Leaving on a Jet Plane
Paul and Mary Peter Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

All my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go
I'm standing 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 cry

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I 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 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
I'm leavin' 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
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

Kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Leavin' on a jet plane




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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul, and Mary are a powerful sentiment to love and separation. The song is about a man who is leaving his loved one but is not sure when he will return. The opening verse establishes the scene for the song, as the singer tells his lover he is ready to leave, even though he hates to wake her up to say goodbye. The early morning departure is marked by the taxi driver blowing his horn, adding to the sense of urgency and poignancy of the scene. The singer admits that he is already feeling lonesome and might cry.


The second verse juxtaposes a confession of past mistakes with a pledge to return and wear the wedding ring of his loved one. The line "every place I go, I'll think of you" shows that his love for her transcends his physical presence. The chorus "kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me, hold me like you'll never let me go" expresses both the singer's longing and the hope that his love will remain constant while he is away.


The last verse focuses on the act of leaving, as the singer urges his lover to dream of the days to come when he won't have to leave alone. The repetition of "Leavin' on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again, oh babe I hate to go" reinforces the overarching theme of love and separation.


Overall, Leaving on a Jet Plane is a poignant and emotional song that has resonated with audiences for generations.


Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed,
I have packed all my things and I am ready to leave


I'm ready to go
I am prepared to depart from this place


I'm standing here outside your door
I am currently outside your door


I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I regret having to rouse you from your sleep to bid farewell


But the dawn is breakin'
It is early in the morning and the sun is rising


It's early morn
The sun has just started to come up


The taxi's waitin'
The taxi is outside, ready to take me away


He's blowin' his horn
The taxi driver is honking his horn to signal that it's time to go


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


I could cry
I could burst into tears at any moment


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


Tell me that you'll wait for me
Pledge to wait for my return


Hold me like you'll never let me go
Embrace me tightly, as though you never want to let me leave


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


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


Oh, babe, I hate to go
It pains me to leave you


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


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


I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I want you to know that none of those indiscretions mattered


Every place I go, I'll think of you
I will think of you wherever I end up


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


When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring
When I return, I will be wearing the ring that signifies our union


Now the time has come to leave you
It is time for me to say goodbye


One more time
Once again


Let me kiss you
Please allow me to kiss you


Then close your eyes
After the kiss, you may close your eyes


I'll be on my way
I'll leave now


Dream about the days to come
Think of the future and what it may hold


When I won't have to leave alone
When I won't have to depart without you


About the times, I won't have to say
Think of the times when we won't have to say goodbye


Leavin' on a jet plane
Departing on an airplane


I don't know when I'll be back again
I am uncertain of my return date


Oh babe I hate to go
It brings me great sorrow to leave you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Denver

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@joraeperkins

This is the truth about this song. "...Denver’s inspiration for writing this song is clear, and being put simply, is a song about the difficult choice of whether or not to leave his loved one behind in order to pursue his career.

As a result of being the child of a military family, Denver spent the majority of his childhood moving from place to place. Likewise, attempting to make his way in life as a professional musician, Denver was forced to travel and live cross country, bouncing back and forth between lives and relationships that he had established. In his song, “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” Denver sings about the difficulties that come with never being able to establish himself in one specific area and his longing for a permanent home. In addition, the song was inspired by Denver’s wife, Annie. Denver describes Annie as being the one person who finally grounded him in his life, and he felt that wherever she was, that was truly his home.

With this in mind, leaving behind the one place that he felt he truly belonged triggered many destructive behaviors in Denver involving affairs, alcohol abuse, and drug dependency. In spite of all of his flaws, “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” was written and recorded as one last-ditch effort to save his relationship with Annie, his only true sense of foundation. In his song, Denver sings,

“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 wear your wedding ring.”

John Denver 2In this straightforward plea, Denver forwardly admits to not being the best husband that he could be, but wants Annie to know that he will change everything in his life if only he can be with her. Without her, his life, as flawed and feeble as it may be, is entirely lost.

Interestingly enough, “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” was actually never intended for the public audience. John Denver himself personally recorded the song and published it with his own money, distributing a select number of albums to only his closest family and friends. It was n'ot until the song was accidently released and performed by multiple cover bands, including the group Peter, Paul & Mary, that Denver actually began to preform and sell his unintentional hit.

Ultimately, “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” can be credited as one of Denver’s first truly successful hits as an artist and was a leading force behind his popularity as a singer. Ironically enough, the revenue generated from this song about travel, love, and inconsistency was finally enough to allow Denver to purchase a permanent house of his own, finally a place that he could label, “Home.” https://sites.psu.edu/agk5123/2014/09/15/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/



All comments from YouTube:

@peterrech9563

I remember the day I left for Vietnam as a rifleman replacement. My mother was at the front door trying to hold tears back. Worst experience ever Really never knew that I’d ever see her again. She’s gone now. My friend that drove me is gone as well. And this song reminds me of that day ! 25 th infantry 67-68

@cmung4952

Thank you for your service Sir!🙏 God bless you and your loved ones.

@danielcrawford1125

Thank you for your service.

@lisadefries6718

💐💐💐💐💐💐😊

@telgaudet

ooo

@telgaudet

Ofohll no lo and green beans t

218 More Replies...

@dshaferb

My dad served multiple tours in Cambodia, Laos and of course Vietnam. I was just a little girl at the time but each time he had to leave us he’d pick up his guitar and play /sing this song for me. Each time I’d cry because I knew I might never see him again. Thankfully he’d return every time, however that much more changed from when he left. As I got older he’d always play this song. My dad passed away 3/8/23 at the age of 77. His birthday was 3/11. He just missed it by 3 days. I think it’s fitting that this song will be played at his memorial service. Seems the perfect way to send him off with love.

@PlacidoYT

my condolences. I bet he's a fun dad based on your shorts video

@mariellengiordano9884

I'm in tears, knowing that Dad had the chance to sing to you and give you memories of him singing to you.

@alandynin6023

Aw, take care

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