Leaving on a Jet Plane
The 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 bittersweet farewell song about leaving someone you love behind to travel far away. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of regret, sadness, and uncertainty as he prepares to depart on a jet plane. The singer is standing outside the door of his lover's house, bags packed and ready to go, but he hates to wake her up to say goodbye, as the dawn is breaking and the taxi is waiting. He is already feeling so lonely that he could die, but he asks his lover to kiss him and smile for him, to tell him that she'll wait for him, and to hold him like she'll never let him go, before he departs.
The song also acknowledges past mistakes and promises to make amends when the singer returns. He has let his lover down so many times and played around, but he assures her that those things don't mean anything now. He promises that he will think of his lover every place he goes, and every song he sings, he will sing for her. When he returns, he will bring her wedding ring.
The last stanza repeats the chorus, expressing the singer's sorrow for leaving his lover behind, but that he must go. He asks his lover to close her eyes and let him give her one final kiss. As he leaves, he dreams about the days to come when he won't have to leave alone, thinking about the times he won't have to say goodbye again.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed
I have packed everything that I need
I'm ready to go
I am prepared to leave
I'm standin' here outside your door
I am outside your door right now
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
I do not want to disturb your sleep to say farewell
But the dawn is breakin'
The sun is rising
It's early morn
It is still early in the morning
The taxi's waitin'
The taxi is ready for me
He's blowin' his horn
The taxi driver is beeping his horn to get my attention
Already I'm so lonesome I could die
I am feeling very lonely already, to the point where it is unbearable
So kiss me and smile for me
Please give me a goodbye kiss and a smile
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Please tell me you will wait for my return
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Hold me tight as if you never want to let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I am leaving by airplane
Don't know when I'll be back again
I am uncertain about when I will be able to return
Oh babe, I hate to go
Oh darling, I really do not want to leave
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 many times before
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
I am assuring you that my past mistakes will not matter anymore
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
You will be on my mind wherever I go
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
Every song I hear will remind me of you and I will sing it for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring
When I return, I will give you a wedding ring
Now the time has come to leave you
The time has come for me to depart
One more time, let me kiss you
Please allow me to kiss you one last time
Then close your eyes
After the kiss, please close your eyes
I'll be on my way
I must leave now
Dream about the days to come
Think about the future
When I won't have to leave alone
When I will not have to depart on my own
About the times, I won't have to say
About the times I will not have to say goodbye
But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
However, I am still leaving by airplane
Don't know when I'll be back again
I am still unsure about my return
Oh babe, I hate to go
Oh darling, I really do not want to leave
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