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.
When I´m Gone
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will anything that I've done here live on
Every man's allowed just so much time
And all you take along is what you leave behind
Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
When I'm gone when I'm gone
Oh will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Will anybody cry just a little bit when I'm gone
Will the things I've tried so hopefully all turn to dust alongside of me
Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
When I'm gone when I'm gone
Oh will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Will anybody think about me when I'm gone
Will anybody ever remember me when I'm gone
Will they call me failure or success did I really live or just exist
Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
When I'm gone when I'm gone
Oh will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Bobby Bare's song "When I'm Gone" is a reflective and introspective piece that raises the question of what legacy an individual leaves behind after they pass away. The song opens with the lines "Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone, will anything that I've done here live on," suggesting that after death, the concern shifts to whether or not one's life meant anything at all. Bare refers to the fleeting nature of life with the line "Every man's allowed just so much time, and all you take along is what you leave behind."
In the second verse, the focus shifts to the emotional impact that one leaves on others. Bare wonders whether anyone will cry when he is gone before questioning whether the things he has tried so hard to achieve will become nothing but dust. The third verse expands the scope to the broader concepts of success and failure, and whether one's life ultimately had any meaning or impact on the world. The final line appears repeatedly throughout the song, emphasizing the central question of whether or not anyone will recognize or remember the individual's existence after they die.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the meaning of life and one's place in the world. It underscores the importance of leaving a positive impact and striving for significance in one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Will my existence have any significance after I'm no more?
Will anything that I've done here live on
Will my actions have a lasting impact after I've departed?
Every man's allowed just so much time
Every individual has a predetermined duration of life.
And all you take along is what you leave behind
At the end of life, you only carry the consequences of your actions.
Will anybody cry just a little bit when I'm gone
Will anyone even miss me when I'm no longer here?
Will the things I've tried so hopefully all turn to dust alongside of me
Will my endeavors and hard work amount to nothing after I'm gone?
Will anybody think about me when I'm gone
Will I even make a memorable enough impression on anyone?
Will they call me failure or success did I really live or just exist
Will my life be seen as a success or a failure? Did I truly live fully, or simply exist?
Oh will anybody know I've been here when I'm gone
Will I be remembered at all after I've left this world?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY BARE, DON BOWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore5294
I shall surely remember Mr.
Bobby Bare when
he's gone, assuming of course I outlive him! Primarily
for those gorgeous duets he
sang with Skeeter
Davis, and of course his two immortal hits, DETROIT CITY &
500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME.
Thanks, Bianca!
@gerardlarkinhaverstock5153
One of the greatest singers of the twenty century and a great American.
@chiefslief1886
Beautiful!
@BeMisty
Thanks Chief!
@ronpatrizzi6255
DONT MAKE IT TO SOON WE LOST 2 MANY SINGERS KEEP ON KEEP ON BOBBY
@ohwhatelse
You don't have to think twice, Bobby. You've given us soo many years & soo many reasons to remember, & things to remember you by. You are a National Treadure, Bud. I think it was Roger Miller who answered the question this way: "I don't care HOW I'm remembered, I just don't want to be forgotten." Hey, I don't think either of you have anything to worry about there. "Jesus Is The One Who Loves Us", so just go with God. Love you.