"When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back" is the title of a song written by Steve Clark and Johnny MacRae. It was first recorded by Sam Neely

Sam Neely

Sam Neely was an American country musician.Born in Cuero, Texas, Neely began playing guitar at age ten. After moving with his family to Corpus Christi, he began playing in bands, including local group Buckle...

 in 1983 for the MCA Records

MCA Records

MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...

 label.

Chart performance

Chart (1983)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	77

Bill Anderson version

Bill Anderson later recorded the song for his 1985 album Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. His version went to #75 on the country music charts.

Chart performance

Chart (1985)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	75

Confederate Railroad version

In 1992, Confederate Railroad

Confederate Railroad

Confederate Railroad is an American country rock band founded in 1987 in Marietta, Georgia by Danny Shirley , Michael Lamb , Mark Dufresne , Chris McDaniel , Warren "Gates" Nichols and Wayne Secrest...

 recorded the song for its debut album, also titled Confederate Railroad

Confederate Railroad (album)

Confederate Railroad is the self-titled debut album of the American country music band Confederate Railroad. It peaked at #7 on the US country albums chart, and #19 on the Canadian country chart. It was certified 2×Multi-Platinum by the RIAA...

. The song was released in 1993 as the fourth single from the album, reaching a peak of #14 on the country music charts. It was also the b-side to the album's fifth single, "Trashy Women

Trashy Women

"Trashy Women" is a song recorded by country music singer Jerry Jeff Walker in 1989 and later by the band Confederate Railroad. It was a #63 single on the U.S...

."

Critical reception

An uncredited review in The Miami Herald

The Miami Herald

The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...

referred to the song positively, calling it a "soft, poignant song about burning bridges that can't be rebuilt."

Chart performance

Chart (1993)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	14
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	18