JOHN DENVER - LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

COUNTRY LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

JOHN DENVER

SONGWRITER: JOHN DENVER

COUNTRY: JOHN DENVER SINGS

ALBUM: ALBUM 1700

LABEL: WARNER BROS.

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 1969

 

         Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943–October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer. After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was one of America's best-selling performers; AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers of his era".

        Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum in the U.S by the RIAA, with estimated sales of more than 33 million units. He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".

        Denver appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1977 hit Oh, God!, in which he starred alongside George Burns. He continued to record into the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues as well as lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress to protest censorship in music. He lived in Aspen for much of his life, where he was known for his love of Colorado. In 1974, Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007.

An avid pilot, Denver died at age 53 in a single-fatality crash while piloting a recently purchased light plane.

        "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1966 and most famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. The original title of the song was "Babe, I Hate to Go", as featured on his 1966 studio album John Denver Sings, but Denver's then producer Milt Okun convinced him to change the title. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded the song for their 1967 studio album, Album 1700, and Warner Bros.- Seven Arts released it as a single in 1969.

      It turned out to be Peter, Paul and Mary's biggest (and final) hit, becoming their only Nº. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song also spent three weeks atop the easy listening chart and was used in commercials for United Airlines in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The song also topped the charts in Canada, and reached No. 2 in both the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart in February 1970.

       In 1969, John Denver recorded a version of the song for his debut studio album, Rhymes & Reasons, and re-recorded it in 1973 for John Denver's Greatest Hits. His version was featured in the end credits of The Guard.

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 blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesome 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 leaving 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

 

Everyplace 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

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

 

Well, the time has come to leave you

One more time let me kiss you

Then close your eyes and I'll be on my way

 

Dream about the days to come

When I won't have to leave you alone

About the times I won't have to say

 

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 leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

I'm leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go.