# Leaving On A Jet Plane **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832 "2000-04-03T20:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Keeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@Keeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeves)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/1 "2000-04-03T20:15:00Z")
Anyone know what this song is about? So many lines hint at a much deeper story. > [@](#): > > LEAVING ON A JET PLANE > Peter, Paul & Mary > (John Denver) > Cherry Lane Music, Inc. BMI > > 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 breakin’, > It’s early morn > The taxi’s waitin’, > He’s blowin’ 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 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 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) It sounds like they are in love, and she has to leave because she cheated on him. She tries to apologize, but I guess he doesn’t accept her apology. But then would she really expect a kiss goodbye? The song takes place in the early morning, so I guess they were together for the night, which also suggests that they were **not** on bad terms. Not to mention how she expects to marry him when she gets back. But on the other hand, she doesn’t know when she’s going to return, so it’s not just a quick visit somewhere, but something extended. This doesn’t belong in MPSIMS, does it? I’m really wondering if anyone else has thought about this. Trying to figure out why she had to leave bugs me even more than trying to figure out what she and Billy Jo were throwing off of the Tallahatchee Bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Dalou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dalou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dalou)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/2 "2000-04-04T08:55:00Z")
I believe John Denver wrote this one for his ex-wife Annie, who he was still married to at the time. I read it as: he’s leaving to do a gig, tour or whatever and she was staying behind, likely because of their kids. There is reportedly some incidents of infidelity on his part, which I think is what he’s referring to here. I don’t see it as he’s either leaving or being kicked out, but rather he’s “doing his job” and alluding to the possiblity that the job is due, at least in part, to the infidelity (life on the road, away from home, groupies, etc.) but that he has hopes them being able to one day be together, though it didn’t take; they got divorced long before he died in '97. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/3 "2000-04-05T23:15:00Z")
I don’t read it to mean the reason for having to leave is the infidelity. Rather, the person (guy or girl) has to leave for some extended commitment (job, army) and is unsure when that will be over. The infidelity is just a point in passing. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/4 "2000-04-06T00:52:00Z")
Most of Denvers songs were literal. I’m sure this song means exactly what it says. He has to leave for a while, and want’s her to know how much he loves her. I’m not a _huge_ John Denver fan, but this is one of his songs that he could sing beautifully. Peace, mangeorge * * * Teach your kids to bungee jump. One them might have to cross a bridge someday. ---
**Author:** ![brooklyn44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@brooklyn44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brooklyn44)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/5 "2000-04-06T02:34:00Z")
I don’t believe Denver was yet married to Annie (who fills up his senses like a night in the forest) when he wrote the song…“when i come back I’ll wear your wedding ring” sounds like a commitment to marry. ---
**Author:** ![ASPA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@ASPA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASPA)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/6 "2000-04-06T03:55:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Irishman: > …The infidelity is just a point in passing. I agree. Seems to be a point in general reflection on events concerning the relationship and how those events intensify feelings of devotion even as the person leaves to complete some outside term of committment. ---
**Author:** ![ASPA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@ASPA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASPA)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/7 "2000-04-06T03:57:00Z")
i.e. I cheated, you forgave / stayed, I love you all the more… ---
**Author:** ![ASPA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@ASPA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASPA)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/8 "2000-04-06T04:00:00Z")
or cheated / strayed / _“played”_ ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/9 "2000-04-06T04:02:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Keeves: > **…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 wear your wedding ring…** In the John Denver version, he says: “when I come back, I’ll BRING your wedding ring” so I tend to agree with the promise of marriage. * * * ## Joe Cool Full speed, right ahead Don’t stop, you can sleep when you’re dead ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/10 "2000-04-06T16:14:00Z")
I’ve always thought the song referred to a girl pledging to wait for her man being sent overseas during Viet Nam…considering the era in which this song was released. * * * “They’re coming to take me away ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee, to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time… :)” - Napoleon IV ---
**Author:** ![Keeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@Keeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeves)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/9832/11 "2000-04-07T05:47:00Z")
Thanks all. Your comments have helped.