Leaving On A Jet Plane
Glee Cast Lyrics

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Will:
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waiting, he's blown his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, let me kiss you
Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way
And dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times I won't have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
But I'm leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Overall Meaning

The song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver tells a story about a man who is leaving his lover and asking her to wait for him. The first stanza describes the man's current situation; he is packed and ready to leave, but he hates having to wake his lover up to say goodbye. The dawn is breaking, and the taxi is waiting. Already, he is feeling lonely despite just being outside his lover's door. The chorus is a plea for his lover to kiss him and smile for him, to hold him like she'll never let him go - because he hates having to leave her.

Throughout the song, the lyrics reveal the man's regret for letting his lover down in the past. He admits to playing around and letting her down multiple times. However, he tells her that all of that doesn't mean anything and that he will think of her everywhere he goes and dedicate every song he sings to her. He promises to come back with a wedding ring. In the final stanza, the man says his final goodbye, asking his lover to close her eyes and dream of the days when he won't have to leave alone, and when he won't have to say goodbye.

In summary, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a bittersweet song about a man leaving his lover and asking her to wait for him. The lyrics capture the man's sadness about leaving and regret for past mistakes, but also the hope and promise of a future together.

Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm fully prepared for departure

I'm standin' here outside your door
I'm currently waiting by your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I don't want to disturb your sleep to bid farewell

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
It's early in the morning when the sky is getting lighter

The taxi's waiting, he's blown his horn
The cab is ready, the driver is honking his horn

Already I'm so lonesome I could die
I'm already feeling very lonely and sad

So kiss me and smile for me
Please give me a farewell kiss and a smile

Tell me that you'll wait for me
Assure me that you'll be waiting for my return

Hold me like you'll never let me go
Hug me as if you'll never want to let go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I'm departing via airplane

Don't know when I'll be back again
I'm uncertain of my return date

Oh babe, I hate to go
I feel very sad to leave

There's so many times I've let you down
I've disappointed you countless times

So many times I've played around
I've been unfaithful numerous times

I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I'm confessing that these misdeeds were meaningless

Every place I go, I'll think of you
I'll be reminded of you in every location I travel

Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
I'll dedicate every song I perform to you

When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
I'll bring an engagement ring for you when I return home

Now the time has come to leave you
It's time for me to depart from you

One more time, let me kiss you
Let's share one more kiss before I go

Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way
Please close your eyes while I depart

And dream about the days to come
Please think about our future together

When I won't have to leave alone
I won't have to travel alone in the future

About the times I won't have to say
I won't have to say goodbye so frequently in the future

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Please give me a goodbye kiss and a smile

But I'm leaving on a jet plane
I'm departing via airplane

Don't know when I'll be back again
I'm uncertain of my return date

Oh babe, I hate to go
I feel very sad to leave

Contributed by Levi W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Syifa Hasnun

5y↑22

I'm ... I'm ...

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

I'm ...

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I'll tell you now, they don't mean a thing

Every place I go, I think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, oh, let me kiss you
And close your eyes and I'll be on my way

Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times that I won't have to say ...

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

And I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

But I'm leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane
(Ah ah ah ah)
(Leaving) On a jet plane