Home > Encyclopedia > SongBase
I'm Leavin'
Words & Music:
Michael Jarret/ Sonny CharlesLa la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
Well I know, if I'd arrived in time to know you
You'd have taken the time to show me
I wouldn't be lonely
Where will I go, who will I have to lie beside me
Is it something that's inside me
I'm so lonely
Tried so hard each time, each time I just can't make it
Feelin' fast vibrations and I just can't take it
Living from day to day, chasing the dream
I'm, I'm leavin
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
Tried so hard each time, each time I just can't make it
Feelin' fast vibrations and I just can't take it
Living from day to day, chasing the dream
I'm, I'm leavin
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
I'm, I'm leavin
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la Recorded:
1971/05/20, first released on
singleReactions
The tempo change is brilliant. Elvis found it a hard song to sing, but the result is amazing.
Yes a masterpiece and one of the best tracks from the 70's and as good as nearly all of the output from the Memphis 1969 sessions. Great vocal, excellent backing with folk song influences, truly magnificent.
This is as good as anything Elvis did post 1970, maybe ever. It is a remarkable performance of a fantastic song.
"Is it something that's inside me" are not the lyrics!!! It's "Ease this emptiness inside me".
Haunting, underrated and in total contrast to the songs that Elvis recorded at the time. A hit in the UK but only a minor one and now nearly forgotten.
10 stars. There is almost no song in the 50's or 60's that can touch this one. Bigger hits,yes Better song,no
If you want something different, this is it. Although a little dated today (as is a lot of the early 70's music, especially the 1971 singles), this one is a grade A performance and track. You get a feeling of despair and loneliness just listening to the opening "La, la, la..." part and Elvis punctuates the short verses beautifully. Elvis really seemed to appreciate this song and I think he felt it was going to be a good sized hit. It peaked at only #36 on the US pop chart, however did get to #2 on the adult contemporary chart. A classic? No. A masterpiece? No. An often overlooked gem and a 4 1/2 star track? Yes!
Wonderful song. Maybe it doesn't have the immediacy of hits like Can't Help Falling In Love or surrender - amazing pop songs - which is why it didn't get played too much on the radio back in the day. However, it's sungs so well and sounds so different from what he had been doing that I never skip it when it comes on. This is the kind of material that stretched him vocally and creatively. I think this song would surprise many non Elvis fans and give them cause for thought about what he could do. Four (and a half) stars.
"I'm Leavin" should have been a huge hit, for Elvis, in 1971, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Elvis, himself, obviously, liked the song, as much, as some of his fans did, he was still singing it on stage in 1973. I believe if this "song", was put in a movie soundtrack, today. It would gain popularity and possibly chart again !!
A masterpiece? Like what Cant Help falling In Love or Surrender? Those are masterpieces. This is OK. No wonder it wasn't a big hit, it had no radio appeal at all. Its just OK. Always On My Mind is 10 times better.
One of the best songs he did, great lyrics and sung with that warm voice that only elvis can have. It has an uptempo while the words are desperate. Elvis liked it, me too.
This is one of Elvis' recordings and singles that I had high hopes for! A classic in my book! It's a haunting melody and a great performance by our man. Still wonder why dj's at the time didn't give it more spins! Should have been a bigger hit! I pulled out the five CD's that sprang to mind where this song is on. Elvis Aron Presley, The 70's Masters, Artist Of The Century and Burning Love. I included T.3 on ISAK. And somehow I found the EAP version very gentle to my taste. The 70's M and BL sound very close while AOTC has a mix where everything is a bit too much up front. Take 3 even though with some flaws, also gives an impression beeing undubbed. (..this thing is worth working on...)I might have overlooked some albums where this song is on.
Elvis did a great job on this great song. One of his most interesting vocals--he sounds vulnerable and unsure (though that was clearly his intention and what the song called for). Shows Elvis' versatility. Later, Elvis used a similar approach to "Way Down", though that was a rocker, of course. Elvis never EVER lost his singing ability and this is just more proof!
Now here's a track i never skip. Elvis in fine form. A great recording back in '71 and really should have been a bigger hit than it was. Hard to say why. Blame Rca or the radio playlists or whoever. Even the Elvis fans who decided not to buy it. Anyway, 'I'm Leavin' to listen to it.
Its not a classic, but in my opinion and very VERY nice song.
This is a pretty song, and probably should have been a bigger hit than it was. That being said, the words masterpiece or classic is a bit overstated. Its not either, just a nice song.
This is a wonderful track and proves how versatile Elvis was. It's a bit of an acquired taste (bit like First Time Ever I Saw Her Face), but once you are into it you realise just how good it is.
This is A bad track Elvis was on the way down when he done this
Here we have an outstanding performance of the King, adding yet anther dimension to his legacy. It stands out as it incomparable to the rest of the songs. Unique! Indeed a shame that it was niet promoted well and thus underrated, unknown to the music world al large.
I really love the musical intro...Elvis's live version of this song from June 1973 in Long Island, NY is truly beautiful !
One of the absolute best Elvis-songs ever, regardless of period. Unique sound, chilling, calm mood, excellent performance by Elvis, and luckily not too influenced by it's country roots.
This is one of my favourite! Elvis' feeling is at the top. Thank you Elvis for givin'us this kind of songs
Absolutely a masterpiece! It really challenged Elvis vocally & he stood the test. It wasn't promoted like it should have been (like so many 70's songs) because he had the Colonel & the same old same old at RCA not doing their jobs. They were still making a lot of money off of Elvis so they didn't exert any extra energy, mentally, creatively or even physically for that matter, to promote some of the best recordings he ever produced.
One of my all time favourite Elvis performances! Should have been a bigger hit with more airplay!
shouldn't it be: 'to ease this emptiness inside me'.."? important line in this song though, 5 stars- one of my favourites
Only a top thirty hit in the UK after a good run of top ten singles. Which was disappointing as the song was much better than its chart placing suggested. A haunting melody and clearly different from anything Elvis had recorded previously.
wonderful song. a very unusual song.
A very underrated song. Great vocal from Elvis. The song had a sound like nothing Elvis had ever done before. I like the single version very much, but the "Live" version I heard him do on Nov. 5, 1971, blew the single away.
Listen to this song will always remind me to a special friend of mine. A very beautiful song! This song proofs that our hero had a wonderful and magnificent voice.
Available Alternate Versions