"Back When I Knew It All" is a song written by

Trent Willmon Trent Willmon (born March 6, 1973) is an American country music artist, songwriter, and producer. Active since 1998 as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, Willmon was signed to Columbia Records in 2004. He released two albums for the label (2 ...

, Gary Hannan, and Phil O'Donnell, and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

duo Montgomery Gentry. It was released in February 2008 as the lead off single and title track from their album of the same name. The song debuted at #49 on the

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...

chart dated March 1, 2008, and on the chart week of July 12, 2008, it became the duo's fourth Number One hit.

Content

The song is a moderate up-tempo, described as sounding similar to

The Byrds The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...

.LexGo.com , Album review: Montgomery Gentry
/ref> It features both members of the duo describing their later teen years — buying a pickup truck, sneaking into a bar, and even being imprisoned. After reflecting on their experiences, they then list the various lessons they've learned since their rebellious beginnings (such as how "A Sunday sermon can turn life around"), eventually stating that they were "learning so much more than / Back when heyknew it all".

Chart performance

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 2008 singles 2008 songs Montgomery Gentry songs Songs written by Trent Willmon Columbia Nashville Records singles Song recordings produced by Blake Chancey Songs written by Phil O'Donnell (songwriter)