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 Jogger
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the Charleston coast to the Jersey piers
Sharin' the road with race car nuts and loggers
Sunday drivers scouts on hikes Hells Angels on Harley bikes
I never met a roader I didn't like cept them joggers
One day I'm rollin' down 1-0-1
I got 18 wheels under 14-tons
The day was sure a trucker's dream
The sky was sunny and the air was clean
When up ahead on the road I seen one of them joggers
He was dressed like they do in baby blue
With shortie shorts and a headband too
I yelled Sweetie I bet that you are the hit of the men's room locker
But I'm a runnin' late with an overload
So get your Adidas off a this road
I'm LA bound and I don't slow down for dead raccoons or joggers
Well without breakin' stride or losin' poise
He said you and that rig sure make some noise
But I can't talk now cause I'm racin' against the clocker
But it's just nine miles to Forkers Leap
And if you ain't afraid to race that heap
We'll see how that ol' rig holds up against a super jogger
Race I must be hearin' wrong
The boy's been runnin' in the sun too long
The only place he's racin' to is a doctor's
But before I could say thank you no
That fool yells ready get set go
And the race is on we're off and gone me and that maniac jogger
Well I could've left him far behind
But I played with him like a fish on a line
And I stayed about a half a mile behind that sucker
Then I pushed her up to forty-five
And he sees me comin' and he starts to fly
So I pushed her to sixty and shift to high and finally catch that jogger
And it wasn't easy
Now I'm doin' eighty and I turned to check
And he's stayin' right with me neck in neck
His hearts a thumpin' like my engine goin' pop pop pocker
Then he yells out I hope you're set
Cause I ain't shifted into second yet
Then he unwinds and leaves me behind eaten the dust of a jogger
Then I see him joggin' up into the sky
And he yells hey thanks for the exercise
I hope that losin' this race was not too shockin'
Ya see my dad says heaven's no place to run
And I try to be an obedient son
So I have to come down to earth to do my joggin'
Well that's my story take it or leave it
My trucker buddies they believe it
So do those race car nuts and Harley hoggers
And I'm still drivin' much the same
Cept I don't call nobody names
And I tip my hat each time I pass one of them good old joggers
Hey here comes one now... Hey good buddy
How ya doin?
Want some gatorade?
Bobby Bare's song, The Jogger, is a humorous story about a trucker's encounter with a jogger on the road. The trucker has been driving for over twenty years, and he shares the road with various types of people, from race car drivers to Hell Angels to the elderly. However, the one group he can't stand are the joggers. When he encounters one on the road, he tries to get him off the road as quickly as possible, but the jogger challenges him to a race. The trucker accepts the challenge and is surprised to find that the jogger is not who he seems to be.
The lyrics of the song convey Bobby Bare's sarcasm about the truckers' attitude towards other groups of people he meets on the road. The lyrics make use of exaggeration and stereotypes to create a humorous effect. For example, the trucker describes the jogger as wearing a "baby blue" outfit and short shorts, and accuses him of being the "hit of the men's room locker." The trucker also describes the jogger as being a "maniac," while the jogger is calm and collected throughout.
The song's message is that we should not judge people by their appearances or occupations. The jogger, who is initially seen as an obstacle by the trucker, turns out to be a kind and obedient son who is running to honor the wishes of his father. The trucker learns to respect the jogger and others like him, and even starts to offer them Gatorade as a friendly gesture.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been a trucker more than twenty years
The singer has been driving trucks for more than 20 years.
From the Charleston coast to the Jersey piers
The singer has driven his trucks across various states.
Sharin' the road with race car nuts and loggers
The singer is used to sharing the road with car racing enthusiasts and logging truck drivers.
Sunday drivers scouts on hikes Hells Angels on Harley bikes
The singer frequently shares the road with casual drivers, hikers, and motorcycle riders.
I never met a roader I didn't like cept them joggers
The singer likes most types of drivers, except for joggers.
One day I'm rollin' down 1-0-1
The singer is driving on highway 101.
I got 18 wheels under 14-tons
The singer's truck has 18 wheels and weighs 14 tons.
Radio playin' a good ol' country rocker
The radio is playing a classic country music song.
The day was sure a trucker's dream
The day was perfect for truck driving.
The sky was sunny and the air was clean
The weather was nice and clean.
When up ahead on the road I seen one of them joggers
The singer sees a jogger up ahead on the road.
He was dressed like they do in baby blue
The jogger is wearing baby blue clothing.
With shortie shorts and a headband too
The jogger is wearing short shorts and a headband.
