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.
Sylvia's Mother
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone"
Sylvia's mother says,
"Sylvia's trying to start a new life of her own."
Sylvia's mother says,
"Sylvia's happy, now why don't you leave her alone?"
Chorus:
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye.
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell.
Sylvia's mother says,
"Sylvia's packin', shes gonna be leavin' today."
Sylvia's mother says,
"Sylvia's marryin', a fellow down Galveston way."
Sylvia's mother says
"Please don't say nothin' to make her start cryin' and stay."
Chorus:
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye.
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell.
Sylvia's mother says,
"Sylvia's hurryin', she's catchin' the nine o'clock plane."
Sylvia's mother says,
"Take your umbrella, 'cause sylvia it's startin' to rain."
Sylvia's mother says,
"Thank you for callin' and sir, won't you call back again?"
Chorus:
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye.
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell...
The song “Sylvia’s Mother” by Bobby Bare is a ballad about a man desperately trying to connect with a woman named Sylvia. He calls her house hoping to speak to her, but her mother keeps intercepting the call, giving him updates about Sylvia’s life. In the first verse, Sylvia’s mother tells him Sylvia is “too busy” to come to the phone and is trying to start a new life of her own. Despite this, the man pleads with Mrs. Avery (Sylvia’s mother) to let him speak with Sylvia, saying he only wants to say goodbye.
In the second verse, Sylvia’s mother informs him that Sylvia is leaving town that day to marry a man in Galveston. She warns him not to say anything that will make Sylvia cry and want to stay behind, clearly indicating that Sylvia wants to move on with her life. The final verse has Sylvia’s mother telling the man that Sylvia is catching a plane at 9 o'clock and that it’s starting to rain, urging him to take his umbrella. She thanks him for calling and encourages him to call again, but the man knows it’s too late as Sylvia has moved on without him.
The song is a tragic tale of a broken relationship and the pain of letting go. The man is clearly still in love with Sylvia, but she has moved on and is starting a new life without him. The lyrics are full of desperation, heartbreak, and the finality of endings. The use of the operator and the forty-cent fee for the next three minutes adds a sense of urgency and helplessness to the man’s situation, emphasizing the fact that he is powerless to change Sylvia’s decision.
Line by Line Meaning
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone"
Sylvia's mother informs the caller that Sylvia is not available to receive the call.
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's trying to start a new life of her own."
Sylvia's mother states that Sylvia wants to live independently and establish a new life for herself.
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's happy, now why don't you leave her alone?"
Sylvia's mother pleads with the caller to stop trying to contact Sylvia because she is content with her life.
Chorus:
The refrain of the song that recurs.
And the operator says, "Forty cents more
For the nest three minutes."
The operator notifies the caller that additional charges will apply for the next three minutes of the call.
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just gotta talk to her
I'll only keep her a while
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell her goodbye, goodbye.
Please, Mrs. Avery, I just want to tell.
The caller pleads with Sylvia's mother to allow them to speak with Sylvia for a brief moment to say goodbye before she leaves.
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's packin', shes gonna be leavin' today."
Sylvia's mother discloses that Sylvia is preparing to leave on the same day.
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's marryin', a fellow down Galveston way."
Sylvia's mother reveals that Sylvia will be getting married to someone in Galveston, Texas.
Sylvia's mother says
"Please don't say nothin' to make her start cryin' and stay."
Sylvia's mother implores the caller to refrain from saying anything that might make Sylvia upset and change her mind about leaving.
Sylvia's mother says, "Sylvia's hurryin', she's catchin' the nine o'clock plane."
Sylvia's mother says that Sylvia is rushing to catch a flight departing at 9 o'clock.
Sylvia's mother says, "Take your umbrella, 'cause sylvia it's startin' to rain."
Sylvia's mother advises the caller to bring an umbrella because it is beginning to rain where Sylvia is headed.
Sylvia's mother says
"Thank you for callin' and sir, won't you call back again?"
Sylvia's mother expresses gratitude for the caller's concern and encourages them to call again in the future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Mondak
Shel Silverstein and Bobby Bare... a GREAT combination!
Parker McCollum🔹
Thanks Richard God bless
mrblowhard2u
Truly Bobby Bare is one of my favorite country singers after Johnny Cash but, I still favor Dr. Hook's version of this song, which I think, tell's the true feelings of this song. Don't hate me people, Bobby still rocks.
Parker McCollum🔹
Thanks blow
Capergirl49
Love everything Bobby sings, a great style of C&W music.
Gerard Larkin Haverstock
One of the greatest singers of the twenty century and a great American.
John Smith
The best version ever this man is a true legend and a real icon of country music 👌
steve fo
I always liked Dr Hook's version, ' cause I just did not know Bobby's version and honestly, this is fab, thanks Bobby ! and thanks Wilburscott for posting ! it's now one of my all time COUNTRY favs.
mander1295
There were several of Bobby Bare's songs that I loved and this is right up near the top of the list. This was back in the day when singers were known by their songs (like the quality of their voice and what the lyrics said) not how sexy their latest video is or how raunchy they could make the lyrics. The lyrics of some of the songs today sort of make me sick to my stomach. I miss the days when I heard a lot of good music on the radio, not just when I played my private collection......
JT422B
this has always been a tough song to listen to but always been a good song