Released 1968 Recorded 1968 Length 3:55 | Format Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM Genre Traditional pop music | |
B-side "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | ||
"With Pen in Hand" is a song written by Bobby Goldsboro, which was a hit for several artists in the late 1960s and the 1970s. The song's lyrics address the subjects of divorce and losing custody of one's child, and are sung from the perspective of the parent who expects to be losing custody of their child, as they make a final plea to their spouse to reconcile before the divorce is finalized.
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Vikki Carr version
In late 1968, Vikki Carr released “With Pen in Hand” as a single in the United Kingdom. In early 1969, Carr's version was released in the United States, where it spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 35, while reaching No. 6 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and No. 42 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada, Vikki Carr's version of "With Pen in Hand" reached No. 38 on the RPM 100, and No. 4 on RPM's Adult Contemporary chart. Carr's version also reached No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1970, Vikki Carr was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her rendition of "With Pen in Hand".
Bobby Goldsboro version
On February 26, 1968, Bobby Goldsboro recorded a version of "With Pen in Hand", and on August 1, 1972, he released it as a single. Goldsboro's version spent 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 94, while reaching No. 28 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and No. 87 on the Cash Box Top 100.
Other versions
In April 1968, Johnny Darrell released a version of “With Pen in Hand”, which reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Country chart and No. 126 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.
In June 1968, Billy Vera released a version of the song, which spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 43, while reaching No. 25 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and No. 12 on Canada's RPM 100.
In July 1968, Jerry Vale released a version of the song on the album This Guy's In Love With You. Vale's version reached No. 30 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
In 1977, Dorothy Moore released a version of the song, which reached No. 12 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 101 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.