All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' 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 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 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 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 leavin' 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

Oh, 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 leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go



Lyrics submitted by swomprat

Track duration: 04:05

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" as written by John Denver

Lyrics © Chrysalis One Music, EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Leaving On a Jet Plane song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about leaving someone he loved and going off to travel. kind of ironic that he died on a jet plane. my dad keeps playing this song and then my english teacher made us find figurative language in it so it's also rooted in my brain
    Flag infinitypoolon April 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I could be wrong but from listening to this song, I believe that this song is written from the perspective of a victim of a sociopath. It is so beautiful and moving... just like the insincere words of a sociopath. I believe that this guy who is leaving on a jet plane is a player conning some naive girl. He is such a good player, he even seems to con the listeners into believing his lies. (Note - Sociopaths are selfish people who have no guilt about cheating other people behind their backs. It only bothers them when they get caught because that means what they are gaining from the relationship is in jeopardy.) I could be wrong about in interpretation but come on, read the lyrics!
    Flag GoodJBoyon September 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm amazed that JD admits to fooling around on his girlfriend in a song like this.

    "Hey, I'm sorry I've betrayed you so many times and I'm heading out of town again and probably will do it again. But when I come back, I'm going to settle down with you and get married. How bout it?"

    THE PP&M version of this was one of my favorite songs when I was a kid, and still holds a special place in my heart. But the cheating part sure is bittersweet.
    Flag PencilNeckedGeekon September 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is sad enough, but then since Denver died on an airplane it makes it sadder. I watched a movie about some people who had to blow up a giant meteorite that was hurdling towards earth, the characters sang this before they left. Later a bunch of them died. It was very very sad :'( :'( :'(
    Flag horseluver25on July 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song, heard it when I was really young and have loved it ever since.
    Flag rainbowwingson May 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's my travelling song, I get every busker around the world to sing this for me
    Flag nnennaon November 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i heard john denver wrote this song while sitting in an airport. sorta funny how that happens.
    Flag modernaudreyon August 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song and was intrudced to it by my mother. I listen to this song everday. But i think this is ironic he sang this song not to long before he died on a jet plane.
    Flag soccerpl1997on August 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I used to think this song was pure cheese but I worked in Hong Kong for a few months and a really sad German guy put it the jukebox in a bar about 10 times in a row. Every time I hear it now it reminds me of being apart from my girlfriend sitting in a bar on the other side of the world and it cracks me up every time.
    Flag jbseymalloneon August 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i initially heard this song done by fiona apple on her "extrodinary machine" album. for me, this song is all about my boyfriend leaving for iraq.
    Flag 4297headlekon May 07, 2007   Link

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