He left Auburn University after his second year to pursue a musical career. After three years playing guitar for Roy Orbison, he set out on a solo career in 1964. He soon had a Top Ten hit with his own composition "See the Funny Little Clown."
Other Top 40 hits from the 1960s include:
* "Whenever He Holds You"
* "Little Things"
* "Voodoo Woman"
* "It's Too Late"
* "Blue Autumn"
* "Me Japanese Boy I Love You"
* "Honey"
* "Autumn of My Life"
* "The Straight Life"
"Honey" was a Number One hit in 1968. In the early 1970s he had two more hits, "Watching Scotty Grow," and "Summer (The First Time)." From 1973 to 1975 he hosted the syndicated television variety series The Bobby Goldsboro Show. In the mid-1980's he retired from performing to produce children's entertainment.
With Pen in Hand
Bobby Goldsboro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You sign your name
Today at five
I'll be on that train
And you'll be free
And I'll be alone
So alone
We can't find the love we once knew
If you think
I can't make everything up to you
Then I'll be gone
And you'll be on your own
You'll be on your own
Can you take good care of Jenny
Can you take her to school everyday
Can you teach her how to play
All the games that little girls play
Hear what I say
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Can you make sure each night that she says her prayers
Well if you can do all these things
Then maybe she won't miss me
Maybe she won't miss me
And tonight as you laid in that big lonely bed
And you look at that pillow
Where I laid my head
With your heart on fire
Will you have no desire
To kiss me
Or to hold me
And if you can forget
The good times we had
If you don't think
They out weigh the bad
Well then go ahead
Sign your name
And I'll be
On my way
I'll be on my way
The lyrics to Bobby Goldsboro's "With Pen in Hand" present a heart-wrenching tale of a soon-to-be former couple who are seemingly signing the final documents of their divorce. The song is written from the perspective of the man, who is addressing his soon-to-be ex-wife. The first verse reveals that the wife is the one who is signing the divorce papers, as she writes her name with a pen in hand. The man states that he will be leaving on a train at five o'clock, leaving his ex-wife behind, and he will be left feeling lonely. The second verse intensifies the emotions of the first, as he challenges his ex-wife to reconsider their separation. He implores her to believe that the love they had is still there, and that he has the capability of making things right between them. But, if she still feels the same, then he’ll be leaving her for good.
The bridge is the most emotional part of the song; it speaks to the couple’s daughter, Jenny. He asks his ex-wife whether she can take care of Jenny well, from taking her to her school every day to teaching her how to roll her hair and making sure she says her prayers. If she can do all of that, then hopefully their daughter won't miss him too much. The concluding verse speaks to the wife, as he wonders whether, alone in bed that night, she’ll reconsider signing the divorce papers. He asks if she’ll miss him as much as he misses her, but acknowledges that if she has already moved on, then she should go ahead and sign the papers. The song ends with the man departing on a somber note, leaving his wife behind to dwell on what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
With pen in hand
Using a writing instrument
You sign your name
You add your signature to a document
Today at five
At the current date and time of 5 PM
I'll be on that train
I will leave on the train at that time
And you'll be free
You will not be restricted or tied down
And I'll be alone
I will be without companionship
If you think
If you believe or feel
We can't find the love we once knew
We are unable to rediscover the affection we had before
I can't make everything up to you
I am incapable of compensating for my past mistakes
Then I'll be gone
I will leave
And you'll be on your own
You will be alone and self-sufficient
Can you take good care of Jenny
Can you provide proper care for our child named Jenny
Can you take her to school everyday
Can you transport her to educational institutions daily
Can you teach her how to play
Can you instruct her on how to participate in kid-friendly activities
All the games that little girls play
All of the games that young female children engage in
Hear what I say
Listen to what I am telling you
Can you teach her how to roll up her hair
Can you demonstrate how to style her hair
Can you make sure each night that she says her prayers
Can you ensure that she completes her nightly spiritual rituals
Well if you can do all these things
If you are capable of completing all of these tasks
Then maybe she won't miss me
Perhaps our child will not yearn for my presence
And tonight as you laid in that big lonely bed
As you recline on the large, empty bed this evening
And you look at that pillow
And you observe that cushion
Where I laid my head
Where I rested my cranium
With your heart on fire
With an intense feeling of passionate emotion
Will you have no desire
Will you not feel the need or want
To kiss me
To engage in lip-to-lip contact with me
Or to hold me
Or to grasp me affectionately
And if you can forget
And if you are able to erase from memory
The good times we had
The pleasant experiences we shared
If you don't think
If you do not believe or feel
They out weigh the bad
They surpass the negative occurrences
Well then go ahead
Then, proceed
Sign your name
Add your signature to the document
And I'll be on my way
And I will depart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY GOLDSBORO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikecozzi1040
I met Bobby at a art show many years ago, we talked about his fantastic paintings and music.
He's a Great talented gentleman! We had a wonderful conversation like we knew one another for a long time!
@pietsantana9935
Ooh sometimes we as parents do not think about our future children in the ralationship it's hurt to think about separation, indeed love don't love nobody,heish thank u singers
@DannyR8
Crying to this song right now cause this was my divorced parents favorite song
@ianspencer1585
This song never ages,its still as good today as it was when it first aired.
@jerrybaliang8224
A meaningful song ...
@davejohn9123
nice tear droper.
@pauljames2050
A voice like honey!
@tivatipnaksik2350
smooth and nice song forever
@johncaputo9965
This song saddened me as a teen when it first came out. Little did I know that I would be on that train in 1997. Premonition?
@ernestgodin4025
Very touching