Leaving Here

Album: Motown Classic Hits, Vol 2. (1963)
Charted: 76
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Before he became one-third of Motown's premier songwriting and production trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, Eddie Holland had several minor hits as a solo artist. However, due to stage fright he preferred working behind the scenes. Holland recorded this song shortly after he teamed up with his brother and Lamont Dozier. He recalled to Mojo magazine February 2009: "My brother Brian and Lamont Dozier handed me the rhythm track, Lamont gave me the title and while I gave it a listen I just thought, I want to get a hit on this myself. So I just said, 'Let me sing.' They were fine with that. What attracted me was the feeling, the emotion of the instrumentation, and the gospel backgrounds.

    The lyrics came to me immediately. When you're in your teens and early twenties, the females the same age around you, they're always complaining about their guys. 'He doesn't understand me! He's not sensitive enough! He ignores me!' And the guys just don't think. I was addressing what could happen if the girls decided to leave. The recording worked like if we recording any other artist. I went into the booth, sang the song, Lamont and Brian were producing. Does it really convey what I want to say? I knew it did but listening to it now, it needed to be slower. They cut it way too fast on me. Maybe they were having a joke! (laughs)."
  • A number of Rock bands have covered this song, including The Who, The Byrds, Motorhead and Pearl Jam. Motorhead's version, which was inspired by the Byrds cover, was their debut single release. It didn't chart at the time, but a live recording was the lead track on their 1980 EP The Golden Years, which reached #8 in the UK.

Comments: 1

  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScWhile he may have thought the song was too fast, I think that may work for the urgency of the lyrics. Leving Here is a good song imo.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.