This song appears on seventeen albums, and was first released on the Rhymes & Reasons Album, This Is John Denver, The Country Roads Collection) and The Rocky Mountain Collection, and has also been rerecorded on the Greatest Hits Vol 1, Changes, Voice of America, John Denver (Italian) Country Classics, Take Me Home, Country Roads - and Other Hits, The Very Best of John Denver (Double CD) and Favourites Albums. A brand new studio recording also appears on the Love Again and A Celebration of Life Albums. Live versions also appears on the Live In London Album and The Wildlife Concert and The Best of John Denver Live Albums as a medley.

All my bags are packed
I¡Â?m ready to go
I¡Â?m standin¡Â? here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin¡Â?
It¡Â?s early morn
The taxi¡Â?s waitin¡Â?
He¡Â?s blowin¡Â? his horn
Already I¡Â?m so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you¡Â?ll wait for me
Hold me like you¡Â?ll never let me go
¡Â?Cause I¡Â?m leavin¡Â? on a jet plane
Don¡Â?t know when I¡Â?ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There¡Â?s so many times I¡Â?ve let you down
So many times I¡Â?ve played around
I tell you now, they don¡Â?t mean a thing
Ev¡Â?ry place I go, I¡Â?ll think of you
Ev¡Â?ry song I sing, I¡Â?ll sing for you
When I come back, I¡Â?ll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you¡Â?ll wait for me
Hold me like you¡Â?ll never let me go
¡Â?Cause I¡Â?m leavin¡Â? on a jet plane
Don¡Â?t know when I¡Â?ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I¡Â?ll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won¡Â?t have to leave alone
About the times, I won¡Â?t have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you¡Â?ll wait for me
Hold me like you¡Â?ll never let me go
¡Â?Cause I¡Â?m leavin¡Â? on a jet plane
Don¡Â?t know when I¡Â?ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

But, I¡Â?m leavin¡Â? on a jet plane
Don¡Â?t know when I¡Â?ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Words and music by John Denver