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.
Take Me Home To Mama
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I ask is take me home to mama please take me home to mama's arms
Oh greyhound bus I bet she could never guess
Where I got the money to buy this ticket home
Well I tell you after years of tears and hard work today I made it
I reached bottom I've begged on the street that's how I got it
Won't you take me home to mama...
I've lost many things in my life but today I lost my pride
So ol' greyhound take me home to mama I need some love inside
All I ask is take me home to mama please take me home to mama's arms
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song "Take Me Home" tell the story of a person who is longing for the safety, love, and warmth of their mother's home. The singer, possibly facing tough circumstances in their life, pleads to be taken back to their mother's embrace.
The song begins with a plea to be taken home to their mama, emphasizing that she loves them and will provide the safety and warmth they desperately seek. It implies that the singer is in a vulnerable state and longs for the comfort that only a mother's love can provide.
The next verse adds some context to the situation. The singer mentions traveling on a Greyhound bus and suggests that their mother would never guess how they obtained the money for the ticket. This implies that they may have resorted to desperate measures to afford the fare back home. The mention of years of tears and hard work indicates the difficulties they have faced in life, ultimately leading them to hit rock bottom and become desperate enough to beg on the street to get the money for the bus ticket.
The chorus repeats the plea to be taken back home to mama, emphasizing the importance of her love and the need for comfort and support. The singer expresses that they have lost many things in life, including their pride and dignity, but highlight that they need love inside them. The song ends with a final plea to be taken home to mama's arms.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you take me home to mama she loves me and she'll keep me safe and warm
I am pleading with you to take me back to my mother's house, as she loves me unconditionally and will provide me with a secure and comforting environment.
All I ask is take me home to mama please take me home to mama's arms
My only request is to be taken back to my mother's embrace, where I can find solace and comfort in her affectionate arms.
Oh greyhound bus I bet she could never guess
Referring to the greyhound bus, I believe my mother would never be able to guess the particular circumstances that led me to this point.
Where I got the money to buy this ticket home
I acquired the funds to purchase this bus ticket through a combination of hard work and experiencing desperate situations.
Well I tell you after years of tears and hard work today I made it
After enduring countless struggles and persisting through challenging circumstances, I can proudly say that I have ultimately succeeded in some way today.
I reached bottom I've begged on the street that's how I got it
I have reached the lowest point in my life and resorted to begging for money on the streets, which is how I managed to acquire the necessary funds.
I've lost many things in my life but today I lost my pride
Throughout my life, I have experienced numerous losses, but today, the most significant loss is that of my dignity and self-respect.
So ol' greyhound take me home to mama I need some love inside
Therefore, dear greyhound bus, transport me back to my mother's house, as I am in desperate need of the love and emotional support that only she can provide.
All I ask is take me home to mama please take me home to mama's arms
Once again, I humbly request to be taken back to my mother's embrace, where I can find comfort, warmth, and the sense of belonging that I long for.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brenda Fretwell
Beautiful but sad song thanks for sharing it I love Bobby's music!
Anne Marie Haugland
Thankyou for posting this beautiful song BeMisty ♥ and the video is great also !! ♥
BeMisty
+Anne Marie Haugland My pleasure Anne! Thanks! =)
Dirk Papanikitas
Prachtig :-)