Leaving On A Jet Plane

by

Peter, Paul and Mary

Album: Album 1700     Released: 1969

US Chart: 1      UK Chart: 2

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This was written by a very 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 during a layover at Washington airport, "Not so much from feeling that way for someone, but from the longing of having someone to love" (quote from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh). The Chad Mitchell Trio recorded it that year. as did Spanky & Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary. It only became a hit when the latter act covered the song again 2 years later. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

This became the biggest hit for Peter, Paul and Mary, and also their last.

John Denver successfully took legal action against New Order, claiming that the guitar break on New Order's third single from their Technique album, "Run 2," too closely resembled "Leaving on a Jet Plane." The case was settled out of court, and as a result the single can never be re-released in its original form. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

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Comments:

John Denver is one of those artist that is not "cool" to listen to but I have to disagree with those that say such things.Many of those that say this are the ones listing to pop stars and wrappers that can't play a musical instument and need to to lip synch on stage. Leaving on a jet plane is a sad song.Like it or not however it is an extremely well written song.When a song conjures up emotions be it sad or happy the songwriter has done his or her job. Denver is not one my favorite artist but I certainly respect his talent.He was as good an acoustic guitar player as anyone you will hear today. When John died I knew the world had lost one of the greats.Of course only as I am writing this do I realize the irony of his death in regards to the title of this song.
- brian , boston, MA

Such a lovely forlorn song and to hear it was from a single man it exudes the profound lonliness a travelling musician goes through. It is all the more touching to read that it is about no one. He wished he had some one to love like that, and THAT is truly a beautiful statement about John Denver. I never got a chance to see him perform and am still upset about the real circumstances of his death and what the record companiy did to this man with the golden voice.
- Jeff , Toronto, ON

This song is about a guy going off to war, he stops off to say goodbye to his girlfriend.
- sara , eckerty, IN

the song is just so amazeing i lovve it ever so much the person who made it was a genuous
- brittany , lakehaven, Australia

It's so beautiful. I've downloaded the song by mistake and I was going to delete it, however I decided to listen to the song, and suddenly mixed emotions started flooding and they do everytime I listen to this song. It's just so beautiful
- Rajab , Benghazi, Egypt

how about Ben Afflecks version?....
- rob , vancouver, Canada

One of the MOST emotional songs ever.
- Jon , Oakridge, OR

NV, I was one of those "kids" who flew off to Vietnam in the sixties. Yes, that is also how I feel about it. At airports all over the country, parents, friends, and sweethearts could be seen hugging the departing uniformed "kids", and some "not so kids". Older military people were among all the departing. They had been there before,..but that didn't make there departure any easier. Tom
- Tom , Tulsa, OK

this song was also covered by me first and the gimme gimmes
- kyle , king george, VA

This song means so much to me because my husband and i are in the navy and i am pregnant and he is leaving to go to japan for a year without me and he wont be here for the birth of our child. He sang this song to me in our baby's room and held me and we cried.
- jamie , san diego, CA

Yes -- John Denver was piloting an experimental aircraft when it crashed. He was indeed a plane down to earth kind of guy.
- Murph , Peoria, IL

this song is also covered by a nad called Slightly Stoopid outa Ocean Beach,California.Its really good
- patrick , san diego, CA

mxpx n frank sinatra have done covers of this song..my favourite line is "hold me like u'll never let me go"
- ariana , lima, Peru

i like this song because make me tihink the day whenmy ex girlfriend left from california ti her country on a jet plane tellling me the she will be waiting for me and i hold her like i never let her go... now we broke up for some reason and i still miss her...sad!!!
- gino , burbank, CA

this song always made me think of all those boys who flew off to RVN, many of whom never lived to come home...it always chokes me up to hear this
- art , sparks, NV

I really like this song because I think of my father the day he left-- on a jet plane... It's sad but I have grown from it.
- Beckie , Atwater, CA

I think he actually died in an ultra-light crash (not a jet plane).
- Rob McCormick , Sydney, Australia

hey btw there is also a band who have covered this song.... they are called me first and the gimme gimmes.... they cover alot of old songs you shud check em out ah the memories.... i dotn have any cuz im 15 lol
- Kim , Derby UK, United States

Didn't John Denver actually die in a plane crash ? It seems he has indeed left us on a jet plane.
- Walter , Antwerp, Belgium

the Barron Knights also done a version..... Heaving on a jet plane
- stew , geelong, Australia

my history teacher thought for years that the lyrics where i'm leaving on a frieght train, he thought that all throughout college and didn't find out till he was married that it was on a jet plane
- Brentley , gibbon, NE

was this song also covered by simon and garfunkel??
- karan , Bangalore, India

A reworked version of this song is the theme to A&E's "Airline".
- Christy , Nashville, TN

John Denver wrote this at the Lubbock, TX airport where he was a student at Texas Tech.
- Bon , Dallas, TX

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