Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is a… Read Full Bio ↴Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton, Ohio) is an American country music singer and songwriter.

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.

The Fool
Bobby Bare Lyrics

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I was born and raised
As an eastern girl in a western world
I was told to choose
To choose to be what I chose to be
Speaking impartially
There doesn't seem to be a place for me
But when I look inside I find
A place to run to hide

I was born to love
A distant land and a rising sun
I was born to love this
Green and pleasant land
Which way should I turn?
'cause I seem to fall towards burning
But when I look inside I find the place
To cry, to fly, to die

You and I, born as fools now
You and I think, think we rule now

Now I see the world
As an ancient place as a smiling face
I can choose to be
What I want to be if I choose to be
Speaking impartially
If the smile grows cold without me
I know a secret place to cry, to fly, to try

You know I'm burning in a flame now
Now I see the world
As an ancient place as a smiling face
Now I see the world
As a place where I can run to hide to
Which way should I turn?
'cause I seem to fall towards burning
But when I look inside I find the place
To try, to hide, to fly

You and I, born as fools now
You and I think, think we rule now

You and I, born as fools now
You and I think, think we rule now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song "The Fool" express a sense of disorientation and uncertainty about where one belongs in the world. The singer describes being "born and raised as an eastern girl in a western world," suggesting a feeling of being out of place or misunderstood. She is told to choose her identity, but struggles to find a clear path. The line "there doesn't seem to be a place for me" conveys a deep sense of isolation and loneliness.

However, amidst this confusion, the singer also finds hope. She looks inside herself and finds "a place to run to hide" and "a place to cry, to fly, to die." This suggests that even though the world may feel overwhelming and confusing, there is still somewhere to turn for solace and strength. The repeated chorus of "You and I, born as fools now / You and I think, think we rule now" underscores the theme of uncertainty and the sense that everyone is still trying to figure things out, even if they project confidence.

Overall, the lyrics of "The Fool" convey a sense of searching and yearning for a sense of belonging and purpose. The singer acknowledges the potential for pain and confusion in life, but also suggests that there is a way to navigate these challenges and find a place to call home.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born and raised
I come from a different background than those around me.

As an eastern girl in a western world
I was raised in the East but am now in the West.

I was told to choose
I was given the power to make my own decisions.

To choose to be what I chose to be
I was encouraged to follow my own dreams and aspirations.

Speaking impartially
Not taking sides or showing favoritism.

There doesn't seem to be a place for me
I don't quite fit in anywhere.

But when I look inside I find
I can find solace and comfort within myself.

A place to run to hide
A place where I can escape and be alone.

I was born to love
I have a strong passion for something.

A distant land and a rising sun
I have a deep love for a culture that is foreign to me.

I was born to love this
I have a strong connection to this place.

Green and pleasant land
I have a deep appreciation for this beautiful land.

Which way should I turn?
I am facing a decision and am unsure which path to take.

'cause I seem to fall towards burning
I am drawn towards something that I know would be bad for me.

To cry, to fly, to die
I have a place where I can express my emotions and desires without judgment.

You and I, born as fools now
We were both born without all the knowledge and understanding we would later attain.

You and I think, think we rule now
We both may believe we have complete control over our lives, but we are still learning.

Now I see the world
I have gained a broader perspective on the world around me.

As an ancient place as a smiling face
The world is both old and wise, yet welcoming and friendly.

I can choose to be
I have the power to decide my own fate.

What I want to be if I choose to be
I can be anything I aspire to be.

If the smile grows cold without me
If the world becomes cold and uninviting, I have a place to retreat to.

I know a secret place to cry, to fly, to try
I have a place to discover my emotions, embrace my aspirations, and take risks.

You know I'm burning in a flame now
I am passionately pursuing something.

Now I see the world
My eyes have been opened to new experiences and perspectives.

As a place where I can run to hide to
The world is full of places where I can escape and find shelter.

To try, to hide, to fly
I have a place where I can find courage and confidence to try new things, hide from judgment, and soar to new heights.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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