About the song
Background of Kenny Chesney’s “There Goes My Life”
- Released in 2003, it was the first single from Chesney’s album “When the Sun Goes Down.”
- The songwriters are Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher.
- Interestingly, the song’s theme went against what Chesney himself was experiencing at the time [Taste of Country].
Themes in “There Goes My Life”
The song explores the unexpected journey of fatherhood:
- Loss of youthful freedom: The story starts with a young man about to graduate and dreams of carefree adventures. Finding out his girlfriend is pregnant throws those plans into disarray. The initial reaction is one of disappointment, with the lyrics “There goes my life” expressing his feeling that his future is gone.
- Growth and acceptance: The song progresses through the years, showing the man adjusting to marriage and raising a child. He discovers the deep love and fulfillment that comes with fatherhood.
- Letting go and the circle of life: The final verse depicts his daughter leaving for her own adventures, mirroring his own youthful dreams. The cycle repeats, with a bittersweet acceptance of the passage of time and the changing roles in life.
Overall, “There Goes My Life” is a relatable story about unplanned parenthood, the sacrifices and rewards of raising a child, and the bittersweet beauty of watching them grow up.
Video
Lyrics
All he could think about was I’m too young for this.
Got my whole life ahead.
Hell I’m just a kid myself.
How’m I gonna raise one.
All he could see were his dreams goin’ up in smoke.
So much for ditchin’ this town and hangin’ out on the coast.
Oh well, those plans are long gone.
[Chorus:]
And he said,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
Might as well kiss it all good-bye.
There goes my life…….
A couple years of up all night and a few thousand diapers later.
That mistake he thought he made covers up the refrigerator.
Oh yeah……….he loves that little girl.
Momma’s waiting to tuck her in,
As she fumbles up those stairs.
She smiles back at him dragging that teddy bear.
Sleep tight, blue eyes and bouncin’ curls.
[Chorus:]
He smiles…..
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you, daddy good-night.
There goes my life.
She had that Honda loaded down.
With Abercrombie clothes and 15 pairs of shoes and his American Express.
He checked the oil and slammed the hood, said you’re good to go.
She hugged them both and headed off to the West Coast.
[Chorus:]
And he cried,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you.
Baby good-bye.
There goes my life.
There goes my life.
Baby good-bye.