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I'm Leavin'

Rating:
4.6 / 5

Words & Music: Michael Jarrett Sonny Charles

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

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

Recordingdate: 1971/05/20, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I'm Leavin':

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)

Others*

(french horn)
(french horn)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with I'm Leavin'.

Lex wrote on May 08, 2008
Haunting beauty!
Elvisonmymind wrote on July 24, 2008
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.
JerryNodak wrote on September 21, 2008
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.
Rob Wanders wrote on September 22, 2008
wonderful song. a very unusual song.
old shep wrote on September 22, 2008
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.
Jerome returns wrote on September 22, 2008
shouldn't it be: 'to ease this emptiness inside me'.."? important line in this song though, 5 stars- one of my favourites
commoneverybody wrote on September 22, 2008
MASTERPIECE!!!!!
bajo wrote on September 22, 2008
One of my all time favourite Elvis performances! Should have been a bigger hit with more airplay!
Ruthie wrote on September 22, 2008
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.
luketherocker wrote on November 11, 2008
This is one of my favourite! Elvis' feeling is at the top. Thank you Elvis for givin'us this kind of songs
EspenK wrote on January 15, 2009
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.
My boy, my boy wrote on February 26, 2009
I really love the musical intro...Elvis's live version of this song from June 1973 in Long Island, NY is truly beautiful !
Natha wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
ger wrote on February 26, 2009
This is A bad track Elvis was on the way down when he done this
Marty_TCE wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
dgirl wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
Shakingruud wrote on February 26, 2009
Its not a classic, but in my opinion and very VERY nice song.
derekd wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
NONE000000 wrote on February 26, 2009
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!
bajo wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
marcioni wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
Steve V wrote on February 26, 2009
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.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on February 27, 2009
"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 !!
Monster wrote on January 27, 2010
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.
Deano1 wrote on January 27, 2010
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!
Great Dane wrote on January 27, 2010
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
shoesuedeblues wrote on January 27, 2010
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.
Deke Rivers 6 wrote on January 27, 2010
Ok song,no more.
SuziB wrote on February 10, 2012
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".
Gorse wrote on November 14, 2012
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.
sugartummy wrote on March 24, 2013
The tempo change is brilliant. Elvis found it a hard song to sing, but the result is amazing.
In-A-Flash wrote on October 20, 2013
Great recording and quite different from his main body of work during this period. Five stars from me. Should have been a bigger hit, although it clearly does not have the same commercial appeal as The Wonder of You or Burning Love.
cookingfat wrote on October 20, 2013
Forgotten unless you're a fan maybe.Better than it's chart placing suggests.Although I've not played it in a long time
GEORGE (GK) wrote on October 21, 2013
"I'm Leavin" should have been a huge hit song, for Elvis, in 1971, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Elvis, himself, obviously, liked the song, as much, as some of us fans did, he was still singing it, on stage, in 1973. I truly believe if this "song", were to be put in a movie soundtrack, today, it would gain huge popularity and possibly chart again !!
Chop983 wrote on October 21, 2013
When people think of Elvis songs in the 70's, I wished they'd think of this.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 23, 2013
I do like this song, but I've never considered it hit material. I can easily understand why it wasn't ever a hit for Elvis here in the USA.
TheMemphisFan wrote on May 05, 2015
Never really cared much for this song. The lyrics go nowhere really. Different... yes, but not necessarily in a positive way.
Great Dane wrote on May 05, 2015
Still a big favorite. I love everything, the voice, the drums, the bass.Great
Cruiser621 wrote on October 06, 2017
Nice but what's the point, other than all the las, las, las???
atomic powered poste wrote on October 04, 2018
I never understood why elvis thought that this could be a hit. Anyway, it's a interesting song, one of only a few gems from the overall disappointing '71. 4 stars.
Milky White Way wrote on July 22, 2019
Oh my goodness, this is hard to read how opinion is so divided on this song. To me this is in my top 5 all time fav songs. It's a stroke of pure genius vocally and melodically. The piano is sublime, drums are perfection and the guitar haunting. I totally see why this song was performed live so often. There are not enough stars to rate this mega track. Elvis at his best.
Gorse wrote on August 06, 2020
I have not changed my opinion one iota since 2012, and regularly enjoy this track. I now realise the difference in many of my comments as opposed to many followers here is that I am hooked on the basic timbre of his voice so end up being less damning on less than perfect songs, enjoy, and give them a pass mark.
marty wrote on September 30, 2020
I am in two minds about this song. I really like it, it is different than most everything he recorded in his career. But I never got the "wow" feeling when I first heard it or since. It is not on the same level as "Jailhouse Rock" or "It's Now Or Never" or "Suspicious Minds" for example. A good song, maybe a great song but not outstanding. It could have charted better but it is not really a top 5 song, it's not a pop song. I think that after "The Wonder Of You", Elvis and the team lost a bit their touch when selecting singles. Some of the songs where not good enough to become big hits (e.g. "Life"). There was an improvement that started with "Burning Love", excluding the weak "Raised On Rock". I give it 4.5 stars
Milky White Way wrote on September 30, 2020
Just one of the reasons why I love Elvis so much is his incredible diversity in music. There IS something for everybody (pardon the pun). Whilst some love Jailhouse Rock, others love I’m Leaving. Since I last commented on this song, it now shares amongst my top three songs between Kentucky Rain and Gentle On My Mind. I love soooo many Elvis tracks but I’m Leaving just sends me out of space with pleasure.
Stevekimb1 wrote on December 02, 2020
A great song with a Roy Orbison vibe.
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