Leaving On A Jet Plane
Mitchell Trio Lyrics
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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
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
The Mitchell Trio's song Leaving On A Jet Plane is a classic ballad about the emotions of leaving someone behind for an undetermined length of time. The song starts with the singer announcing that he is all packed and ready to leave. He's standing outside his lover's door and he hates to have to wake them up to say goodbye, but he knows that he must go. The dawn is breaking, and he has already scheduled a taxi to take him to the airport. He's already so lonely and sad that he could die.
In the second verse, the singer asks his lover to kiss him and smile for him, tell him that she'll wait for him, and hold him like she'll never let him go. He's leaving on a jet plane, and he has no idea when he'll be back again. He tells her that he's let her down so many times and played around but assures her that none of his past sins will mean anything once he's gone. He promises to think of her every place he goes and sing every song for her.
The song ends with the singer kissing his lover one last time and telling her to close her eyes. He promises to come back with a wedding ring and imagines a future where he won't have to leave her again. He asks her to dream about that future and to wait for him until he returns. The song is a touching and heartfelt tribute to the pain of saying goodbye to those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed
I have packed everything I need for my trip
I'm ready to go
I am fully prepared and eager to leave
I'm standin' here outside your door
I am currently waiting outside your house
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I don't want to disturb you from your sleep but I must say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
The sun is rising
It's early morn
It's still early in the morning
The taxi's waitin'
The transportation I arranged is already waiting for me
He's blowin' his horn
The driver is honking to alert me of his presence
Already I'm so lonesome
I am already feeling lonely and sad
I could die
My emotions are so intense that I feel like I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Please give me a farewell kiss and smile before I leave
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Promise me that you'll wait for my return
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Please hug me tightly as if you never want to let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I am leaving on a plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
I am unsure of the exact date of my return
Oh babe, I hate to go
Expressing how much I dislike leaving you
There's so many times I've let you down
I have disappointed you numerous times in the past
So many times I've played around
I have been unfaithful and disloyal to you before
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I want to reassure you that my past mistakes don't matter anymore
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
You will be constantly on my mind regardless of where I am
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
I will sing songs with you in my thoughts
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
I will come back to ask you to marry me
Now the time has come to leave you
I must finally depart
One more time
One final moment together
Let me kiss you
I want to give you one last kiss goodbye
Then close your eyes
Then close your eyes after the kiss
I'll be on my way
I must leave now
Dream about the days to come
Think about the future and our time together
When I won't have to leave alone
When I won't have to leave without you
About the times, I won't have to say
About the times when I don't have to say goodbye
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Restating that I am leaving on a plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Again, stating uncertainty about the exact date of my return
Oh babe, I hate to go
Repeating the sentiment about hating to leave
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: John Denver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind