I'm Movin' On (Rascal Flatts song)
{{short description|2001 single by Rascal Flatts}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm Movin' On
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Rascal Flatts
| album = Rascal Flatts
| released = October 8, 2001
| recorded = 2000
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = 4:04
| label = Lyric Street
| writer =
- Phillip White
- D. Vincent Williams
| producer =
- Mark Bright
- Marty Williams
| prev_title = While You Loved Me
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = These Days
| next_year = 2002
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|fz1N8W8phec|"I'm Movin' On"}}|type=single}}
}}
"I'm Movin' On" is a song written by Phillip White and D. Vincent Williams and recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released on October 8, 2001, as the fourth and final single from the band's self-titled debut album. The song reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2002. In 2025, Rascal Flatts re-recorded the song with Kelly Clarkson, as part of their eleventh studio album Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets.
Content
"I'm Movin' On" is a mid-tempo ballad in triple meter, accompanied by mandolin and piano. In it, the narrator starts off with stating of the troubles he's had ("I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons"). He states that he is "at peace" with himself because he is moving out of the town in which he lives ("I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong / I'm movin' on"). However, this could also refer to an emotional state—as in a relationship he once believed to be his "emotional" home has become a place he doesn't "belong" in.
Jay DeMarcus said of the song, "[It's] a song that just drains everything out of you."[https://web.archive.org/web/20021208013409/http://rascalflatts.com/music.htm?inc=&alb_numCols=&alb_id=136] archived Rascal Flatts webpage from 2002
Recording
While recording the song and trying to perfect the vocals, Gary LeVox frequently became emotional, later saying "I was getting choked up recording it after singing it over and over and trying to get it right." According to Joe Don Rooney, "D. Vincent and Phillip [the writers] came in and listened to the final mix. D. Vincent had been having some tough times when he wrote that song. When he got up, he was walking out and said, 'Boys, I got to get me a beer. That one hit too close to home. But I do love it.' He shook our hands and walked out. That was very, very touching."[https://web.archive.org/web/20001018064257/http://www.rascalflatts.com/The_Latest_News/the_latest_news.html] archived Rascal Flatts webpage from 2000
Garth Brooks had the song on hold first but decided to let Rascal Flatts have the song out of respect for Rooney, who, like Brooks, is a native of the state of Oklahoma.{{cite web|title=The Story of 'I'm Moving On' by Rascal Flatts, Performed by Phillip White|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th9rztRs88c&t=168s|website=YouTube|publisher=Interstate Music|language=en|format=video|date=July 19, 2023}}
Critical reception
The song won the Song of the Year award at the 38th annual Academy of Country Music awards, at which Rascal Flatts also won Top Vocal Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233721 |title=Rascal Flatts Reaches ACM Summit with "I'm Movin' On" |access-date=16 December 2008 |work=Broadcast Music Incorporated |date=2003-05-22}} Joe Don Rooney, Rascal Flatts' lead guitarist, said in an interview with USA Weekend that he considers the song an example of how the band interacts with their fans: "One time, a guy told us he was addicted to drugs and was considering suicide, then he heard our song 'I'm Movin' On.' He didn't say that the song alone changed his life. But it opened his mind to the thought that he could change his life, and he did."{{cite web |url=http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/081102/081102cover-story-rascal-flatts.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205103040/http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/081102/081102cover-story-rascal-flatts.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-05 |title=Rascal Flatts: Country Music's Supertrio |access-date=16 December 2008 |last=McCafferty |first=Dennis |work=USA Weekend |date=2008-11-02}}
Music video
A music video directed by Shaun Silva was released for the song. It debuted on November 16, 2001 during CMT Most Wanted Live. The video features footage of a live performance of the song, mixed with scenes of instruments being played and various views of the band members going about their daily lives. DeMarcus is seen exiting an elevator and riding on a subway train, LeVox is frequently seen talking on the phone, and Rooney is shown in a tattoo parlor. Throughout the video, the colors of everything change frequently.
Chart performance
"I'm Movin' On" debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the chart week of October 13, 2001.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2001–2002) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|4|artist=Rascal Flatts|artistid=395934}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|41|artist=Rascal Flatts|artistid=395934}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2002)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 2002: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media |year=2002 | access-date=July 24, 2012}}
| align="center" | 15 |
Rascal Flatts and Kelly Clarkson version
{{Infobox song
| name =
| cover =
| alt =
| album = Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets
| type = promo
| artist = Rascal Flatts and Kelly Clarkson
| released = {{start date|2025|3|14}}
| studio =
| genre = Country
| recorded =
| length = 3:44
| label = Big Machine
| writer =
- Phillip White
- D. Vincent Williams
| producer = Jay DeMarcus
}}
In 2025, Rascal Flatts re-recorded the song with pop singer Kelly Clarkson, as part of their eleventh studio album, Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets. The song was released on March 14, 2025.
=Background and composition=
In March 2025, Rascal Flatts announced their eleventh studio album Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the album will feature nine re-recordings of some of their past hits with nine other artists. On this version, Clarkson sings lead on most of the song with Gary LeVox taking over on the bridge. Rascal Flatts sings harmony through the song. This version is twenty seconds shorter and produced by Jay DeMarcus.{{cite web |title=Rascal Flatts Release "I'm Movin' On" With Kelly Clarkson From Life Is A Highway: Refueled Duets|url= https://www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com/rascal-flatts-release-im-movin-on-with-kelly-clarkson-from-life-is-a-highway-refueled-duets/|website=Big Machine|publisher=iHeartMedia, Inc.|access-date=March 14, 2025|date=March 14, 2025}}
=Critical reception=
James Daykin of Entertainment Focus said of the duet, "Clarkson, meanwhile, delivers a masterclass in vocal emotion on 'I'm Movin' On.' Her voice soars and stretches the song to its emotional limits, elevating it beyond its original form. It's a grand finale that reaffirms the versatility and depth of Rascal Flatts's music."{{cite web |last1=Daykin|first1=James|title=Review: Rascal Flatts re-invent & re-imagine on new album 'Life is a Highway – Refueled'|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2025/06/06/review-rascal-flatts-re-invent-re-imagine-on-new-album-life-is-a-highway-refueled/#google_vignette |website=Entertainment Focus |access-date=June 17, 2025 |date=June 6, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rascal Flatts singles}}
{{Kelly Clarkson singles}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:I'm Movin' On (Rascal Flatts Song)}}
Category:Big Machine Records singles
Category:Lyric Street Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Shaun Silva
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Bright (record producer)