Leaving on a Jet Plane

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“Leaving on a Jet Plane”

Single by John Denver
Length	4:04
Audio sample
Info (help·info)

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1967 during a layover at an airport in Washington and recorded by the Mitchell Trio that year. The original title of the song was "Oh Babe I Hate To Go" but Denver's then producer, Milt Okun, convinced him to change the title. Denver wrote the song after his flight was delayed. He would later call the hours waiting for the next flight the most profitable of his life.^{[citation needed]} Others covered the song in 1967, including Spanky & Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary on Album 1700. It did not become a hit until Peter, Paul and Mary released it as a single in 1969. It turned out to be their biggest (and final) hit, becoming their only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

[edit] Cover versions

Country group The Kendalls recorded the song, which entered the U.S. country singles top-fifty in 1970 .

The song prompted litigation involving the British group New Order. The band's single, "Run 2" (1989), was the subject of a lawsuit brought by John Denver, who argued that its wordless guitar break was based on his "Leaving on a Jet Plane". An out-of-court settlement ensured that the song would never be re-released in its original form. ^[1]

A cover by Chantal Kreviazuk was used in the 1998 film Armageddon and became an international hit. During the movie, A. J. Frost sings part of the song to Grace as the astronauts are leaving to board the shuttles.

A more jazzy version by Jimmy Coup previously served as the theme song for the first season of A&E's Airline television program.

A version of the song by Sophie Barker was used in advertisements for British Airways, despite the fact that John Denver died in a plane crash.

The song was parodied by the comedy band Pinkard and Bowden, with their cover version entitled "Libyan on a Jet Plane".

The song was the 12th track of the 2003 album Everything You Need by the band Slightly Stoopid.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered the song on their 1997 album Have a Ball.

Dinosaur Jr Frontman J Mascis covered the song on a 7" that was released as part of Sub Pop Records 7" Club

Punk band Verbal Warning covered the song on their 2006 album A Kick in the Verbals.

This song was also sung by Frank Sinatra and appeared on "Sinatra and Company" in 1971.

Organist Erik Wm. Suter played this song during his farewell recital in Washington National Cathedral on July 4, 2007, upon leaving his position as cathedral musician to become an airline pilot.

The band Sister Hazel had a cover of Leaving on a Jetplane
Southern college rock icons drivin' n' cryin' covered Leaving on a Jetplane on their 1997 self-titled album
Leavin - Jesse McCartney - is a reference to the song with lyrics pertaining to leaving on a jetplace and it also samples a bit of the tune.
Rapper Mos Def sings an interpolation of the chorus on the remix of his song, "Travellin' Man".

Preceded by "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Peter Paul and Mary version) December 20, 1969	Succeeded by "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross and the Supremes