Music Friday: John Denver Joins Peter, Paul and Mary in This Rare Rendition of 'Leaving on a Jet Plane'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you superb songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today we feature "Leaving on a Jet Plane," a song written in 1966 by John Denver and famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. It was the trio's biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart in 1969.

Mary Travers and John Denver

In the video at the bottom of this post, we see the song performed by a rarely seen quartet, as Denver adds his sweet voice to the dynamic harmonies of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. 

Originally titled "Babe, I Hate to Go," the love song was written by a 23-year-old Denver during a layover at the airport in Washington, D.C. He was lamenting how much he hated leaving his girlfriend when he went on tour and how he wanted to cement their relationship when he returned.

In Denver's original version, the lyrics promise, "When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring." Interestingly, when Travers sang the lead vocals during her performances with Paul, Paul and Mary, she changed the phrase to "When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring."

Enjoy the video. The lyrics are below because we know you'll be singing along.

"Leaving on a Jet Plane"

Written by John Denver. Performed by Peter, Paul and Mary, with John Denver.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
(Oh baby, don't let me go)
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
(Oh baby, don't let me go)
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'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 and I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
(Oh baby, don't let me go)
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Public Rallies Around Homeless Man Who Returned Engagement Ring Accidentally Dropped Into His Cup; Support Fund Reaches $16,000

On Monday we introduced you to Billy Ray Harris, a homeless man in Kansas City, Mo., who showed tremendous character by returning a diamond-and-platinum engagement ring that was accidentally dropped into his cup.

His story drew international attention, including spots on NBC's Today Show and CNN, and now Harris' future is looking much brighter thanks to the generosity of well-wishers from all over the world.

Sarah Darling, the owner of the ring, and her husband, Bill Krejci, were so moved by Harris' selflessness that they started an online fund for him. As of 11 p.m. last night, Harris' page on the GiveForward web site had surpassed $16,000. The fundraiser will continue until May 15.

Most of the donations are in the $10 to $20 range, but one was as high as $500. The site posts comments from the donors as well as non-monetary "hugs" from supporters.

In a "hug" posted by Tracy, she wrote, "You have such a golden heart! What a joy it is to read news like this! I hope we all get to hear updates on how you are doing! You have touched so many lives, hearts, and souls Mr. Harris!"

“The idea was maybe to come up with a couple hundred dollars, something nice for him,” Krejci told the New York Daily News. “But now we’re talking about an amount that could really make a difference.”

In explaining why he didn't try to sell the ring, Harris told KCTV5, “My grandfather was a reverend. He raised me from the time I was 6 months old and thank the good Lord, it’s a blessing, but I do still have some character.” 

Meteorite Fragments Rain on Russian City; Space Treasure May Be Worth More Than Gold

The spectacular meteorite that exploded in a fireball over Russia's Ural Mountains and sent shock waves through the city of Chelyabinsk on Friday may have been a blessing in disguise for its impoverished residents. When the meteorite exploded, it showered the city with thousands of tiny black stones that may be worth more than their weight in gold.

The New York Times reported that strangers were offering stacks of rubles worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to local residents for the meteorite fragments. 

NASA reported that the 55-foot, 7,000-ton meteorite was the largest known celestial body to enter the Earth’s atmosphere in 100 years. The agency characterized the meteorite as an "airburst fireball type" and predicted that it would shower untold thousands of fragments onto the surface. NASA was right.

Despite the damage and injuries caused by the meteorite's powerful shock waves, news agencies were also reporting that the event sparked a new "gold rush" as local residents, including small children, were scrambling to retrieve the valuable fragments, many buried in deep February snows.

Specifically, they were looking for small holes in the snow that held the celestial treasure — a polished oval black pebble encased in tiny clumps of ice, formed from the last expiring heat of their long journey.

“All it takes is looking carefully,” eight-year-old Sasha Zarezina told a reporter on Monday. “The stones are in the snowdrifts. To find a stone you find a hole. And then you dig.”

“They fell everywhere in the village,” said Alfia N. Zharkova, a mother of two, who has a plastic bag filled with black stones. “The children find them. Everybody who has children has piles of these.”

Larisa V. Briyukova discovered a fist-size stone under a hole in the roof tiles of her woodshed. A stranger offered her $60, and after some haggling, Briyukova accepted $230. Later, another stranger, having seen the hole in the roof, offered her $1,300 for the stone responsible the damage, but it was already sold. 

Ancient Golden Wreaths Unearthed During Thessaloniki Metro Excavations

The ongoing construction of Thessaloniki's modern subway system has unearthed a trove of ancient gold wreaths, which had rested undisturbed in long-forgotten, unmarked cemeteries for some 2,300 years. Excavation crews working in Greece's second-largest city have discovered nine wreaths since the subway project began in 2006.  

According to the Greek Reporter, the ninth wreath was found within a large Macedonian tomb, adorning the head of its female occupant. Construction crews encountered the tomb in an ancient cemetery at what will be the Dimokratias Station stop.

“It’s not common. It’s an extraordinary finding,” Vasiliki Misailidou-Despotidou, director of 16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities for Greece’s General Directorate of Antiquities, told FoxNews.com. “It happens quite seldom.”

In an amazing testament to the enduring qualities of gold, the wreath resembling an olive branch looked virtually new despite being buried for thousands of years. It was dated to the Early Hellenistic Era, at the end of the 4th century/early 3rd century BC.

The nine Thessaloniki wreaths share a common theme. They incorporate oak, olive, vine, laurel or myrtle leaves crafted in gold on a simple gold band meant to encircle the head. The delicate wreaths were intended as adornments for royal or aristocratic burials, according to Discovery News.

The Thessaloniki subway project has already yielded more than 23,000 ancient and medieval artifacts. The subway is scheduled for completion in 2017.

His Grandfather Raised Him to Be Honest, So Homeless Man Returns Platinum-and-Diamond Ring Accidentally Dropped in His Cup

Billy Ray Harris, a 55-year-old homeless man from Kansas City, Mo., is getting national media attention — and possibly a new home — for an act of honesty inspired by the lessons taught by his reverend grandfather.

Last Friday, Harris was collecting spare change from passersby in his normal spot in a part of Kansas City called The Plaza. Sarah Darling happened upon Harris and emptied the spare change from her purse into his cup. Darling didn't realize until much later that among the coins was her platinum-and-diamond engagement ring that she had taken off because it had been irritating her finger.

When Harris packed up for the day, he realized that his cup contained an unusual bonus. At first, he thought the ring had to be fake. But he took it to a local jeweler, who confirmed that it was, indeed, very real.

"The jeweler was willing to give me $4,000 on the spot," Harris told NBC’s Today Show. "But I just couldn't do it." 

Harris explained to the reporter that his grandfather raised him to be honest. He knew in his heart he couldn’t take the money. 

"My grandfather was a reverend. He raised me from the time I was 6 months old and thank the good Lord, it's a blessing, but I do still have some character," he said. “I am not trying to say that I am a saint, but I am no devil either.”

So he held on to the ring and returned to his regular spot at The Plaza the next day. Darling realized on Saturday that her ring was gone and remembered that she had placed it in her change purse. She raced back to The Plaza to find Harris, and there he was — with her ring.

Darling said the moment was like a "miracle," and she rewarded Harris with all the cash she had on her.

Harris became an instant celebrity as his story went viral. Well-wishers visited Harris and brought him meals. More importantly, ABC's Las Vegas affiliate KTNV is reporting that Harris' story reached his estranged sister in Texas. They hadn't seen each other in 20 years, but she has offered him a place to stay. Harris is considering the offer.