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 Son Of Hickory Hollow's Tramp
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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When daddy took to drinking
Then him and Lucy Walker they took up and ran away
Mama cried a tear and then she promised fourteen children
I swear you'll never see a hungry day
Oh, the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin
And late at night a hand would knock
And there would stand a stranger
Yes I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp
When mama sacrificed her pride the neighbors started talkin'
But I was much too young
To understand the things they said
The things that mattered most of all was mama's chicken dumplings
And the goodnight kiss before we went to bed
Oh, the path was deep and wide
When daddy left then destitution came upon our family
Not one neighbor volunteered to give a helping hand
So let 'em gossip all they want she loved us and she raised us
The proof is standing here a full grown man
Last summer mama passed away and left the ones who loved her
Each and everyone of us were more than grateful for our birth
Now every Sunday she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses
With a card that says to the greatest mom on earth
Oh, the path was deep and wide
Yes I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp
Bobby Bare's song "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" narrates the story of a family that struggles to survive through poverty and abandonment. The opening lines describe the dire circumstances of the family's farm, where the corn is dry and the weeds are high. The father, unable to bear the hardship, becomes an alcoholic and leaves with Lucy Walker, abandoning the family. The mother, left to raise fourteen children on her own, promises them that they will never go hungry.
The family is shunned by the community, and the neighbors start talking when the mother sacrifices her pride to make ends meet. However, the singer, who was young at the time, only remembers the comfort of his mother's chicken dumplings and the goodnight kiss before bed. Despite the hardship, the family never lost the bond they shared.
When Mama dies, the singer and his siblings are grateful for the sacrifice she made to bring them up. They honor her every Sunday with a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses, recognizing her as the greatest mom on earth. The song concludes with the singer proudly declaring himself as the son of Hickory Holler's tramp.
Line by Line Meaning
The corn was dry and the weeds were high
The environment was difficult and the situation was tough.
When daddy took to drinking
When the father started drinking, the family's well-being was affected.
Then him and Lucy Walker they took up and ran away
The father and another woman ran away from the family, leaving them behind.
Mama cried a tear and then she promised fourteen children
The mother was emotional, but still determined to take care of her fourteen children.
I swear you'll never see a hungry day
The mother made a promise to her children that they wouldn't go hungry.
Oh, the path was deep and wide from footsteps leading to our cabin
The path leading to their home was well-traveled, despite their difficult circumstances.
Above the door there burned the scarlet lamp
The family used a red lamp to signal that they needed food or supplies.
And late at night a hand would knock
People would come to their door to help, even at late hours of the night.
And there would stand a stranger
People who helped them were often strangers.
Yes I'm the son of Hickory Holler's tramp
The artist identifies himself as the child of a woman who was labeled as a tramp by others.
When mama sacrificed her pride the neighbors started talkin'
When the mother had to ask for help, people began gossiping about her.
But I was much too young
The artist did not understand the gossip and its impact on his family at the time.
To understand the things they said
The singer was too young to comprehend the rumors and negative comments about his family.
The things that mattered most of all was mama's chicken dumplings
Despite the difficulties they faced, the family found joy in simple things like their mother's cooking.
And the goodnight kiss before we went to bed
The singer remembers the comfort and security of his mother's goodnight kiss.
When daddy left then destitution came upon our family
When the father abandoned the family, they became even more financially unstable.
Not one neighbor volunteered to give a helping hand
Even though their situation was dire, no one stepped up to offer assistance.
So let 'em gossip all they want she loved us and she raised us
The mother's love and dedication to her children was more important than any gossip or rumors.
The proof is standing here a full grown man
The singer's survival and success as an adult is evidence of his mother's strength and love.
Last summer mama passed away and left the ones who loved her
The mother eventually passed away, leaving behind many people who cared for her.
Each and everyone of us were more than grateful for our birth
The mother's children were thankful for their lives and the sacrifices their mother made for them.
Now every Sunday she receives a fresh bouquet of fourteen roses
The family still honors and remembers their mother, even after her passing.
With a card that says to the greatest mom on earth
The family acknowledges their mother's strength and love, even in death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dallas Frazier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind