About The Song
“Thinking About Leaving” was written and recorded by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from his album If There Was a Way on Reprise Records. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reached No. 1 on the Canadian RPM country singles chart.
The song was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, produced by Pete Anderson, with Yoakam’s twangy vocals leading the track. The recording featured a blend of honky-tonk and country-rock influences, with Anderson’s guitar work and a steady rhythm section creating a classic yet emotional sound. The track runs 3:57.
The lyrics depict a man contemplating leaving a troubled relationship, with lines like “I’m thinking about leaving, but I just can’t go.” Yoakam crafted the song as a narrative, exploring the internal conflict of love and frustration, rooted in the Bakersfield sound tradition with a touch of personal introspection.
The music video, directed by Jim Shea, premiered in early 1991 and features Yoakam performing in a rustic setting, with visuals emphasizing the song’s emotional tension. The video was released on country music channels during the single’s chart run.
Upon release, “Thinking About Leaving” achieved solid success, spending several weeks on the charts and contributing to If There Was a Way’s platinum certification. The album, released in October 1990, hit No. 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Yoakam, born on October 23, 1956, in Pikeville, Kentucky, promoted the single with live performances and TV appearances. His career, built on blending neotraditional country with rockabilly influences, was highlighted by this hit, which was later included on his 2002 compilation Reprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years.
Video
Lyric
I’m thinking about leaving
But I just can’t go
Every time I head for the door
Something stops me in my tracks
And I turn around and I come backI’m thinking about leaving
But I just can’t leave
Every time I get to the road
Something keeps pulling me back
And I turn around and I come backOh, the love that we share
Is a house with a floor
That keeps shifting around
And a door that I can’t find
To take me where I want to goI’m thinking about leaving
But I just can’t go
Every time I head for the door
Something stops me in my tracks
And I turn around and I come back(Instrumental break)
Oh, the love that we share
Is a house with a floor
That keeps shifting around
And a door that I can’t find
To take me where I want to goI’m thinking about leaving
But I just can’t go
Every time I head for the door
Something stops me in my tracks
And I turn around and I come back