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 Winner
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I knew if I hit him right why I could knock him off of that stool
But everybody they said watch out hey that's the Tiger Man McCool
He's had the whole lotta fights and he's always come out winner yeah he's a winner
But I had myself about five too many and I walked up tall and proud
I faced his back and I faced the fact that he had never stooped or bowed
I said Tiger Man you're a pussycat and a hush fell on the crowd
I said let's you and me go outside and see who's the winner
He slowly looked up from his beer my God that man was tall
He said boy I see you're a scrapper so just before you fall
I'm gonna tell you just a little bout what it means to be a winner
He said now you see these bright white smilin' teeth you know they ain't my own
Mine rolled away like Chicklets down the street in San Antone
But I left that person cursin' nursin' seven broken bones
And he only broke ah three of mine that makes me the winner
He said now behind this grin I got a steel pin that holds my jaw in place
A trophy of my most successful motorcycle race
And each morning when I wake and touch this scar across my face
It reminds me of all I got by bein' a winner
Now this broken back was the dyin' act of a handsome Harry Clay
That sticky Cincinnati night I stole his wife away
But that woman she gets uglier and she gets meaner every day
But I got her boy that's what makes me a winner
He said you gotta speak loud when you challenge me son cause it's hard for me to hear
With this twisted neck and these migraine pains and this big ole cauliflower ear
And if it wadn't for this glass eye of mine why I'd shed a happy tear
To think of all that you gonna get by bein' a winner
I got arthritic elbows boy I got dislocated knees
From pickin' fights with thunderstorms and chargin' into trees
And my nose been broke so often I might lose if I sneeze
And son you say you still wanna be a winner
Now you remind me a lotta my younger days with your knuckles a clenchin' white
But boy I'm gonna sit right here and sip this beer all night
And if there's somethin' that you gotta gain to prove by winnin' some silly fight
Well okay I quit I lose you're the winner
So I stumbled from that barroom not so tall and not so proud
And behind me I still hear the hoots of laughter of the crowd
But my eyes still see and my nose still works and my teeth're still in my mouth
And you know I guess that makes me the winner
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song, The Winner, describe a confrontation between the singer and a man known as the Tiger Man McCool. The singer initially underestimates McCool's fighting ability, but McCool warns him of the physical harm he has sustained in previous fights. McCool then proceeds to describe the injuries he has incurred and the pain he has endured while emphasizing that he is still a winner. The singer ultimately concedes defeat and leaves the bar, realizing that being a winner is not worth the cost of such physical injuries.
The lyrics are a cautionary tale against the glorification of violence and the toxic masculinity that defines winning as the ability to physically dominate others. The parallel between the singer's pride and eventual humiliation and McCool's injuries and continued "winning" demonstrates that a true winner is someone who values their physical and emotional well-being over their ego. The song also highlights the sad reality that some individuals may resort to violence as a means of proving their worth, despite the consequences and risks.
Line by Line Meaning
The hulk of a man with a beer in his hand he looked like a drunk old fool
The singer sees a large man holding a beer, who appears to be drunk and foolish.
And I knew if I hit him right why I could knock him off of that stool
The singer believes he is capable of knocking the man off his stool with one punch.
But everybody they said watch out hey that's the Tiger Man McCool
Everyone warns the singer to be cautious because the man he wants to fight is the famous Tiger Man McCool.
He's had the whole lotta fights and he's always come out winner yeah he's a winner
Tiger Man McCool has had many fights and he always emerges as the victor.
But I had myself about five too many and I walked up tall and proud
The artist is somewhat drunk but still walks up confidently.
I faced his back and I faced the fact that he had never stooped or bowed
The singer admires Tiger Man McCool's posture and realizes he has never been defeated.
I said Tiger Man you're a pussycat and a hush fell on the crowd
The singer taunts Tiger Man McCool, causing the crowd to become silent.
I said let's you and me go outside and see who's the winner
The artist challenges Tiger Man McCool to fight him outside, suggesting they will see who the real winner is.
Well he gripped the bar with one big hairy hand then he braced against the wall
Tiger Man McCool grabs the bar and braces against the wall in preparation for the fight.
He slowly looked up from his beer my God that man was tall
Tiger Man McCool stands up and the artist realizes he is much taller than he expected.
He said boy I see you're a scrapper so just before you fall
Tiger Man McCool acknowledges that the singer is a fighter.
I'm gonna tell you just a little bout what it means to be a winner
Tiger Man McCool is going to explain what it takes to be a winner.
He said now you see these bright white smilin' teeth you know they ain't my own
Tiger Man McCool has lost his real teeth and now has dentures.
Mine rolled away like Chicklets down the street in San Antone
Tiger Man McCool's real teeth fell out and rolled away.
