In February of 2008, Montgomery Gentry released "Back When I Knew It All" as the lead single from their album of the same name. Written by Phil O'Donnell, Trent Willmon and Gary Hannan, the song went to No. 1 in July of 2008, becoming Montgomery Gentry's fourth chart-topping tune. Below, O'Donnell tells The Boot about the parallels between the song's lyrics and his own life.

The idea actually came from my co-writer, Gary Hannan, but a lot of the places in the song are places that I pass every day. For example, Tuffy's is where I sometimes fill up with gas, and I've stopped there and seen kids, who I know are not 21, with beer. The "step-side truck that can't jump a ditch" was actually an Oldsmobile that I put through a fence one night.

Another very true part of the song is in the line "a Sunday sermon can turn life around." I turned my life over to the Lord in 1993, and I consider that a major turning point in my life.

This story was originally written by Phil O'Donnell, and revised by Angela Stefano.

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