‘Don't Look Back’ is a song by American rock band Boston, written by main songwriter, guitarist and bandleader Tom Scholz. It was released as the title track and first single from their second studio album, Don't Look Back (1978). It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the band's biggest hits. CBS Records reported that the ‘Don't Look Back’ single sold more than a million copies in the first two weeks or so following its release. The single peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1978. It also reached the Top 10 in Canada, peaking at #6. It reached #14 in the Netherlands but only reached #43 in the UK. ‘Don't Look Back’ was included on Boston's Greatest Hits album in 1997. ‘Don't Look Back’ is the band's second biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, after 1986's ‘Amanda,’ which hit No. 1.
Like the first Boston album, Don't Look Back was made in Tom Scholz' home studio. He played most of the instruments himself, but on this track some of his band members contributed. In the liner notes to the album remaster, we see these credits: Lead Guitars, Barry Goudreau: virtuoso intro, ending leads, plus slide, Tom Scholz: chorus and middle leads, Bass Guitar, Tom Scholz with cameo appearance by Fran Sheehan.
Although the first song on the album, ‘Don't Look Back’ was its final song to be written and recorded. According to Scholz "It was one of those things where everything clicked. I didn't even record a demo for that song. I came up with chord changes, melody, and the arrangement and put it right on the master tape." Brad Delp sang all the vocals, both lead and backing. According to Scholz, Fran Sheehan only played a few bass notes on the song and Barry Goudreau played the solo guitar parts in the intro and outro. Scholz praised Goudreau's lead guitar playing at the end of the song. Scholz also stated that he made more than 60 edits to Sib Hashian's drum track in order to get the performance he wanted.
Paul Grein of Billboard cited ‘Don't Look Back’ as an example of Boston's skill at changing tempos, stating that it "actually stops midway through and then rebuilds gradually to its peak of intensity." Rolling Stone critic Tim Emerson described the lyrics as "optimistic about the road that lies ahead." Billboard rated the song one of the best cuts on the Don't Look Back album, and stated that the song "resounds with a thunderous rock beat underlined by a highly rich and melodic bass and a powerful vocal." It describes the instrumentals as "high powered" with "searing" guitar playing. Cash Box said that "Scholtz and Goudreau open with blazing guitar riffs" and that the "hard rock edge" is tempered by the "soaring vocals, melodic passages and a break at the 3:00 minute mark." Record World said that "The sound is much the same as Boston debut album with the strong bass/guitar line sweetened by Brad Delp's stellar vocals."
‘Don't Look Back’ was the final song of the memorial/tribute concert for Boston lead vocalist Bred Delp in August of 2007. Delp passed away in on March 9 that year, having committed suicide. He did so as neatly and quietly as he could in his home, with numerous considerate notes for those who would find him. This included notes asking after the continued care of his pet cat. Further notes explained he had suffered bouts of depression since his teenage years, though he had never let anyone on to such a problem.
Label – Epic
Songwriter – Tom Scholz
Producer – Tom Scholz
SONG LYRICS
Don't look back (ooh, a new day is breakin')It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind (ooh, where I get taken)
The road is callin', today is the day
I can see, it took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh, yes, I will
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
It's a bright horizon (ooh, and I'm awakin' now)
Oh, I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin' (ooh, the clouds are breakin')
'Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play
I can tell there's no more time left to criticize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everything in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong, oh, yes, I can
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Ooh, far away and left behind, left behind
Oh, the sun is shinin' and I'm on that road
Don't look back (ooh, a new day is breakin')
Oh, It's been so long since I felt this way
I don't mind (ooh, where I get taken)
The road is callin', today is the day
I can see, it took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around, oh, yes, I will
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Oh, far away and left behind
Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back
Don't look back