Leaving On A Jet Plane
John Dennver Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 leavin' 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
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Ev'ry 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 leavin' 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
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 leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane




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

Overall Meaning

In "Leaving on a Jet Plane," John Denver depicts the bittersweet feeling and the emotional upheavals that come with leaving a loved one behind. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is leaving his significant other to go on a trip, but isn't sure when he'll return. The singer doesn't want to make the departure any harder than it already is and wants to keep things light, but it's clear he’s still processing the departure emotionally. He feels guilty for past mistakes and doesn't know when he will return, which only heightens his sadness. Still, he hopes that the relationship will remain strong and they will be reunited soon.


The song starts with the singer announcing that his bags are all ready to go and that it's time to leave. Even though he's excited about the journey, he's standing outside the door of his loved one, and he worries about waking her up just to tell her goodbye. The lyrics then describe the painful feeling of leaving and the melancholy atmosphere of the early morning. He sings of how lonesome he is already feeling, despite having barely left.


In the chorus section, the singer asks his lover to kiss him and smile and make him believe that she'll wait for him. He longs to be held and assures her that he'll be singing every song for her while looking for the day they'll be back together.


Overall, the lyrics of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" convey a sense of longing, loss, and the complexity of human connections. It speaks to the anxiety and sadness of leaving a significant other behind, and the hope that the relationship will survive the trial of separation.



Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed
I have packed all my belongings


I'm ready to go
I am prepared to depart


I'm standin' here outside your door
I am waiting outside your house


I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I do not want to disturb you to bid farewell


But the dawn is breakin'
The sun is rising


It's early morn
It is early morning


The taxi's waitin'
The taxi is waiting for me


He's blowin' his horn
The taxi driver is honking his horn


Already I'm so lonesome
I am already feeling very lonely


I could die
I am extremely sad and could die from it


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


Tell me that you'll wait for me
Assure me that you will wait for me


Hold me like you'll never let me go
Hug me tightly as though you will never let me leave


Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I am departing on a jet airplane


Don't know when I'll be back again
I am uncertain when I will return


Oh babe, I hate to go
I do not want to leave, my love


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


So many times I've played around
I have been unfaithful to you many times


I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I am saying now that those incidents have no importance


Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
I will think of you wherever I am


Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
I will sing all my songs for you


When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
I will bring you a wedding ring when I return


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


One more time
One last time


Let me kiss you
Let me give you a kiss


Then close your eyes
Close your eyes


I'll be on my way
I will depart now


Dream about the days to come
Think about the future


When I won't have to leave alone
When I will not have to depart alone


About the times, I won't have to say
About the times I will not have to say goodbye


But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
However, I am departing on a jet airplane


Don't know when I'll be back again
I am still uncertain when I will return


Oh babe, I hate to go
I still do not want to leave, my love




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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@reservoircats1385

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 leavin' 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 leavin' 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
And I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say
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 leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go



All comments from YouTube:

@viktordickinson7844

His music was poetry, and his music leaves imprints upon the hearts of country boys like him. Rest in peace John

@rvoorma

he is alive yes

@billydick9962

Leaves an impression even on non country folks.

@Your_Wingman

​@@billydick9962 Amen to that 😂

@dawnjohnson3263

And a few city girls . . ❤️

@Matt-kd7xm

"It's ok to be sad, we will always be here"

@larrapappu3064

Here... HERE?! Abe XD yarr hmmmm here....
10 year later
BRO NOT EVEN IN COLLAGE WHERE IS HERE

anyway here a like

@okay38

@@larrapappu3064 i mean its what Calli said to Kiara when she was crying

@akibaratoram6375

that's right peko

@dmzvrs

Glory to takamori

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