‘Leaving On A Jet Plane’ – Play, Repeat: Legendary Tune

Who else loved the song, “Leaving On A Jet Plane?”

When we took weekend trips to Vermont, the 8 track tapes we played singers like Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Carole King, Peter Paul And Mary, James Taylor, John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel.

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” was written by a young John Denver, who was then a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio before beginning his solo career in the 1970s. Denver wrote this in 1967 ironically during a layover at Washington airport. The Chad Mitchell Trio (of which the then unknown Denver had replaced Mitchell two years prior) recorded the song that year, as did Spanky & Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary. It only became a hit when the famous folk trio, Peter Paul And Mary released it as a single two years later.

SO, we got to listen to it by all of the aforementioned and repeated the versions by John Denver and Peter, Paul And Mary like a broken record. Looking back, I am not sure which version I like best… so I have decided to share all the versions with you and we can decide together!!!

Lyrics to “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver

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

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
I 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 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
I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
I 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
I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Leavin’ on a jet plane
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Leavin’ on a jet plane
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go