About The Song
In 1976 Bobby Bare recorded one of the most memorable novelty songs in country music history. “Drop Kick Me Jesus,” written by Paul Craft, was released as a single that year and appeared on his album *The Winner and Other Losers*. The track blended humor, faith, and sports imagery in a way that perfectly suited Bare’s dry, storytelling style. It became one of his signature later-career hits and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.
Paul Craft crafted the song as a lighthearted prayer using American football as its central metaphor. The narrator asks Jesus to “drop kick me through the goalposts of life,” guiding him straight and true amid life’s challenges. The waltz-time arrangement and clever wordplay gave the track an instantly memorable quality. It was the kind of offbeat, intelligent material Bare had long championed, following in the tradition of his work with songwriters like Shel Silverstein.
Bare delivered the performance with his trademark deadpan warmth. His relaxed vocal style let the humor land naturally while still conveying a genuine sense of spiritual longing beneath the joke. The production kept things straightforward, allowing the song’s wit and the strength of the lyric to shine. Listeners immediately connected with the image of being “kicked” through life’s ups and downs by a higher power.
The single climbed to number seventeen on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, giving Bare another solid hit in a decade filled with strong material. While it never reached the commercial heights of his earlier smashes like “Detroit City” or “Marie Laveau,” it became a fan favorite and a staple of his live shows. The song’s unique concept helped it stand out on country radio at a time when more traditional sounds dominated the format.
“Drop Kick Me Jesus” captured a particular strain of country humor that valued clever wordplay and gentle irreverence over broad comedy. Bare had long been drawn to songs with personality and intelligence, and this track fit perfectly into that tradition. Its Grammy nomination reflected industry recognition of both the songwriting and Bare’s ability to make unusual material feel completely natural.
Decades later the song remains one of Bobby Bare’s most fondly remembered recordings. It continues to appear on compilations and playlists celebrating clever country songwriting. The track’s enduring appeal lies in its perfect balance of humor and heart, turning a simple sports metaphor into a memorable statement about faith, guidance, and navigating life’s unpredictable path.
More than forty-five years after its release, “Drop Kick Me Jesus” stands as a testament to Bobby Bare’s gift for finding and interpreting distinctive material. What began as a witty Paul Craft composition became a lasting part of Bare’s legacy, proving that country music could be both funny and thoughtful at the same time.
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Lyric
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left, nor the right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
Make me, oh, make me, Lord, more than I am
Make a piece in your master game plan
Free from the earthly tempestion below
I’ve got the will, Lord, if you’ve got the toe
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left, nor the right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
Bring on the brothers who’ve gone on before
And all of the sisters who’ve knocked at your door
All the departed, dear loved ones of mine
And stick ’em up front in the offensive line
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left, nor the right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left, nor the right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
Yeah, dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left, nor the right