I yelled Sweetie I bet that you are the hit of the men's room locker
The singer mocks the jogger by saying he would be popular in a men's locker room.
But I'm a runnin' late with an overload
The singer is behind schedule with a full load in his truck.
So get your Adidas off a this road
The singer wants the jogger to get off the road.
I'm LA bound and I don't slow down for dead raccoons or joggers
The singer does not stop for dead animals or joggers on his way to Los Angeles.
Well without breakin' stride or losin' poise
The jogger doesn't slow his pace or composure.
He said you and that rig sure make some noise
The jogger comments on the noise made by the truck.
But I can't talk now cause I'm racin' against the clocker
The jogger says he is in a hurry.
But it's just nine miles to Forkers Leap
The jogger only has nine miles to go to reach his destination.
And if you ain't afraid to race that heap
The jogger invites the singer to race him.
We'll see how that ol' rig holds up against a super jogger
The jogger thinks he can beat the truck in a race.
Race I must be hearin' wrong
The singer thinks the jogger is joking about racing.
The boy's been runnin' in the sun too long
The singer thinks the jogger is delirious from running in the sun.
The only place he's racin' to is a doctor's
The singer thinks the jogger needs to go to the doctor.
But before I could say thank you no
The singer is surprised by what happens next.
That fool yells ready get set go
The jogger challenges the singer to a race.
And the race is on we're off and gone me and that maniac jogger
The race begins and the singer starts racing the jogger.
Well I could've left him far behind
The singer could have easily beaten the jogger in the race.
But I played with him like a fish on a line
The singer enjoys teasing the jogger.
And I stayed about a half a mile behind that sucker
The singer was trailing the jogger by half a mile.
Then I pushed her up to forty-five
The singer increases his speed to 45 mph.
And he sees me comin' and he starts to fly
The jogger speeds up when he sees the truck approaching.
So I pushed her to sixty and shift to high and finally catch that jogger
The singer increases his speed to 60 mph and finally catches up to the jogger.
And it wasn't easy
It was difficult to catch up to the jogger.
Now I'm doin' eighty and I turned to check
The singer increases his speed to 80 mph and checks on the jogger.
And he's stayin' right with me neck in neck
The jogger is keeping pace with the truck.
His hearts a thumpin' like my engine goin' pop pop pocker
The jogger's heart is beating rapidly.
Then he yells out I hope you're set
The jogger taunts the singer.
Cause I ain't shifted into second yet
The jogger says he hasn't even shifted gears yet.
Then he unwinds and leaves me behind eaten the dust of a jogger
The jogger speeds up and leaves the truck behind.
Then I see him joggin' up into the sky
The singer sees the jogger running up into the sky.
And he yells hey thanks for the exercise
The jogger thanks the singer for the workout.
I hope that losin' this race was not too shockin'
The jogger hopes that the singer is not too upset about losing the race.
Ya see my dad says heaven's no place to run
The jogger explains why he runs on earth.
And I try to be an obedient son
The jogger wants to follow his father's wishes.
So I have to come down to earth to do my joggin'
The jogger comes to earth to go jogging.
Well that's my story take it or leave it
The singer concludes his story.
My trucker buddies they believe it
The singer's fellow truck drivers believe his story.
So do those race car nuts and Harley hoggers
Even car racers and motorcycle riders believe the singer's story.
And I'm still drivin' much the same
The singer is still driving his truck.
Cept I don't call nobody names
The singer no longer insults other drivers, including joggers.
And I tip my hat each time I pass one of them good old joggers
The singer has learned to respect joggers and even greets them respectfully.
Hey here comes one now... Hey good buddy
The singer sees a jogger and greets him as a friend.
How ya doin?
The singer asks the jogger how he's doing.
Want some gatorade?
The singer offers the jogger some Gatorade.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia Harold
This brings back so many good memeories!
My mom loves this song!
Allan Southern
BRILLIANT LOVE IT
Jazmine Skye
And I tip my hat each time I pass one of them good ol' joggers!
Pankakotakis Megalomavropoulos
What's better for jogging, Timberland boots or Lugz?
Roaenoke Syzlak
Hey there good buddy, ya want some gate-or-aid?
Lynn Miller
It is still good to hear songs likes this instead of today's so called songs
Cyphrinfinity
For sure yes absolutely agree with you!
SofaKingCool
Joggers gonna jog
liberty Ann
Love this great old song!
Bryan Owens
Great song, I turn it up every time this song comes on!!!!