"With Pen in Hand" is a song written by Bobby Goldsboro and first released on his March 1968 album, Honey. 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.Randy Cordova, "12/13: 10 great Vikki Carr songs", The Arizona Republic, December 6, 2014. Accessed July 26, 2015C. Mackenzie, "The Gramophone", Volume 47, (1969) "With Pen in Hand" has been a hit for multiple artists in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Johnny Darrell version The first single release of "With Pen in Hand" was by Johnny Darrell on April 13, 1968. Darrell's version reached No. 3 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart,"Hot Country Singles", Billboard, July 6, 1968. p. 36. Accessed December 3, 2015. No. 2 on Record Worlds "Top C&W Singles","Top C&W Singles", Record World, June 29, 1968. p. 52. Retrieved March 4, 2018. No. 4 on the Cash Box Country Top 50,Cash Box Country Top 50, Cash Box, July 6, 1968. p. 36. Retrieved March 11, 2018. No. 126 on Billboards Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart,"Bubbling Under the Hot 100", Billboard, May 25, 1968. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and No. 12 on Cash Boxs "Looking Ahead" chart of singles with potential of entering the Cash Box Top 100."Looking Ahead", Cash Box, May 18, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved March 11, 2018. He also released it on his August 1968 album also called With Pen in Hand.

Billy Vera version In June 1968, Billy Vera released a version of the song,Billy Vera - With Pen in Hand, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed July 14, 2016. which was his first solo single."Rhythm & Blues", Billboard, June 15, 1968. p. 28. Retrieved March 11, 2018. Vera's version spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 43,Hot 100 - Billy Vera With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018. while reaching No. 25 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Adult Contemporary - Billy Vera With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018. No. 25 on the Cash Box Top 100,Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, July 27, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2018. No. 29 on Record Worlds "100 Top Pops","100 Top Pops", Record World, July 27, 1968. Retrieved March 4, 2018. No. 21 on Record Worlds "Top Non-Rock" chart,"Record World's Top Non-Rock", Record World, July 20, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved March 4, 2018. No. 12 on Canada's RPM 100,"The RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 9, No. 22–23 August 3, 1968. p. 5. Accessed December 3, 2015. and No. 20 on Record Worlds "Juke Box Top 25"."Juke Box Top 25", Record World, July 13, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

Vikki Carr version

Vikki Carr, who has said: "I had to fight for 'With Pen in Hand'",Grigware, Don. "BWW Interviews: Legendary Pop Singer Vikki Carr Talks About Her New Album Viva la Vida", Broadway World, October 15, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2018. had a 15 November 1968 UK single release with a cover of the song. Carr, herself in London at the time recording a TV show, promoted the single on British television and radio, facilitating its charting at No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart.Vikki Carr - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

Also in November 1968, Carr played the Manhattan nightclub Persian Room, with her engagement being recorded as the live album For Once in My Life, from which her performance of "With Pen In Hand" was issued as a single in February 1969. It spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 35,Hot 100 - Vikki Carr With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018. becoming Carr's third and final Top 40 hit on that chart. It also reached No. 6 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Adult Contemporary - Vikki Carr With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018. and was ranked No. 5 on Billboards year-end ranking of 1969's "Top Easy Listening Singles"."Top Records of 1969", Billboard, December 27, 1969. p. 17. Retrieved March 31, 2018.

In Canada, Carr's live version reached No. 38 on the RPM 100,"The RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Vol 11, No. 20. July 14, 1969. p. 5. Retrieved March 30, 2018. and No. 4 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart."Adult", RPM Weekly, Vol 11, No. 20. July 14, 1969. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

The B-side of both the UK and US single versions of "With Pen in Hand" featured Carr's version of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", from the album It Must Be Him.

In 1970, Carr was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her live rendition of "With Pen in Hand".Diane Telgen, "Notable Hispanic American Women", VNR AG, (1999) p. 76

Chart performance Chart (1969)PeakpositionCanada RPM 10038Canada RPM Adult Contemporary4UK Singles Chart39US Billboard Hot 10035US Billboard Easy Listening"Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, July 5, 1969. p. 60. Retrieved March 31, 2018.6US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, July 12, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved March 31, 2018.42US Record World 100 Top Pops"100 Top Pops", Record World, July 19, 1969. Retrieved March 4, 2018.34US Record World Top Non-Rock"Record World Top Non-Rock", Record World, July 12, 1969. p. 19. Retrieved March 3, 2018.7

Bobby Goldsboro version Goldsboro first recorded the song February 26, 1968 and released the song on his March 1968 album, Honey, but he didn't release it as a single until August 1, 1972."You've come a long way Bobby.", Billboard, October 5, 1974. p. BG-20. Accessed December 2, 2015. Goldsboro's version spent 5 weeks on the 1972 Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 94,Hot 100 - Bobby Goldsboro With Pen In Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018. while reaching No. 28 on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Adult Contemporary - Bobby Goldsboro With Pen In Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018. No. 87 on the Cash Box Top 100,Cash Box Top 100, Cash Box, October 14, 1972. p. 4. Accessed July 13, 2016. and No. 92 on Record Worlds "The Singles Chart"."The Singles Chart", Record World, October 14, 1972. p. 27. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

Other versions In 1968, Jerry Vale released a version of the song as a single and on the album This Guy's In Love With You. Vale's version reached No. 30 on Billboards Easy Listening chartAdult Contemporary - Jerry Vale With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and No. 23 on Record Worlds "Top Non-Rock" chart.

Roger Miller released the song on the album A Tender Look At Love in 1968.

Conway Twitty released the song on the album Next in Line in 1968.

Aretha Franklin released the song on the album Let Me in Your Life in 1974.Atlantic LP 7292, Aretha Franklin - Let Me in Your Life, 1974

In 1977, Dorothy Moore released a version of the song as a single and on her eponymous album. Moore's version reached No. 12 on Billboards Hot Soul Singles chart,Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Dorothy Moore With Pen in Hand Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018."Billboard Hot Soul Singles", Billboard, January 28, 1978. p. 96. Retrieved March 31, 2018. No. 101 on Billboards Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart,"Bubbling Under the Hot 100", Billboard, February 4, 1978. p. 30. Retrieved March 31, 2018. No. 92 on Record Worlds "The Singles Chart","The Singles Chart", Record World, February 11, 1978. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and No. 11 on Record Worlds "The R&B Singles Chart","The R&B Singles Chart", Record World, February 11, 1978. p. 50. Retrieved March 11, 2018. No. 103 on Cash Boxs "Looking Ahead" chart,"Looking Ahead", Cash Box, January 28, 1978. p. 54. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and No. 15 on "Cash Box Top 100 R&B"."Cash Box Top 100 R&B", Cash Box, January 28, 1978. p. 51. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

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