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 Last Time
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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But you never listened to my advice
You don't tried way hard to please me
But what you know it should be easy.
Oh, this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
Well, I'm sorry girl that I can't stay
Feelin' like I'd do today
Too much pain too much sorrow
Yes, I'll feel the same tomorrow.
Well, this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know, oh no.
Well, this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know, oh no.
Well, I've told you once and I've told you twice
Someone's got to pay the price
Here's the chance to change your mind
'Cause I've been alone a long long time.
This could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know, oh no.
Oh no, oh no...
The lyrics to Bobby Bare's song "The Last Time" reflect a sense of frustration and disappointment in a relationship that is not working out. The singer has given advice to his partner before, but it seems that it was not taken seriously. He expresses the sentiment that the effort to please him should not be difficult if the feelings were genuine. The chorus repeats the phrase "this could be the last time" indicating that the singer is nearing his breaking point and the relationship may not survive if things do not improve.
In the second verse, the singer apologizes for his inability to stay and continue with the relationship. He expresses that the pain and sorrow he is experiencing are too much to bear and he knows that he will feel the same tomorrow. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that this may indeed be the last time he can endure the difficulties of the relationship. The final verse asserts that someone will have to pay the price for not heeding the warnings to make things better. The chance is presented to the partner to change their mind before the singer decides to end the relationship.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of disillusionment and impending finality in a relationship that is not working out. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message that the singer is trying to convey.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I've told you once and I've told you twice
I've given you advice multiple times
But you never listened to my advice
You ignored my advice
You don't tried way hard to please me
You didn't make much of an effort to please me
But what you know it should be easy.
It should be easy for you to do what I ask
Oh, this could be the last time
This might be our final time together
This could be the last time
This might be our final time together
Maybe the last time
It's possible that this is our last time
I don't know, oh no.
I'm not sure
Well, I'm sorry girl that I can't stay
I'm sorry that I can't stay with you
Feelin' like I'd do today
Feeling the same way I do today
Too much pain too much sorrow
There's been too much pain and sorrow
Yes, I'll feel the same tomorrow.
I'll feel the same way tomorrow
Well, this could be the last time
This might be our final time together
This could be the last time
This might be our final time together
Maybe the last time
It's possible that this is our last time
I don't know, oh no.
I'm not sure
Well, this could be the last time
This might be our final time together
This could be the last time
This might be our final time together
Maybe the last time
It's possible that this is our last time
I don't know, oh no.
I'm not sure
Well, I've told you once and I've told you twice
I've given you advice multiple times
Someone's got to pay the price
There will be consequences
Here's the chance to change your mind
This is your opportunity to change your course of action
'Cause I've been alone a long long time.
I've been alone for a while
This could be the last time
This might be our final time together
This could be the last time
This might be our final time together
Maybe the last time
It's possible that this is our last time
I don't know, oh no.
I'm not sure
Oh no, oh no...
Indicates fear or worry
Writer(s): KEITH RICHARD, MICK JAGGER
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.