True Story
Bobby Bare Lyrics


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This mornin' I jumped on my horse and went out for a ride
Some wild outlaws chased me and they shot me in the side
So I crawled into a wild cat's cave to find a place to hide
But some pirates found me a sleepin' there and soon they had me tied
Till a lady zombie cut me loose and begged to be my bride
So I said I'd come back Wednesday but I must admit I lied
Cause I run away into the swamp but I forgot my guide
And I stepped into some quicksand and no matter how I tried
I couldn't get out until I met a crocodile named Clyde
Who took me to some cannibals who planned to have me fried
They built a fire under me and I swear I almost cried
Till an eagle come and swooped me up and through the air we flied




But he dropped me in a boilin' lake a thousand miles wide
And you know what happened then I died

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song, True Story, tell a wild and fantastical tale of a man who goes for a ride, gets shot and chased by outlaws, hides in a wild cat's cave, ends up captured by pirates, and then rescued by a lady zombie who wants to marry him. He runs away into the swamp, gets stuck in quicksand, is saved by a crocodile named Clyde and taken to cannibals who want to have him for dinner. He is saved by an eagle, only to end up falling into a boiling lake and dying.


The song can be interpreted in different ways, but one possible interpretation is that it reflects the vicissitudes of life, where unexpected and adverse situations can present themselves at any moment, and we must persevere and rely on our wit and courage to overcome them. The man's journey is filled with danger and obstacles, but he manages to hold on until the end. However, his luck runs out in the boiling lake, and he dies, suggesting that death is the ultimate fate for all of us, no matter how adventurous or daring our lives have been.


Line by Line Meaning

This mornin' I jumped on my horse and went out for a ride
I went for a horse ride early in the morning


Some wild outlaws chased me and they shot me in the side
I was chased by bandits and got shot in my side


So I crawled into a wild cat's cave to find a place to hide
I hid in a cave where a wildcat lived


But some pirates found me a sleepin' there and soon they had me tied
Pirates found me sleeping and took me hostage


Till a lady zombie cut me loose and begged to be my bride
A female zombie freed me and wanted to marry me


So I said I'd come back Wednesday but I must admit I lied
I promised to come back on Wednesday but I didn't keep my word


Cause I run away into the swamp but I forgot my guide
I fled into the marsh and forgot my guide


And I stepped into some quicksand and no matter how I tried
I stepped into quicksand and couldn't escape


I couldn't get out until I met a crocodile named Clyde
I was saved by a crocodile named Clyde


Who took me to some cannibals who planned to have me fried
Clyde took me to cannibals who wanted to cook me


They built a fire under me and I swear I almost cried
The cannibals lit a fire under me, and I was frightened


Till an eagle come and swooped me up and through the air we flied
An eagle rescued me and carried me in the air


But he dropped me in a boilin' lake a thousand miles wide
Unfortunately, the eagle dropped me in a massive boiling lake


And you know what happened then I died
As expected, I died




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

eggsalad0071

As a kid I wore this 8 track out. My bb gun and Bobby had a lot of adventures together.

ShelbyAnn

I still love this song

Linda Green

love him, a true great..

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