Introduction
Joey + Rory’s song “When I’m Gone” first appeared in 2012 as part of their album His and Hers, released on July 31, 2012 through Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records. Unlike most of their own compositions, this deeply poignant narrative was written by their friend Sandy Lawrence. Lawrence crafted the song as a heartfelt message to her own dying mother, expressing solace and reassurance during life’s final moments .
Joey Feek—the duo’s emotional lead—delivered the song with a vulnerability that resonated immediately with both Rory and their listeners. During the recording process, Rory admitted the lyrics felt almost too personal, hesitating at first to have Joey sing them as though to him. However, they ultimately embraced this intimacy in the official music video—filmed on their Tennessee farm—with Joey singing to Rory in a raw, imagined farewell .
At the time, the song was intended to comfort others who faced the pain of impending loss. Rory described their hope that the track would “help someone who is in the midst of losing someone they love”
Tragically, the song later became a mirror of real life. Joey Feek was diagnosed with stage‑4 cancer in 2014 and passed away in March 2016. In an emotional twist, Rory shared that watching his wife sing “When I’m Gone” became almost prophetic: “Here I sit beside my dying wife…,” he wrote, saying the song reminded him of her love, voice, and “beautiful life” even during her final days
Though it didn’t chart initially, it later broke into the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in late 2015 after renewed attention surrounding Joey’s health . What began as a tribute to another’s mother transformed into a timeless ode to love, loss, and lasting legacy—one that Joey intended as a gift, and Rory continues to cherish.