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.
Snake Farm
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She kinda looks like Tempest Storm
She can dance like little Egypt
She works down at the snake farm
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, well, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it′s a reptile house
Now Ramona's got a keen sense of humor
She′s got a tattoo down her arm
All over a python eating a little mouse
Wearing a sailor hat that says "Snake farm"
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, well, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, oh oh
Well, I asked Ramona how come she works there
She says, "Well, it's got it′s charms
Nothing to do here in the winter
Now and then some kid gets bit at the snake farm"
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
Snake farm, well, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it′s a reptile house
Snake farm, oh oh
Well, Ramona likes her malt liquor
And a band from Wales called The Alarm
She said she cried when they broke up
She still plays their records at the snake farm
Snake farm, it sure sounds nasty
Snake farm, well, it pretty much is
Snake farm, it's a reptile house
Snake farm, oh oh
Sometimes, Ramona calls up
Says, "Come on down here, it′s getting warm"
She runs everyone off
And we, you know, we, oh... it's a snake farm
Snake farm, just sounds nasty
Snake farm, pretty much is
Snake farm, it′s a reptile house
Snake farm, oh oh
The song "Snake Farm" by Bobby Bare tells the story of the singer's love interest named Ramona. Ramona works at a snake farm, which the singer describes as a nasty reptile house. Despite the unappealing job, Ramona seems to enjoy her work, which she claims has its charms. Through the lyrics, we learn that Ramona has a sense of humor and a tattoo of a python eating a mouse, which matches her sailor hat that reads "Snake Farm." The singer also mentions Ramona's love for malt liquor and a band from Wales called The Alarm.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of intrigue and fascination with the oddity of a snake farm and the dichotomy of Ramona's tough exterior and her love for things like The Alarm. Symbolically, the song can also be seen as an exploration of unconventional beauty and the quirks that make individuals unique.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the woman I love is named Ramona
Bobby Bare is in love with a woman named Ramona.
She kinda looks like Tempest Storm
Ramona resembles Tempest Storm in terms of appearance.
She can dance like little Egypt
Ramona is an excellent dancer like little Egypt.
She works down at the snake farm
Ramona works at a snake farm.
Snake farm, it just sounds nasty
The phrase ‘snake farm’ gives an unpleasant impression.
Snake farm, well, it pretty much is
Snake farm is indeed a nasty place.
Snake farm, it’s a reptile house
Snake farm is a house where reptiles are kept.
Well, Ramona’s got a keen sense of humor
Ramona has a great sense of humor.
She’s got a tattoo down her arm
Ramona has a tattoo on her arm.
All over a python eating a little mouse
The tattoo is of a python devouring a mouse.
Wearing a sailor hat that says 'Snake farm'
The python in the tattoo is wearing a sailor hat that’s written 'snake farm.'
Well, I asked Ramona how come she works there
Bobby Bare asked Ramona why she works at the snake farm.
She says, 'Well, it's got it’s charms
Ramona replied that the snake farm has its own charm.
Nothing to do here in the winter
She works at the snake farm during the winter months when there’s nothing else to do.
Now and then some kid gets bit at the snake farm
Occasionally, children visiting the snake farm get bitten by the snakes.
Well, Ramona likes her malt liquor
Ramona enjoys drinking malt liquor.
And a band from Wales called The Alarm
Ramona's fond of a Welsh band called The Alarm.
She said she cried when they broke up
The breakup of The Alarm made her emotional.
She still plays their records at the snake farm
She still plays songs by The Alarm at the snake farm.
Sometimes, Ramona calls up
Ramona occasionally calls Bobby Bare.
Says, 'Come on down here, it’s getting warm
She invites him over because it’s getting warmer.
She runs everyone off
Ramona makes everyone leave the snake farm.
And we, you know, we, oh… it's a snake farm
The song ends by reiterating that it's a snake farm.
Writer(s): Ray Wylie Hubbard
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.