About The Song
“On My Knees” is a country duet single by American singers Charlie Rich and Janie Fricke, released in September 1978 by Epic Records (catalog 8-50607) on Rich’s United Artists label via Epic distribution. Written by Charlie Rich himself, the song was recorded as a duet after Rich heard Fricke’s demo vocals and insisted on pairing with her. Running 3:13, it features Rich’s deep baritone alternating verses with Fricke’s clear soprano over a classic countrypolitan arrangement, marking one of Rich’s final major chart entries.
The single debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart at No. 74 in late September 1978, quickly climbing through heavy radio play. It reached No. 1 for one week on December 2, 1978, becoming Rich’s tenth and final country chart-topper and Fricke’s first No. 1. It spent 13 weeks on the chart total. On the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, it peaked at No. 33. In Canada, it topped the RPM Country Tracks chart for two weeks. Cash Box ranked it No. 1 country for two weeks.
Recording took place in mid-1978 at Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, produced by Larry Butler (who had taken over from Billy Sherrill after Rich moved to United Artists/Epic in 1978). The session featured the Nashville A-Team: pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins, steel guitarist Pete Drake, bassist Henry Strzelecki, and drummer Larrie Londin. Strings were arranged by Bergen White, with The Nashville Edition providing subtle choral fills. Rich and Fricke recorded their vocals separately—Rich in one take, Fricke in two—then Butler blended them for the intimate call-and-response effect. The B-side was Rich’s solo track “That’s the Way a Cowboy Rocks and Rolls.”
United Artists/Epic promoted the single heavily during Rich’s 1978 tour and Fricke’s rising visibility as a background vocalist. Initial U.S. pressings shipped over 350,000 copies, with the distinctive blue United Artists label. By early 1979, sales exceeded 700,000 units. The duet format was a deliberate choice by Rich, who told Billboard in 1978 he wanted a female voice to balance the song’s pleading lyric. The track appeared on Rich’s 1978 album The Fool Strikes Again (UA-LA927-H) and Fricke’s 1979 album Love Notes.
Structurally in G major with a gentle 6/8 sway at 68 BPM, the song alternates male/female verses before joining in harmony on the chorus, featuring a key lift to A-flat in the final refrain. Publishing was handled through Rich’s own House of Gold Music (BMI). Session logs show the basic track was cut in three hours, with vocal overdubs completed the same day.
Reissues preserved the duet on Epic/Legacy’s 1999 16 Biggest Hits, the 2006 Greatest Hits, and the 2011 box set The Essential Charlie Rich. The single’s success gave Janie Fricke her breakthrough, leading to her solo No. 1s starting in 1980. The original 1978 45 RPM pressing with picture sleeve (showing Rich and Fricke in matching outfits) is collectible, valued at $10–30 in near-mint condition. “On My Knees” remains Rich’s last No. 1 and one of the few successful male/female duets of the late 1970s not involving Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn.
Video
Lyric
[Verse 1 – Charlie]
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Come back home, come back home
Don’t leave me here, all alone
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Come back home[Verse 2 – Janie]
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me, don’t leave me
I need you so, don’t you know
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me[Chorus – Both]
We can work it out, we can talk it over
We can make it right, we can start all over
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me[Verse 3 – Charlie]
I was wrong, I know I was wrong
I was a fool to ever let you go
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Come back home[Verse 4 – Janie]
I was wrong, I know I was wrong
I was a fool to ever let you go
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me[Chorus – Both]
We can work it out, we can talk it over
We can make it right, we can start all over
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me[Outro – Both]
On my knees, I’m begging you please
Don’t leave me