Song Stories: John Denver: Leaving on a Jet Plane
'Leaving on a Jet Plane' was written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver in 1966. Originally included on his debut recording 'John Denver Sings' with a different title, 'Babe I Hate to Go', the album did not have many copies, and Denver's original plan was to give the record out as a present for Christmas in 1966.
Milt Okun, Denver's then producer, convinced him to change the title, and it was then renamed 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' in 1967. That same year, Denver recorded the song again for his debut studio album, 'Rhymes & Reasons', and it was released as a single in October 1969 through RCA Records. Although it is one of John Denver's best-known songs, his single failed to chart.
A further re-recording of the song was completed in 1973 for the John Denver Greatest Hits album. This is the version that most of us now know and is seen as the definitive version of the song.
The song was written when Denver was just 23, in a layover at Washington National Airport.
In one of his BBC Radio specials, Denver said about the song:
"This is a very personal and very special song for me. It doesn't conjure up Boeing 707s or 747s for me as much as it does the simple scenes of leaving. Bags packed and standing by the front door, taxi pulling up in the early morning hours, the sound of a door closing behind you, and the thought of leaving someone that you care for very much. I was fortunate to have Peter, Paul, and Mary record it and have it become a hit, but it still strikes a lonely and anguished chord in me, because the separation still continues, although not so long and not so often nowadays"
Though not written about the Vietnam War, the Peter, Paul and Mary cover of the song was interpreted by at least one writer to be a protest song about a soldier's impending deployment.
In the 1980s, 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 Denver, who argued that its wordless guitar break was based on his 'Leaving on a Jet Plane'. The case was settled out of court, and Denver subsequently received a co-writer credit for the song.
In more recent years, the jet plane has been used a lot less in the literal sense. Instead, it’s become a powerful metaphor for departure, transition, and sometimes even finality. The end of a journey, or even in some cases, the end of a life.
"'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane / Don't know when I'll be back again,"
It conveys a deep sense of longing and uncertainty. Denver’s use of the jet plane symbolises more than just physical travel; it represents emotional distance, separation, and the bittersweet nature of change.
Over time, this image has continued to resonate in popular music, becoming a cornerstone for the universal feeling of having to say goodbye, even when the destination remains unknown.
Despite its gentle melody, 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' carries an undercurrent of sadness. It’s not a triumphant farewell, but a quiet, reluctant goodbye. That universal emotion, the ache of departure in all senses, is what has kept the song timeless, resonating with listeners across generations who have faced the same moment.
A truly exceptional piece of songwriting, sometimes a song can transcend what the writer originally meant. When John Denver wrote it, in a layover back in the 1960s, he could not have possibly comprehended what the song would go on to soundtrack. The memories it would evoke, the stories that would be told, the tears that would be shed, and the laughter shared. Music is an extraordinary thing.
For Glenda and those who we've lost along the way.
Thank you for reading
Jack