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.
West Virginia Woman
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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But I got hung up like a fool somehow along the way
Lord God her name was Sally she lived in the Kanawha Valley
Just outside of Charleston West Virginia US of A
Sally done me down and dirty really put that hurtin' on me
Reckon how she must have got her kicks that'a way
She turned me every way but loose blew my mind and cooked my goose
And stomped my Georgia soul into that West Virginia clay
Everything I try to do right seems to turn out wrong
I met a gal from West Virginia that woman sure enough sent me home
With my hat in my hand
A hummin' some old worn out song like a man whose mind is gone uh huh huh
The song "West Virginia Woman" by Bobby Bare tells the story of a man who, while on his way to New York City, meets a woman named Sally from the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia. Sally, who the singer describes as having "done him down and dirty," leaves him emotionally damaged and unable to continue on his journey. The song's lyrics suggest that Sally used the singer for her own pleasure and then discarded him, leaving him to walk back to Georgia feeling like he's dying. Despite his experiences with Sally, the singer still seems to be drawn to West Virginia, as the song closes with him humming an "old worn out song" as if his mind has been consumed by the experience.
The lyrics of "West Virginia Woman" tell a story that is not uncommon in country music - that of a man who is mistreated by a woman. However, the song's specific references to geographic locations lend it a regional specificity that makes it stand out. The reference to the "Kanawha Valley" is notable, as it is a real region in West Virginia with a rich history. The song also mentions Charleston, the capital city of West Virginia, which further ties it to a specific place.
Line by Line Meaning
Mhm mhm I was New York City bound when I left my old hometown
I was leaving my hometown to relocate to New York City
But I got hung up like a fool somehow along the way
I got sidetracked along the way
Lord God her name was Sally she lived in the Kanawha Valley
I met a woman named Sally who lived in Kanawha Valley
Just outside of Charleston West Virginia US of A
Sally lived near Charleston, West Virginia in the United States of America
Sally done me down and dirty really put that hurtin' on me
Sally betrayed me and caused me great pain
Reckon how she must have got her kicks that'a way
I think she enjoyed hurting me
She turned me every way but loose blew my mind and cooked my goose
She completely overwhelmed me and left me in shock
And stomped my Georgia soul into that West Virginia clay
She crushed my spirit
Now I'm walkin' back to Georgia cryin' Lord I feel like I'm a dyin'
I'm now heading back to Georgia and I feel like I'm dying
Everything I try to do right seems to turn out wrong
My attempts at making things better always seem to fail
I met a gal from West Virginia that woman sure enough sent me home
I met a woman from West Virginia who made me return home
With my hat in my hand
I returned ashamed and defeated
A hummin' some old worn out song like a man whose mind is gone uh huh huh
I was singing an old song feeling like a broken man
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BARE, SHAVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind