It was released in April 1974 as the first single from his album Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) and was produced by Jerry Crutchfield.

[4] The three verses of the song are each a plea from the narrator to a woman whom he hopes will join him in, respectively, Boston, Denver, and Los Angeles, with each verse concluding: "She said, 'No – boy would you come home to me'"; the woman's sentiment is elaborated on in the chorus which concludes with the line: "I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee".

[6]The song has been covered numerous times, most notably by country music singer David Allan Coe and folk singer Joan Baez, who actually began her career in the Boston-Cambridge area and included "Please Come to Boston" on her 1976 live album, From Every Stage.

As other female singers performing "Please Come to Boston" have done, Baez sings from the perspective of the woman refusing the invitations.

Other notable artists covering the track include Reba McEntire, B. W. Stevenson, Tammy Wynette, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Babyface, Brandy, Tori Amos, Andrew WK, Kenny Chesney, Wade Bowen, Jackopierce, Jimmy Buffett, Lee Hazlewood, Chase Bryant, Confederate Railroad and Rita Wilson.