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John Denver – Leaving On A Jet Plane

John Denver | Colorado Music Hall of Fame

About the Song

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” is a song written by American singer-songwriter John Denver. It was released in 1969 on his debut album John Denver Sings. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and number two on the UK Singles Chart.

The song is a country-folk ballad about a young man who is leaving his home and loved ones to travel the world. The song’s lyrics are simple but effective, and the melody is catchy and memorable. Denver’s gentle vocals add to the song’s emotional impact.

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” has been covered by many artists over the years, including:

  • Peter, Paul and Mary
  • Dionne Warwick
  • The Carpenters
  • Willie Nelson
  • Dolly Parton

The song has also been used in a number of films and television shows, including:

  • The Graduate (1968)
  • Forrest Gump (1994)
  • Up in the Air (2009)

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” is a classic folk ballad that has stood the test of time. It is a song that is sure to continue to be enjoyed by listeners for many years to come.

Here are some additional details about the song:

  • The song was written in 1966, when Denver was just 21 years old.
  • The song was inspired by Denver’s own experiences of traveling the world.
  • The song was originally recorded as a demo, but it was later released as a single.
  • The song was a commercial success, reaching number one in the United States and Canada.
  • The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Peter, Paul and Mary, Dionne Warwick, and The Carpenters.
  • The song has also been used in a number of films and television shows, including The Graduate, Forrest Gump, and Up in the Air.

John Denver - Songs, Death & Music

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Lyrics: Leaving On A Jet Plane

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 good-bye
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 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
Every place I go I’ll think of you
Every 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 leaving 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
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

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Dolly Parton turned a simple handmade coat into one of the most powerful songs of her life because to her, it was never really about the fabric. “Coat of Many Colors” sprang directly from Dolly’s growing-up years in East Tennessee. Her mother, Avie Lee, pieced the jacket together by sewing colorful rags the family already owned. Cash was mighty tight, so there was no running down to the store for brand-new clothes. Instead, Avie Lee took what was on hand and stitched together something warm for her little girl to wear. While the needle flew, she shared the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, turning an ordinary piece of clothing into something special in Dolly’s eyes. Proudly wearing that coat to school, Dolly felt rich, but the other kids saw it differently. They laughed at the patches and teased her for having so little. Years down the road, Dolly penned those childhood memories into “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the tune became a shining example of why her songwriting touched so many souls. She never tried to hide hard times or dress up her youth to look prettier than it was. She simply laid the sting of teasing side-by-side with the deep love that stitched the coat together, letting that honest truth speak for itself. The song eventually grew far beyond that original vinyl record. Its spirit inspired the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, followed by Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love the very next year. Those films opened a window into Dolly’s mountain home, introducing folks to the hardworking parents and siblings who shaped her long before the bright lights found her. By then, Dolly had worn glittering stage gowns worth more than her family could ever have dreamed. Yet the garment folks remember best remains that humble little coat stitched by a mother’s loving hands when buying something new simply wasn’t in the cards. That is why the memory stayed alive. The scraps faded away, but the lesson underneath never did.

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TOBY KEITH QUIETLY SLIPPED BEHIND THE STAGE AFTER A USO SHOW TO LEAVE AN UNMARKED ENVELOPE CONTAINING A LIFE-CHANGING CHECK FOR THE FAMILY OF A FALLEN SOLDIER, DEMONSTRATING A DEEP GENEROSITY THAT HE NEVER ONCE SPOKE ABOUT PUBLICLY. Far away from the roaring crowds, bright lights, and patriotic anthems that defined his legendary career, Toby Keith maintained a fierce commitment to honoring military families away from the cameras. When a backstage inquiry revealed a soldier who never made it back, he bypassed public gestures entirely, leaving a substantial, anonymous check to ensure a grieving family was taken care of without ever seeking praise or recognition. Reflecting a life built on grit, authenticity, and profound quiet respect for those who served, the untold story captures the true measure of an American icon who used his platform not to be seen, but to notice who was missing and quietly make things right.

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