the Sleep Tight Goodnight Man embodies the archetype of the guardian angel, who takes care of those in need. The song's message is about finding comfort in the safety of someone's comforting arms and allowing oneself to be vulnerable and receptive to their loving embrace.
Line by Line Meaning
The sandman told me he's done all he can
The traditional method of trying to help you sleep isn't working.
You been cryin' all night long
You haven't been able to sleep and have been upset all night.
Tossin' and turnin' and it's almost dawn
You've been restless and unable to sleep all night and it's almost morning.
I am here I'm gonna help you sleep
I'm here to help you finally get to sleep.
Count on me instead of countin' sheep
You can rely on me to help you fall asleep, rather than trying to do it yourself.
Close your eyes and leave the rest of me.
Just relax and let me help you sleep.
You'll have sweet dreams that'll last all night
You'll have peaceful and pleasant dreams that will last throughout the night.
And easy feeling in the morning light
You'll wake up feeling rested and at ease in the morning.
Drift away with the touch of the hand
You'll slowly and calmly fall asleep with my gentle touch.
From the sleep tight goodnight man.
I'm the 'Sleep Tight Goodnight Man' who will help you sleep soundly and have sweet dreams.
Soft and soothing as a lullaby
My approach is gentle and calming, like a sweet lullaby.
I'll kiss the tears from those weary eyes
I'll comfort you and wipe away any tears you may have shed from being unable to sleep.
And in the morning you will understand
When you wake up, you'll realize how much better you feel after a good night's sleep.
You've been touched by the goodnight man
You've been helped to fall asleep and have peaceful dreams by the 'Sleep Tight Goodnight Man.'
I'll rock you gently like a rolling wave
I'll sway and comfort you with a soothing motion, like a gentle rolling wave.
Hold you in my arms till you drift away
I'll hold you close and comfort you until you gently drift off to sleep.
Just lay back and leave the rest to me.
You can relax and let me take care of helping you fall asleep.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFF SILBAR, SAM LORBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind