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.
Worried Man Blues
Bobby Bare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
I went across the river, laid me down to sleep
I went across the river, laid me down to sleep
I went across the river, laid me down to sleep
Don't you know
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain line
Oh, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
Well the train I ride, it's twenty one coaches long
The train I ride is twenty one coaches long
The train I ride is twenty one coaches long
The woman I love she's on that train and gone
Oh, it takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
The lyrics to Bobby Bare's Worried Man Blues speak to the human experience of worry and trouble. The repetition in the song emphasizes the gravity of the subject matter, showcasing how important it is to have a sense of concern for one's own well-being. The songwriter suggests that in order to adequately express the anxieties and uncertainties we all face, we must be open and vulnerable, even if it is difficult.
The narrative of the lyrics tells of a man who has been arrested and sentenced for a long time, leaving his loved one waiting for him on a train. His worries and fears are palpable in the song, much like they might be in real life. His situation is one that many listeners can empathize with, as we all have our own personal struggles that can often seem insurmountable. The repetition of the phrase "I'm worried now but I won't be worried long" at the end of each verse suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
The only one who can truly understand and express the feeling of worry is someone who is currently experiencing it.
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
Although I'm currently feeling anxious, I know that it will pass.
I went across the river, laid me down to sleep
I tried to escape from my worries by sleeping.
When I woke up, I had shackles on my feet
Unfortunately, my attempt to escape was futile and now I am metaphorically trapped.
Don't you know
I want to make sure that you understand the significance of my following statement.
I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?
I anxiously sought information about what my punishment would be.
Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain line
The judge revealed that my penalty was a lengthy sentence of 21 years.
Well the train I ride, it's twenty one coaches long
I must travel on a train that contains 21 cars as part of my punishment.
The woman I love she's on that train and gone
To make matters worse, the person I care about most is no longer in my life.
I'm worried now but I won't be worried long
Despite my current concern, I maintain hope that my situation will improve soon.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind