Other artists recorded the song in 1967, including Spanky & Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary on Album 1700. It did not become a hit until Peter, Paul and Mary released it as a single in 1969. It turned out to be their biggest (and final) hit, becoming their only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song also spent three weeks atop the easy listening chart.
Leaving On A Jet Plane
John Denver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver is a classic love song about departing from a loved one. The singer is packed and ready to go and stand outside of their partner’s door. The dawn is breaking, and the taxi is waiting, and despite the early hour, the singer is already feeling very lonesome. The lines, “Already I'm so lonesome, I could die” and “Don't know when I'll be back again, Oh babe, I hate to go,” emphasizes the sadness, and the fear of the unknown that comes with leaving.
The subsequent lines in the song reveal that the singer has a history of letting their partner down and playing around. However, the singer assures their partner that all those moments do not mean a thing, and they will think of their partner everywhere they go and that every song they sing will be for them. The last verse emphasizes how tough it is for the singer to leave their partner, but they must go. The singer kisses their partner and asks them to dream about the days to come when they will not have to leave alone.
In conclusion, this song speaks to lost love, and it is a reminder that even when we have to go away, we take our loved ones with us in our memories and hearts. This is why it is such a beloved classic love song.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed
I have finished packing all of my luggage.
I'm ready to go
I am ready to depart on my trip.
I'm standin' here outside your door
I am currently waiting outside your home.
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I am reluctant to disturb your sleep with my farewell.
But the dawn is breakin'
The sun is beginning to rise.
It's early morn
It is in the early hours of the day.
The taxi's waitin'
The taxi is already present and waiting for me.
He's blowin' his horn
The taxi driver is honking his horn to get my attention.
Already I'm so lonesome I could die
I already feel extremely lonely and it is making me feel miserable.
So kiss me and smile for me
Please give me a kiss and a smile as a farewell.
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Promise me that you'll be waiting for me when I return.
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Embrace me tightly as if you never want to let me go.
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I must depart on a plane.
Don't know when I'll be back again
I'm uncertain as to when I'll return.
Oh babe, I hate to go
I don't want to leave you.
There's so many times I've let you down
I have disappointed you on numerous occasions.
So many times I've played around
I have been unfaithful to you on numerous occasions.
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I am telling you that my past mistakes were meaningless.
Every place I go, I'll think of you
I will remember you wherever I travel.
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
I will sing for you in every performance.
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
I will bring an engagement ring with me when I return.
Now the time has come to leave you
It is time for me to depart.
One more time, Let me kiss you
Please allow me to give you one final kiss.
Then close your eyes
Please close your eyes as I leave.
And I'll be on my way
I will begin my journey.
Dream about the days to come
Think about the future we will have.
When I won't have to leave alone
When we can travel together.
About the times, I won't have to say
When I will not have to say goodbye again.
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
However, I must depart on a plane.
Don't know when I'll be back again
Uncertain when I will return.
Oh babe, I hate to go
I don't want to leave you.
Lyrics © Phonographic Digital Limited (PDL), BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Denver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
Hey J Parker, Sorry to hear you're having these issues. Would you mind please emailing our support team an example album or track to support [at] sonichits.com?
J Parker
SonicHits just gets worse and worse. Albums that don't play,songs that don't play, tracks that are NOT the named song or even the right artist, adverts that cover content and cause the site to interrupt and buffer inthe middle of songs. I've got to find a better music site!
@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
@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