"I Go Back" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 artist Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney

Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...

. It was released in May 2004 as the third single from his 2004 album When the Sun Goes Down. The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator recalls various moments in his life, and how he is reminded of each moment when he hears a certain song. "I Go Back" spent a total of seven weeks at the number 2 position on the U.S. Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

country charts in mid-2004.

Content

He references many songs including, Jack & Diane, Only the Good Die Young

Only The Good Die Young

"Only the Good Die Young" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 pop rock album, The Stranger. The song was controversial for its time, with the lyrics describing a boy who tries to convince a Catholic girl who is a virgin to have sex with him....

 and Rock'n Me

Rock'n Me

"Rock'n Me" is a song by American rock group Steve Miller Band, written by the group's leader Steve Miller. The song was released as the second single from the group's ninth studio album Fly Like an Eagle in 1976...

.

In the chorus, the narrator reflects in his past explaining his time such as spending time on a football line, driving his love out to the levy and losing a good friend, Lance Wilson, at age 16. The official music video ends with the note: "In memory of Lance Wilson and all the summers I shared with him".

Music video

The music video was directed by Shaun Silva

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: Jack Ingram, Sugarland, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and Rascal...

 and was released in June 2004. It was entirely filmed at Chesney's former high school, Gibbs High School

Gibbs High School (Corryton, Tennessee)

Gibbs High School is a public high school located in Corryton, Tennessee located at 7628 Tazewell Pike. The school was founded in 1913 in a two story brick building built on 12 acres which burned down in 1937. The second building burned down 13 years later in 1950. The third and current school...

, in Corryton, Tennessee

Corryton, Tennessee

Corryton is an unincorporated community in northeastern Knox County, Tennessee, United States, about 15 miles north of Knoxville. The United States Geographic Names System classifies Corryton as a populated place...

. Chesney's gym scenes were filmed on 2 rotation axes. Chesney was actually standing on a moving device. In the intro, Chesney's baptist preacher, grandmother, and high school football coach, are heard.

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.

Chart (2004)	Peak position