“Leaving on a Jet Plane” is a popular folk song written by John Denver in 1966. It was later made famous by the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, who recorded and released the song in 1969 on their album “Album 1700.”
The song expresses the melancholy feeling of leaving a loved one behind, especially when uncertain about the return. The narrator regrets having to leave but promises to come back. The emotional depth of the lyrics, coupled with the group’s harmonious vocals, made the song a powerful and relatable ballad.
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” became one of Peter, Paul and Mary’s most successful hits, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. It is considered one of the group’s signature songs and is a classic example of the folk music movement of the 1960s.
Over the years, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” has been covered by numerous artists, but Peter, Paul and Mary’s version remains the most well-known and enduring rendition of this heartfelt ballad.