But I left that person cursin' nursin' seven broken bones
Tiger Man McCool seriously injured another person and caused them to have seven broken bones.
And he only broke ah three of mine that makes me the winner
Despite getting injured himself, Tiger Man McCool emerged the winner in the fight he is describing.
He said now behind this grin I got a steel pin that holds my jaw in place
Tiger Man McCool has a steel pin holding his jaw in place after a successful motorcycle race.
A trophy of my most successful motorcycle race
The pin in Tiger Man McCool's jaw is a trophy from his most successful motorcycle race.
And each morning when I wake and touch this scar across my face
Tiger Man McCool touches a scar on his face every morning, reminding him of his victories.
It reminds me of all I got by bein' a winner
Tiger Man McCool's scar reminds him of everything he gained by being a winner.
Now this broken back was the dyin' act of a handsome Harry Clay
Tiger Man McCool broke the back of a man named Harry Clay on the night he died.
That sticky Cincinnati night I stole his wife away
Tiger Man McCool stole Harry Clay's wife in Cincinnati.
But that woman she gets uglier and she gets meaner every day
The woman Tiger Man McCool stole is no longer attractive and has become increasingly unpleasant.
But I got her boy that's what makes me a winner
Tiger Man McCool believes he is a winner because he ended up with the woman he stole from Harry Clay.
He said you gotta speak loud when you challenge me son cause it's hard for me to hear
Tiger Man McCool has difficulty hearing and needs to be spoken to loudly.
With this twisted neck and these migraine pains and this big ole cauliflower ear
Tiger Man McCool has multiple physical ailments, including a twisted neck, migraines, and a cauliflower ear.
And if it wadn't for this glass eye of mine why I'd shed a happy tear
Tiger Man McCool would cry tears of joy if it weren't for his glass eye.
To think of all that you gonna get by bein' a winner
Tiger Man McCool believes that winning brings many benefits.
I got arthritic elbows boy I got dislocated knees
Tiger Man McCool has painful elbows and dislocated knees.
From pickin' fights with thunderstorms and chargin' into trees
These injuries are a result of Tiger Man McCool picking fights with thunderstorms and running into trees.
And my nose been broke so often I might lose if I sneeze
Tiger Man McCool's nose has been broken so often that he fears it may break if he sneezes.
And son you say you still wanna be a winner
Despite hearing about Tiger Man McCool's injuries, the artist still wants to be a winner.
Now you remind me a lotta my younger days with your knuckles a clenchin' white
The artist reminds Tiger Man McCool of his own youth with his clenched fists.
But boy I'm gonna sit right here and sip this beer all night
Rather than fight, Tiger Man McCool decides to stay put and drink his beer.
And if there's somethin' that you gotta gain to prove by winnin' some silly fight
Tiger Man McCool thinks winning a fight doesn't prove anything.
Well okay I quit I lose you're the winner
Tiger Man McCool concedes before the fight even starts, declaring the artist the winner.
So I stumbled from that barroom not so tall and not so proud
After Tiger Man McCool quit, the singer leaves the bar feeling less confident.
And behind me I still hear the hoots of laughter of the crowd
The crowd laughs at the singer as he leaves.
But my eyes still see and my nose still works and my teeth're still in my mouth
Despite losing the fight, the singer is still able to see, smell, and has all his teeth.
And you know I guess that makes me the winner
The artist concludes that he is still the winner because he is not as injured as Tiger Man McCool.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mackhorton4843
It's a shame there aren't country singers like Mr.Bare anymore.Excellent song!
@reginacall3883
Check out Elijah Ocean**
@maxilynt
This was played at my Marine husband's funeral one year ago. There were chuckles throughout the church as many old friends were there he had fought with in the bars when they were younger. Love you Bobby Bare and Shel Silverstein.
@maxilynt
@Bobby Bare not for a long time. When are you coming to Sioux City Iowa? I will be there with bells on.
@maxilynt
@Bobby Bare not for a long time. When are you coming to Sioux City Iowa? I will be there with bells on.
@maxilynt
@Bobby Bare Now I'm just a naive lady and I trust people. How do I know you are really Bobby Bare?
@maxilynt
@Bobby Bare You have made me laugh and cry and bring out every emotion in between. Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine...
@maxilynt
@Bobby Bare Deleted. Thanks!
@simonburridge1964
This song is pure genius, like so many of Shel's songs. It is not a drunks song in my opinion, it is a song about being prepared to take the knocks and pay the price to be a winner. Superb lyrics and Bobby can tell the story. Will always be a big fan.
@Runnadaroad
Actually, Simon, this song asks you to think about what being 'a winner' is; and do you really want that. Great song.