About The Song
“Write This Down” is a mid-tempo country song written by Dana Hunt Black and Kent Robbins. It was recorded by George Strait for his nineteenth studio album, Always Never the Same, released on March 2, 1999, by MCA Nashville. Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait, the track features a traditional country arrangement with pedal steel guitar, fiddle accents, and Strait’s signature smooth baritone vocals. The album marked Strait’s continued dominance in the late 1990s, blending neotraditional elements with contemporary production.
The single was released in March 1999 as the second from the album, following “Meanwhile.” It debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number one on June 19, 1999, spending two weeks at the top. This became Strait’s 35th number-one hit on the country chart (some sources count it as his 36th overall). It also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 27, marking one of his stronger pop chart performances. The success contributed to the album’s Platinum certification by the RIAA.
The lyrics depict a man realizing his partner is leaving and urgently pleading for her to note his declarations of love as a lasting reminder. Suggestions include using it as a bookmark, sticking it on the refrigerator door, or hanging it in a picture frame. The bridge escalates with the line about chiseling the words in stone for posterity. The structure features two verses, a repeating chorus, and the bridge, delivering a clever yet straightforward plea.
The song’s origin traces to a voicemail mishap between co-writers Black and Robbins. Robbins left Black a message simply saying “Write this down,” intending to follow up with the full idea, but the message cut off. The next day, Robbins revealed the phrase as the hook, sparking the composition. Black later noted in interviews that Strait’s selection of the song indicated his personal connection to material requiring a handy pen and paper. Robbins, a prolific Nashville songwriter, passed away in 1997, making this one of his final cuts.
The music video, directed by Gerry Wenner, was filmed during Strait’s concert at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, intercutting live performance footage with narrative elements. It received heavy rotation on CMT and GAC. The track appears on multiple Strait compilations, including 50 Number Ones (2004) and Strait Out of the Box: Part II (2016). Live versions feature on albums like For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome (2003).
Though initially viewed by some critics as lightweight compared to deeper album cuts, the song has endured as a fan favorite and concert staple, praised for Strait’s phrasing and the catchy, relatable hook. It exemplifies his ability to elevate clever wordplay into chart-topping material, solidifying his record-setting streak of number-one hits in the 1990s.
Video
Lyric
I never saw the end in sight
Fools are kind of blind
Thought everything was going alright
But I was running out of time
‘Cause you had one foot out the door
I swear I didn’t see
But if you’re really going away
Here’s some final words from meBaby, write this down, take a little note
To remind you in case you didn’t know
Tell yourself I love you and I don’t want you to go
Write this down
Take my words and read them every day
Keep them close by, don’t you let them fade away
So you’ll remember what I forgot to say
Write this downI’ll sign it at the bottom of the page
I’ll swear under oath
‘Cause every single word is true
And I think you need to know
So use it as a bookmark
Stick it on your ‘frigerator door
Hang it in a picture frame up above the mantel
Where you’ll see it for sureBaby, write this down, take a little note
To remind you in case you didn’t know
Tell yourself I love you and I don’t want you to go
Write this down
Take my words and read them every day
Keep them close by, don’t you let them fade away
So you’ll remember what I forgot to say
Write this downYou can find a chisel, I can find the stone
Folks will be reading these words long after we’re goneBaby, write this down, take a little note
To remind you in case you didn’t know
Tell yourself I love you and I don’t want you to go
Write this down
Take my words and read them every day
Keep them close by, don’t you let them fade away
So you’ll remember what I forgot to say
Write this downOh, I love you and I don’t want you to go
Baby, write this down