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.
Watching The Trains Go By
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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Got no high hopes of leaving I'm just watching the trains go by
Watching the trains go by
Lawyer Jabob's wife she is expecting and he wonders why in blazes
How his wife could come to blame now they tried so many times before
Walking back down this dusty farmroad my thirsty mind is high and dry
One more day down at the station watching the trains go by
Papa's working at the coal mines mama's lying sick in bed
They'd be better off without me one less mouth to be fed
Younger brother John is in the jailhouse down on the woodfarm chopping wood
I stayed around and tried to change him don't look like I done no good
Down at the railroad station
Down at the railroad station
In this country ballad, Bobby Bare describes a scene at a railroad station where the singer is just sitting and watching the trains go by, with no real purpose or destination in mind. Through the lyrics, we get to hear about the life situations of some people in his community. For instance, Lawyer Jacob's wife is expecting a child, and he can't understand how they finally got pregnant after several attempts. The singer also mentions his family members, who seem to be going through tough times. His mother is sick, his father is a coal miner, and his brother is in jail. In the end, he reflects upon his own life and wonders if he is better off leaving his family to ease their burden.
The song presents a melancholic yet realistic depiction of life in rural America, where people sometimes have to deal with hardship and watch their loved ones struggle. The chorus "Watching the trains go by" conveys a sense of longing and desire for something more, a better future or a way out of their current situation. However, the song also acknowledges the fact that sometimes there are no easy solutions or quick fixes.
Line by Line Meaning
Down at the railroad station my suitcase settin' by my side
I am present at the railway station with my suitcase next to me.
Got no high hopes of leaving I'm just watching the trains go by
I am not very optimistic about leaving, I am just observing the trains pass by.
Watching the trains go by
I am simply observing the trains going on their way.
Lawyer Jabob's wife she is expecting and he wonders why in blazes
Lawyer Jacob is confused about his wife being pregnant.
How his wife could come to blame now they tried so many times before
He is troubled that despite trying several times, his wife is pregnant.
Walking back down this dusty farmroad my thirsty mind is high and dry
As I walk on the dusty farm road, I am feeling extremely thirsty and uninspired.
One more day down at the station watching the trains go by
Spending another day at the station, observing the trains pass by.
Papa's working at the coal mines mama's lying sick in bed
My father is working in the coal mines whilst my mother is ill and in bed.
They'd be better off without me one less mouth to be fed
I feel they would be better off without me as it would reduce their burden to feed one less mouth.
Younger brother John is in the jailhouse down on the woodfarm chopping wood
My brother John is in jail, while in the outside world he works at the woodfarm chopping wood.
I stayed around and tried to change him don't look like I done no good
I tried to help John and reform him, but it seems my efforts were in vain.
Down at the railroad station
Once again, I find myself at the station.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAN PENN, SPOONER OLDHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind