"I Go Back" is a song written and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist

Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs and Country ...

. It was released in May 2004 as the third single from his 2004 album '' When the Sun Goes Down''. The song spent seven weeks at number 2 on the U.S. '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart in mid-2004, behind "

Live Like You Were Dying ''Live Like You Were Dying'' is the eighth studio album by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on August 24, 2004, by Curb Records and was recorded in a mountaintop studio in upstate New York. It entered the ''Billboard'' 2 ...

" by

Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...

Content

The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator recalls various moments in his life, and how he is reminded of each of them every time he hears a certain song. He references many of these songs, including "

Jack & Diane "Jack & Diane" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, then performing as "John Cougar." Described by critics as a "love ballad," this song was released as the second single from Mellencamp's 1982 album '' ...

", "

Only the Good Die Young "Only the Good Die Young" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 rock album '' The Stranger''. It was the third of four singles released from the album. Song information "Only the Good Die Young" was controversial for its time, with the lyrics written ...

", and "

Rock'n Me "Rock'n Me" (also known as "Rock 'N Me" or "Rock 'N' Me") is a song by American rock band Steve Miller Band, released in 1976 from the band's ninth studio album '' Fly Like an Eagle'' (1976). It was written by primary band leader and songwriter ...

". In the chorus, the narrator reflects in his past explaining his time, such as spending time on a football line, "driving isfirst love out to the levee," and losing a good friend, Lance Wilson. One version of the official music video ends with the note: "In memory of Lance Wilson and all the summers I shared with him". Lance Wilson died in a car wreck when he was 17, inspiring the line "the loss of a real good friend, and the 16 summers I shared with him."

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by

Shaun Silva Shaun Silva is a music video director who works primarily in the country music field. He has directed a number of music videos for many country music artists, including many of Kenny Chesney's music videos. His other clients include Jason Aldean, D ...

, and produced by Steve Gainer. It premiered on CMT on June 12, 2004. Featuring members of Chesney's family, church family, and former track team. It was filmed at Gibbs High School in

Corryton, Tennessee Corryton, also known as Corryton Village, is an unincorporated bedroom community in northeastern Knox County, Tennessee, United States, about 15 miles northeast of Knoxville. The United States Geographic Names System classifies Corryton as a popula ...

, where Chesney grew up. The video had Chesney performing the song at an empty high school gym, as a camera rotates around him, as well as old home footage of Chesney's life, such as his grandmother calling him for dinner, his first crush on the back of his Chevy, his church, and his friend Lance Wilson, who inspired part of the song. Scenes of a merry-go-round are also featured, a metaphor for "going back" to a certain time in life.

Chart performance

"I Go Back" debuted at number 57 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 1, 2004, at the time his single, " When the Sun Goes Down", was still at Number One.

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{authority control 2004 singles Kenny Chesney songs Music videos directed by Shaun Silva Songs written by Kenny Chesney Song recordings produced by Buddy Cannon BNA Records singles 2004 songs