Luke Combs’ “Even Though I’m Leaving” Lyrics Meaning
The narrative being told in Luke Comb’s “Even Though I’m Leaving” is one in which a father and his son are forced to sadly separate from each other due to events beyond their control.
In the first verse, the singer (who is then a little boy), is frightened at night and can’t sleep due to his fear of “monsters”. He begs his dad not to leave his room because the moment he does that, the “monsters” would come for him. His dad comforts him by reassuring him that even though he may stepping out of his room, he would always be with him.
In the second verse, the narrator (who is now a young man) is in the army and apparently about to be shipped out to war. The narrator is scared once again because he would be far away from his beloved father. However, the father once again reassures him that everything would be fine and that even though the distance might separate them, he would always be “right there”.
In the third and final verse, the narrator’s father is on his deathbed. The extremely sad and worried narrator is once again scared of his father’s impending departure. However, the father once again comforts him with positive words. He tells his son that even though it may appear that soon he would leave the surface of the earth, he actually would never be gone. He’d always “be there for” him.
Takeaway
All in all, this song is about the powerful reassurance of a father to his son that he will be around when needed “even though (he’s) leaving”. And of course he means this in a metaphysical sense, as he instructs the child that when he desires to see him, he should “close (his) eyes and say a prayer”.
And basically, that is the story of the song. The father involved wants his son to always feel his presence, even when he is not in the immediate vicinity and inherently despite acknowledging the possibility that they may never see each other again.
And it is clear that Combs is sympathizing with both of the characters presented in this tale. Thus “Even Though I’m Leaving” can draw a strong-emotional reaction from some listeners, which to some extent seems to be its intent.
Release Date of “Even Though I’m Leaving”
Columbia Nashville and River House Artists released “Even Though I’m Leaving” as part of Luke Comb’s EP The Prequel on 7 June 2019. That EP also contains the popular single “Beer Never Broke My Heart”.
Songwriting and Production
Luke Combs contributed to the writing of the song along with Ray Fulcher and Wyatt B. Durrette.
And Scott Moffatt handled the production responsibilities.
How did Luke Combs tease “Even Though I’m Leaving”?
On May 30, 2019, Combs whetted the appetite of his fans by releasing a snippet of this track via a post on Instagram. About a week later, he and his team officially released the track.
good one Luke Combs
Sorry you missed it, the son is going off to war in the second verse. First verse son is young child and dad is going to bed. Third verse is the obvious, to call this a tear jerker is an understatement. Awesome song Luke.
You are correct. The son is going off to war not the dad. Good catch.
Luke Combs is a “hero” with all of his songs. What an amazing artist. I have seen Luke once in concert and will be looking forward to the next time he comes to Ontario.
This song is beautiful. Then again he hasn’t had a bad song . Luke you are an amazing artist. If I wasn’t a country fan before I would be now. Hope to be able to catch you in concert. You are awesome, amazing and very talented. God Bless you.
Luke,
After 4 days of watching my father pass away under hospice care I lost my father on May 12, 2019 Mothers Day. We had his funeral on May 29, 2019 and shortly after that I heard “Even Though I’m Leaving”. The song deeply touches me every time I hear it. When it comes on I turn it up loud and by the first verse I can fill my eyes filling and by the third verse I can barely see the road. When I hear it I am always singing it to my father, there are nights I wake and I’m singing it in my head. The song is beautiful, thank you.
Hi Sandra, we are really sorry for your family’s loss.
This is my take on it. It has nothing to do with war. The dad is leaving his kid cause he doesn’t want to be a parent anymore. The kid loved his dad so much and he doesn’t understand of why his dad is leaving so he asked and his dad gave him a lame excuse like that instead of saying I don’t love you and I don’t want to be a dad.
That might be the dumbest interpretation of a song I have ever heard. Did you not hear the SON talk about Uncle Sam not waiting and the SON (not the father) getting on a plane that’s gonna take him far away? saying this song is about a father leaving because he doesn’t want to be a parent is simply STUPID and makes no sense. Maybe you need to read the lyrics 100 times before spewing your ignorance.
No doubt!
Oh Sandra Fisher! You and me both! Gets me hard every time!
I’m in the same position I lost my dad September 4th 2019 so when I here this song it makes me think of him
We’re beyond sorry to hear of your loss, Kaleb. It’s never an easy thing dealing with the loss of a loved one.
I just lost my father on Sunday (October 5, 2019). I heard that song and automatically broke into tears. It still moves me every time I hear it.
We are deeply sorry to hear about your loss, Vikki.
I losted my uncle on October 6, 2019. I know exactly how you feel Vikki.
I took it as a father passing. As mine did 10 months ago. Even though, this song is actually about his father going to war… this song could be taken in so many different ways. Awesome song. My new favorite.
NO, it is about the SON going off to war in the second verse, and worrying about being away from Dad when he needs support. In the first verse, the son is a little boy scared of being in his room by himself.
The song is chronological.
1) First verse. Little boy is scared at bedtime, “monsters,” and Daddy reassures him.
2) Second verse. Son, now older, is being deployed in the military, worried about not being able to seek support from Dad while so far away. Dad reassures him.
3) Third verse. Dad is dying, and adult son laments how he will miss Daddy’s loving support. Dad consoles him that he will never be truly gone.
I cry everytime I hear this i love it
I just lost my father September 11, 2019. He was always my strength. I just heard this song right after my Daddy died. I cried and cried it reminded me so much of my father. Such a beautiful song.
We are truly sorry to hear about the departure of your beloved father, Rachelle.
I lost my Uncle & Grandfather three months ago just a month apart, this songs brings me to tears of joy because I know that no matter where I end up, they are always with me. I simply just close my eyes & I can still see them. Luke Combs, you are magic to my ears and your songs are like for for my soul. God Bless you & I pray one day I will meet you. I had the chance to see you perform at Billy Bobs for my birthday a couple years back and I got sick with the flu, I still kick myself in the a** for it. I can never forgive myself for missing that opportunity.
I’m so sorry for everyone who’s here after losing someone, i’m a 23 year old girl from Argentina who loves Luke’s music. This song touched me so hard, I still having my dad with me but this song makes me feel like a little child again. I still need him and my mom, and that song makes me realize that even though i’m growing up. Sorry if my English is bad
This song hits home for me, my dad passed away May 20, 2019 and he did every thing he could do to comfort our family in the end. I got same talk from my dad when I went to war for the first time just the song, it made leaving not as bad. As a kid I was scared of stuff in the closet as we all were at one point and my dad was always there. Like I said your song hits home for me every time I hear it play. Thank you.
Has no one thought of the obvious parallelism with this story and Jesus’ Ascension in the Bible?
I had come back from my dad’s to hear that my uncle had passed away and every time I hear this song it’s a tear-jerker and reminds me of him.
Great song Luke
Luke,
I lost my uncle on October 6, 2019. When I first heard this song, I immediately started crying, by the time the song says “When you need me and you can’t see me, in the middle of the night, just close your eyes and say a prayer”
Great, great, great song Luke
My father, my Rock, the only man I could ever truly count on died one month prior to the release of this song. May 5, 2019. How could I possibly be strong and walk this world alone?
When I heard this song, I pulled the car over and finally wept, releasing the grief.
Since then, this song is The MOST inspirational song I listen to when I need to remember he is always here, he lives on in me.
Thank you Luke, so much more than you can ever know.
An absolutely beautiful song. Fairly new to listening to Luke Combs, but this is definitely one of my favorites
This may be a very very late comment the song was in 2019, but this song is really sweet and good luck to everyone in life.????❤????