About The Song
In the summer of 1983 Bobby Bare entered the studio to record his album *Drinkin’ from the Bottle, Singin’ from the Heart*, released on August 1 by Columbia Records. Among the eleven tracks was the humorous novelty number “Three-Legged Man,” written by Shel Silverstein. The two-minute-and-fifty-three-second song fit comfortably into Bare’s long-running collaboration with Silverstein, which had already produced classics such as “Marie Laveau” and “The Mermaid.” Although never issued as a charting single, the track quickly became a favorite among fans who enjoyed Bare’s witty, story-driven material from the early 1980s.
Silverstein crafted the song as a classic tall tale built around an absurd love triangle. The narrator, a three-legged man, falls for a two-legged woman and steals her away from her one-legged boyfriend. The verses follow the trio across the country as the jealous one-legged man gives chase, creating a ridiculous chase scene filled with slapstick imagery and clever wordplay. The chorus repeats the central absurdity: “I’m a three-legged man with a two-legged woman / Being chased across country by a one-legged fool.” Silverstein’s gift for turning physical oddities into comic situations gave Bare another vehicle for his deadpan storytelling style.
Bare delivered the performance with the relaxed, conversational baritone and dry sense of humor that defined much of his Silverstein-era work. His warm, easygoing phrasing let the ridiculous premise unfold naturally, never forcing the laughs. The arrangement kept things light and acoustic-driven, with subtle guitar work and a steady rhythm that echoed the feel of an old-time medicine-show tale. The production stayed straightforward, allowing the song’s wit and Bare’s natural timing to carry the entire track without unnecessary embellishment.
By 1983 Bare was no longer scoring regular Top 10 hits, but he continued to champion strong outside material that suited his personality. *Drinkin’ from the Bottle, Singin’ from the Heart* reflected his ongoing commitment to clever, character-rich songs at a time when much of country radio had shifted toward more polished pop-country sounds. “Three-Legged Man” stood out as one of the album’s most memorable cuts, appealing to longtime fans who appreciated Bare’s willingness to embrace quirky, intelligent humor.
Over the years the song has remained a cult favorite among collectors of Bare’s catalog and Silverstein’s songwriting. It has appeared on various compilations and reissues, including later box sets that document Bare’s complete Silverstein collaborations. Other artists, including Steve Goodman and Ray Stevens, also recorded versions, but Bare’s relaxed take is widely regarded as the definitive recording that best captures the song’s playful spirit.
More than forty years after its release, “Three-Legged Man” continues to entertain listeners with its absurd premise and sharp wordplay. The track captures a lighter side of Bobby Bare’s artistry, proving once again that his warm delivery and impeccable timing could turn even the most outlandish story into something genuinely funny and oddly endearing.
What began as another strong Silverstein composition on a solid 1983 album became a lasting example of Bare’s gift for finding and interpreting distinctive material. The song reminds fans why his collaborations with Shel Silverstein produced some of the most entertaining and enduring novelty records in classic country music.
Video
Lyric
Now friends you’d never guess it so I really must confess it
I just met the sweetest woman of my long dismal life
But a friend of mine said, “Buddy just in case your mind is muddy
Don’t you know that girl you’re fooling with is Peg-Leg Johnson’s wife
And that man is hard, and cold, and mean, and grim
And he’ll catch you and he’ll brain you with his artificial limb”
But next morning, bright and early, I stole old Peg-Leg’s girlie
And I also took his wooden leg just to play it safe
But there weren’t no time for laughter ’cause he started hopping after
And I keep on running faster, but he won’t give up the chase
And I’m running through the mountains with his bride
And I got his wooden leg here by my side
I’m a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
Being chased across country by a one-legged fool
Though he’s hoppin’, and he’s flappin’, and he shows no sign of stoppin’
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel
Through the deserts, and the valleys, and those dark Chicago alleys
Cross the muddy Mississippi to the hills of Caroline
Through the mountains of Montana and the swamps of Louisiana
Each time that I look back, he’s just about one foot behind
I know he must be cold, and wet, and sick
But in spite of all his troubles, he can kick
Oh, he’s ragged, and he’s filthy, and I’m feeling kinda guilty
‘Specially in the evening when I hear him plead and beg
He says, “In spite of all your stealing friend, I bear you no hard feelings
You can keep the damned old woman but please give me back my leg
‘Cause old friend, I know you think you took my wooden leg
But in the dark, you made a mistake and you took my good leg”
I’m a three-legged man with a two-legged woman
Being chased across country by a one-legged fool
Though he’s hoppin’, and he’s flappin’, and he shows no sign of stoppin’
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel
I tell you boys this life is hard and cruel