Luyện nghe bài hát All American Boy

Gather 'round and I'll tell you a story
how to become an all-American Boy.
Just buy you a guitar and put it in
and you'll be a rockin and a soon.
Impressin the girls, hittin hot licks, and all jazz.
I me a guitar about a year ago and I
how to play it in a day or so.
And all around it was well understood
I was knocking 'em out like Johnny B. Goode.
Hot licks, showing off, ah, one.
I practiced all day and up into the night,
My papa's was a gettin kinda white.
He didn't dig that,ah, and roll.
He said, "You can stay boy, but gotta go."
He's a square; just dig me at all.
So I packed my guitar, picks and all, and I farewll to my poor old pa.
I split for Memphis they say 'you all'
And them swinging cats are a a ball.
Yeah, they love me there, guitar picks and all.
I was rocking and and getting all the breaks,
And the girls all that I had what it takes,
When up a man with a big cigar. He said. "Come here, kid.
I'm make you a star."
Put you on "Bandstand', buy you a cadillac. here, kid."
So I signed my name and a star, having a ball with my guitar.
Driving a big, cadillac. And fighting the girls off'n my back.
But they just keep a comin, screaming, they it.
So I picked my guitar a great big grin
And the money just kept on in.
And then one day my Uncle Sam (thump, thump, thump) "here I am!
Uncle Sam needs you, boy. Gimme that guitar. Take this rifle. Yeahhhh - gonna cut your off... .

A letter Don Powell

of your lyrics are on the money - I merely cleared up a few that you
apparently couldn't distinguish from the record. I backed Bobby with guitar on the original cut for All American Boy. I was playing in R&R band in Dayton, Ohio when one night Bobby and his manager showed up. They had a few beers, introduced themselves on a break and asked if we would be interested in backing Bobby on a novelty song about Elvis being drafted into the army. We practiced the song the next day, a Sunday, drove to Cincinatti on Monday, and cut the record in King Studios there. The third try was a take and became the song which became a hit. The band was given the option of taking a percentage of record sales, assuming it be marketed and did well; or we could receive 'session fee', which was about $35.00/person. without exception the band members (all five of us) took the $35.00. You can imagine our surprise (and delight) to hear the song being played on the radio all over Ohio and the whole midwest.

The reason for the confusion re Bobby's name not appearing on the Fraternity label, who bought pressing and distribution rights, was that two weeks prior to the recording, Bobby, ironically, had been drafted and knew that he would not be able to promote the song by touring or personal appearances. His best friend, Bill Parsons, was allowed to assume Bobby's role, and Bill actually did record the flip side of AAB a jazzed up version of Rubber Dolly. When the record hit, Bobby was in boot camp in the army, and I and the band (now called the "All American Boys") went on tour of the midwest with Bill Parsons, playing at small to medium venues in clubs and auditoriums from Detroit to St. Louis. But it could not be pulled off. Bill Parsons was no Bobby Bare and the we soon faded back into obscurity, playing at neighborhood bars in Dayton, Ohio. Bobby was a true-born, gifted singer and songwriter with the magic ability to be at one with an audience. He was truly one of a kind.

Don Powell (919) 280-6878 [email protected]
I will be happy to share any and anecdotes re Bobby with you should you desire. DGP