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.
Timè
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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Ain't they're building the stairs a bit steeper these days
And the town's really changin' in so many ways it's time time
The young folks you're growin' uncommonly tall
And the newspaper print is becomin' so small
And folks talk so soft you can barely hear at all it's time just time
Jokes aren't as witty as the old jokes once were
And the girls ain't half as pretty as I remember her
You know I ain't quite as anxious for fame or success
And my eye finds the girl in the plain simple dress
And I cling a bit longer to each warm caress that's time just time
So it takes a bit longer to walk up a hill
What of it but my life now is much more fulfill
But they're tearin' down the buildings that I watched them build it's time time
In the song "Time" by Bobby Bare, the lyrics describe the changes that the singer has noticed in his surroundings as time passes. The snow seems to be falling deeper, stairs are being built steeper and the town is changing in so many ways. He also notes that the young folks are growing taller and the print in the newspaper is becoming smaller. These observations lead the singer to reflect on the passing of time and the changes that come along with it.
As the song continues, the singer notices that jokes aren't as witty as they once were and the girls aren't as pretty as he remembers. He even mentions how he was called "sir" by a grown man on the bus, showing how he has aged and become more respected with time. Despite these changes, the singer realizes that he is no longer as anxious for fame or success and instead finds fulfillment in the simpler things in life, such as a warm caress.
The final line of the song brings the realization that even though life may be fulfilling, it is still fleeting. The buildings he watched being built are now being torn down, reminding him that time continues to move forward and change is inevitable.
In summary, "Time" by Bobby Bare is a reflective song about the changes that come with the passing of time. The lyrics illustrate how time affects everything around us and how we must eventually accept the changes and find fulfillment in what we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't the snow fallin' just a bit deeper these days
The winter season seems to be colder, and there's a lot of snowfall nowadays.
Ain't they're building the stairs a bit steeper these days
The stairs in the buildings are steeper and harder to climb than they used to be.
And the town's really changin' in so many ways it's time time
The town is rapidly changing, and it's time for everyone to adapt to the new ways of living.
The young folks you're growin' uncommonly tall
Today's young generation is taller than the previous ones.
And the newspaper print is becomin' so small
The newspaper print is getting smaller, making it hard for some people to read.
And folks talk so soft you can barely hear at all it's time just time
People nowadays talk softly, making it difficult for others to hear them.
Jokes aren't as witty as the old jokes once were
Modern-day jokes don't have the same level of wit and humor as the old ones.
And the girls ain't half as pretty as I remember her
The girls don't seem as attractive as they used to.
And today on the bus a grown man called me sir it's time just time
Being addressed as 'sir' by a grown man indicates that one is getting older.
You know I ain't quite as anxious for fame or success
The artist is no longer as ambitious or eager for fame and success as he once was.
And my eye finds the girl in the plain simple dress
The singer's tastes have changed, and he now finds simplicity and plainness more attractive.
And I cling a bit longer to each warm caress that's time just time
The artist cherishes every moment of physical affection and savors it for longer.
So it takes a bit longer to walk up a hill
The singer takes longer to do physical activities that were once easier.
What of it but my life now is much more fulfill
Despite the challenges of aging, the singer's life is more fulfilling than it used to be.
But they're tearin' down the buildings that I watched them build it's time time
The old buildings that the singer knew and watched being built are being torn down, showing that time is passing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shel Silverstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind