The Kendalls were a U.S. country music duo, which had a number of hits duri… Read Full Bio ↴The Kendalls were a U.S. country music duo, which had a number of hits during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The duo consisted of Royce Kendall (born September 25, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri; died May 22, 1998) and his daughter Jeannie Kendall (born October 30, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri).

Career

Formed in 1969, The Kendalls recorded an album for Stop Records, from which a single, a cover of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (previously a hit for Peter, Paul & Mary) was released in 1970, which just narrowly missed the top fifty on the U.S. country charts. The duo signed with Dot Records in 1972, and released an album and 2 singles, "Two Divided By Love", a cover version of The Grass Roots hit and "Everything I Own", a cover of the group Bread's hit, both minor hits for the duo. Eventually they parted with their record label, focusing on performing live for a number of years, before signing with the independent Ovation label in 1977. Their first single for the label, a cover of the Kitty Wells hit "Making Believe", charted only making the Top 80. Meanwhile, Emmylou Harris had released her version of "Making Believe" which was on the charts at the same time as the duo's version. However, it was their second single, a "cheating" song called "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", that proved to be their breakthrough. The song topped the country charts and was also a minor crossover pop hit, and won the 1978 Grammy for Best Country Vocal by a Duo or Group. Subsequent hits included "Just Like Real People", "It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me", "Sweet Desire", "You'd Make an Angel Want to Cheat", and a cover of Dolly Parton's "Put it Off Until Tomorrow". (Jeannie Kendall's powerful soprano has often been compared to Parton's.) In 1981, after Ovation Records closed their doors, the duo signed with Mercury Records, and continued to have hits with the Top 10's "Teach Me To Cheat" and "If You're Waitin' On Me(You're Backin' Up)". More hits followed with "Movin' Train" and "Precious Love" which made the Top 20.

Later Career

Their last top ten hit, "Thank God for the Radio" came in 1984, was also their last number 1 country hit. Their last Top 20's would come in 1984 and 1985 with "My Baby's Gone" and "I'll Dance Every Dance With You". In 1986, they signed with MCA Records where they scored 3 middle level hits that year. In 1987, they signed with Step One Records where they scored several minor hits. In 1989, they signed with Epic Records where their last chart single, "Blue, Blue Day" made the Top 70. They did continue to tour and perform and released several CD's up until Royce Kendall's death from a stroke he suffered in 1998. In the years since her father's death, Jeannie Kendall has released two solo albums, and she continues to perform.

Leaving On A Jet Plane
The Kendalls 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 breaking,
It's early morn
The taxi's waiting,

He's blowing' 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 leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.

There are 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.

(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

The Kendalls' hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a poignant ballad about saying goodbye to a loved one and setting out on a journey. The song paints a vivid picture of the singer's emotions as they stand outside their lover's door, ready to board a plane and leave for an unspecified period of time. The song's opening line, "All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go," sets the stage for the bittersweet narrative that follows.

The singer expresses their sadness at having to wake their lover up to say goodbye, as the dawn breaks and the taxi driver honks his horn outside. Already feeling lonely and emotional, the singer asks for a final kiss and reassurance that their partner will wait for them and hold them close in their absence. The second verse acknowledges the singer's past mistakes and unfaithfulness, but declares that these actions are meaningless in the face of their love for their partner. Finally, the third verse bids a last farewell as the singer departs, hoping for a future where they can be reunited.

Line by Line Meaning

All my bags are packed,
I have packed all of my bags ready for me to go on the trip.

I'm ready to go
I am fully prepared for my departure.

I'm standing here outside your door
I am presently outside your door waiting to leave.

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I do not want to disturb your sleep by saying farewell.

But the dawn is breaking,
It is early in the morning just before the sunrise.

It's early morn
The current time is early in the morning.

The taxi's waiting,
The cab driver is waiting for me to get in and start the journey.

He's blowing' his horn
The driver is sounding the car's horn as a signal for me to arrive on time.

Already I'm so lonesome
I have started feeling a profound sense of loneliness.

I could cry.
I feel like crying due to the sadness of leaving.

So kiss me and smile for me
Kiss and smile at me so that I can remember your affectionate farewell in my memory.

Tell me that you'll wait for me
Promise that you will wait for me and we will see each other again.

Hold me like you'll never let me go.
Embrace me tightly, and give me the feeling that you will never let me go.

I'm leaving on a jet plane
I am departing on a flight scheduled for me.

I don't know when I'll be back again
I am unsure about when I plan to return back home.

Oh, babe, I hate to go.
I do not want to leave your side, but I have to go on this journey.

There are so many times I've let you down
I have disappointed you an unwarranted amount of occasions.

So many times I've played around
I have not been serious in my commitment to you.

I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I am trying to justify my mistakes, but I want you to know that they do not carry any significance.

Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every time I visit a place, I will think of you in every moment there.

Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
Whenever I sing a melody, it will be dedicated to you.

When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring.
When I return, I promise to symbolize our love by wearing your ring.

(Chorus)
Repeating the previous lyrics.

Now the time has come to leave you
It is imperative that I depart now.

One more time
This is the final time before departure.

Let me kiss you
Let me kiss you before I leave.

Then close your eyes,
After the kiss, I want you to close your eyes.

I'll be on my way.
Departing now is necessary, and I must take my leave.

Dream about the days to come
Dream and think positively about the future ahead.

When I won't have to leave alone
When I will not leave by myself, but with you by my side.

About the times, I won't have to say,
Think of the future when I will not have to say goodbye.

(Chorus)
Repeating the previous lyrics.

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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Comments from YouTube:

@PhormerPhantomPhixer

4y↑3

Had the absolute pleasure of meeting them in 80's in Yuma AZ when they did a show there. Both of them were very nice and down to earth. Several of us even got help them load up their bus after the show and spent some time talking to Royce. Great people.