Goin' Back

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Goin' Back is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1966. It talks about the loss of innocence that comes with growing up and the wish to recapture happier, younger days.

Dusty Springfield’s version was the first big hit. Recorded in London on June 15, 1966 and produced by Johnny Franz, it was released on July 1, 1966 and reached the UK Top 10 (No. 10). It wasn’t released as a single in the United States, and it appeared on Dusty Springfield’s later compilation albums rather than a 1960s studio LP.

The Byrds recorded their own version for The Notorious Byrd Brothers, released October 20, 1967. Their take has a light country and Baroque pop feel and reached No. 89 on the U.S. charts; it did not chart in the U.K. The release contributed to tensions in the band, especially guitarist David Crosby, who thought the song was lightweight. Crosby’s disagreements helped lead to his dismissal. There’s some confusion about whether the single version is a different take from the album version, but in fact they’re the same take with a slightly different mono mix. The Byrds’ version has since appeared on many of their compilations and reissues.

In 1975, Nils Lofgren opened his solo career with a cover of Goin’ Back on his debut album, Nils Lofgren. His arrangement is more upbeat and piano-driven, and his live performances of the song became a highlight of his early shows, helping launch his solo career. The song is frequently praised as a high point of his live performances.

Carole King herself also recorded Goin’ Back for her 1970 album Writer, and she later re-recorded it for the 1980 collection Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King.

Beyond those versions, many artists have covered the song, including The New Seekers, Marianne Faithfull, the Pretenders, Diana Ross, Richard Thompson, Phil Collins (as the album Going Back, 2010), Freddie Mercury (as Larry Lurex, 1973), Bruce Springsteen (live versions from The Roxy 1975 released in 2018), Elkie Brooks, Renée Geyer with Glenn Shorrock, and Paul McGrath. The song remains a popular, frequently revisited piece in pop and rock repertoires.