Leaving On A Jet Plane
Stevens Lyrics


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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 waiting, he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.

[Chorus]
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 think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring.

[Chorus]

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,





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

Leaving on a Jet Plane is a heart-breaking song filled with raw emotions of love, sadness, and longing. The song was written by John Denver, but it is the version by Peter, Paul, and Mary that became an instant hit. The lyrics paint a picture of a lover ready to leave, and he is trying to hold back his tears in front of his lover. He hates to wake her up to say goodbye, but he has to leave before the dawn breaks. He is heading to the airport, and he is already missing her so much that he could cry. He urges her to kiss him, smile for him, and hold him as if she'll never let him go. He entreats her to wait for him and promises to wear her wedding ring when he returns.


The chorus of the song is the highlight, where he pleads with his lover always to remember him and to wait for when he returns. He acknowledges the number of times he has let her down in the past but assures her that those times don't mean a thing, and he sings every song for her. He tells her that he thinks of her every place he goes and that he will wear her wedding ring when he comes back. The last verse is melancholic as he says his final goodbyes, kisses her one more time and wishes she closes her eyes. He ends the song by asking her to dream of the days to come when they won't have to say goodbye anymore.


In summary, leaving on a jet plane is a song of emotional turmoil. The lyrics touch on themes of love, separation, and the pain of having to say goodbye. Its lyrics have made this song an evergreen classic that still resonates with many lovers worldwide.


Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
All of the singer's belongings are packed and they are prepared to depart.


I'm standing here outside your door
The singer is located outside the door of someone they care about.


I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
The singer dislikes having to wake the person up to notify them of their departure.


But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The sun is rising and it's early morning.


The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn
The artist's mode of transportation is waiting for them and the driver is honking the horn as a signal for departure.


Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.
The singer already feels lonely and sad, almost to the point of tears.


So kiss me and smile for me
The singer requests a kiss and a smile from the person they care about before leaving.


Tell me that you'll wait for me
The artist wants assurance from the person they care about that they will wait for their return.


Hold me like you'll never let me go.
The artist wants to be held tightly, as though they will never be let go.


I'm leavin' on a jet plane
The artist is leaving via an airplane.


I don't know when I'll be back again
The singer is uncertain of when they will return.


Oh, babe, I hate to go.
The artist expresses their dislike of having to depart.


There's so many times I've let you down
The singer acknowledges that they have disappointed the person they care about multiple times.


So many times I've played around
The singer admits to having flirted or cheated.


I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
The singer claims that their past mistakes hold no significance now and they are committed to their relationship.


Every place I go, I think of you
The artist thinks about the person they care about no matter where they go.


Every song I sing, I sing for you
The artist dedicates all of their musical performances to the person they care about.


When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring.
The singer promises to return and proposes to the person they care about.


Now the time has come to leave you
The time has come for the singer to depart from the person they care about.


One more time let me kiss you
The artist desires one final kiss before departure.


Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way.
The artist asks the person they care about to close their eyes as they begin to leave.


Dream about the days to come
The artist encourages the person they care about to dream about their future together.


When I won't have to leave alone
The singer looks forward to a point in the future where they will not have to depart alone.


About the times, I won't have to say
The artist anticipates future moments where they will not have to say goodbye to the person they care about.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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