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.
Your Husband My Wife
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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But what he don't know is I'm true to only you
Tell me where does it stop?
Does he know our married life is on the rocks?
Now, before you say you want me
For the rest of your life
Tell me, what are we gonna do about your husband?
Speak to your side
In the darkness where unfaithfulness must hide
Knowing I'll forever taste
All the tears I'll put upon my children's face
Now, before I say I want you
For the rest of my life
What're we gonna do about my husband?
And what're we gonna do about my wife?
Shouldn't we stop and look around?
Let's think about the hearts we'll be breaking
And though we want each other
Need each other and we love each other
Think about the move we are making
Oh baby, don't you cry
No matter what, we'll never ever say goodbye
And Bobby, I promise you this
Though I wear his ring, I'll always wear your kiss
But as for marriage, we can't pay the price
'Cause you don't really want to hurt your husband
And you don't really want to hurt your wife
So what're we gonna do about your husband?
What're we gonna do about your wife?
The lyrics of Bobby Bare's song "Your Husband" narrate the tale of two individuals involved in an extramarital affair. The singer starts by acknowledging that he/she is faithful only to the person with whom he/she is currently involved, i.e., the lover. There's a constant dilemma of whether the married life of the lover is deteriorating, and if so, how much does the spouse know about the ongoing affair. The singer questions the practicality of giving into each other's desires and to make a choice. This choice pertains to facing the consequences of breaking two marriages by being together for the rest of their lives.
Further, the singer talks about the secrecy in their relationship and how they hide their unfaithfulness in the darkness. He emphasizes that they cannot stain the lives of their children, and must realize the gravity of the decision they make. They debate internally whether they should continue the affair or not, realizing that their actions will affect a lot of people. But the assurance is given to each other they will never say goodbye, even if they reveal the truth about their relationship to their partners. The song ends with a conclusion that they can't afford to lose everything, their marriages included. They sympathize with each other, but as much as they love, want, and need each other, they love their respective partners, too; hence the question remains, what will they do about their spouse.
Line by Line Meaning
He knows I'm true
Your husband thinks I am loyal to him
But what he don't know is I'm true to only you
Your husband is unaware that I am only faithful to you
Tell me where does it stop?
Where is the limit to our affair?
Does he know our married life is on the rocks?
Is your husband aware that our marriage is in trouble?
Now, before you say you want me
Before you express your desire for me
For the rest of your life
For the remainder of your days
Tell me, what are we gonna do about your husband?
What course of action should we take regarding your spouse?
And what're we gonna do about your wife?
What plan do we have for your significant other?
Speak to your side
Address your part of this predicament
In the darkness where unfaithfulness must hide
We must keep our infidelity hidden in darkness
Knowing I'll forever taste
I will always bear the burden of
All the tears I'll put upon my children's face
The emotional toll that my actions will have on our children
Now, before I say I want you
Before I declare that I desire you
For the rest of my life
For the rest of my time living
What're we gonna do about my husband?
What action plan do we have regarding my spouse?
And what're we gonna do about my wife?
What is our plan of action for my significant other?
Shouldn't we stop and look around?
Are we not obligated to stop and assess the situation?
Let's think about the hearts we'll be breaking
Let us consider the emotional damage we will be causing
And though we want each other
Even though we desire each other
Need each other and we love each other
And we have a deep affection for each other
Think about the move we are making
Consider the decision we are about to make
Oh baby, don't you cry
Do not weep, my love
No matter what, we'll never ever say goodbye
We will always be together, regardless of the obstacles we face
And Bobby, I promise you this
And, Bobby, I assure you of this
Though I wear his ring, I'll always wear your kiss
Even though I am married to him, I will still hold onto the memory of our affection
But as for marriage, we can't pay the price
However, regarding our marital vows, we cannot afford the cost
'Cause you don't really want to hurt your husband
Because hurting your husband is not something you genuinely desire
And you don't really want to hurt your wife
Similarly, you do not wish to cause pain to your significant other
So what're we gonna do about your husband?
Therefore, what plan of action do we have for your spouse?
What're we gonna do about your wife?
What steps will we take regarding your significant other?
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Written by: IRWIN LEVINE, TONI WINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind