About The Song
“If You Want to Find Love” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. The single was released on November 30, 1991 as the first official release from his studio album Back Home Again, making it a highlight of Rogers’ early 1990s work. The track was issued by Reprise Records, a major label Rogers had been working with during that period of his career.
The song was written by Kenny Rogers along with Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes, both of whom were established songwriters in the country music world. Skip Ewing had previously written hits for artists such as Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney, while Max D. Barnes was known for his many successful collaborations in the 1980s and early 1990s. The combination of these three writers helped shape the lyrical and melodic direction of the song.
Back Home Again, the album that features “If You Want to Find Love”, was released earlier in November 1991 on November 16. It was Rogers’ twenty-fourth studio album and his last album issued through Reprise Records. The recording sessions took place in multiple studios, including The Soundshop and The Loft in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as The Castle in Franklin, Tennessee, and Conway Studios in Hollywood, California. Although the album did not achieve major commercial certifications from the RIAA, it reached number 42 on the U.S. Country Albums chart, demonstrating Rogers’ continued presence in the country music market.
Musically, “If You Want to Find Love” is a country song with a runtime of 3:08, featuring backing vocals from Linda Davis and the Branson Brothers. The arrangement blends traditional country instrumentation with contemporary production elements typical of early 1990s country radio. Lyrically, the song uses metaphorical imagery to describe love as something that should be looked for where genuine human connection exists rather than in superficial pursuits. It makes references to things like searching for gold in mountains or silver in stones, before concluding that true love is found “at home.” The narrative style is rooted in storytelling, a hallmark of country music songwriting.
Upon its release, “If You Want to Find Love” performed respectably on the charts. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the United States, marking it as a modest hit for Rogers in the early 1990s country scene. In Canada, the song peaked at number 12 on the RPM Country Tracks chart, indicating that it resonated with audiences beyond the United States as well. The chart performance helped sustain Rogers’ visibility on country radio at a time when the genre was experiencing substantial shifts in style and audience.
In the context of Kenny Rogers’ broader career, “If You Want to Find Love” reflects his enduring ability to connect with traditional country audiences even as new trends in country music were emerging. Rogers had enjoyed significant crossover success in previous decades with hits such as “The Gambler”, “Lady”, and duets like “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton. While “If You Want to Find Love” did not reach the same iconic status as those earlier hits, it nonetheless demonstrates Rogers’ consistent work as a recording artist and songwriter into the 1990s.
Overall, “If You Want to Find Love” stands as a noteworthy single in Kenny Rogers’ discography. Its release as the lead single from Back Home Again, its strong showing on country charts, and its collaboration with respected songwriters make it an important piece of Rogers’ later career. For fans of classic country music, the song continues to represent the narrative storytelling and melodic sensibilities that defined much of Rogers’ work.
Video
Lyric
He was sitting on a bar stool
A picture from a cheating song
She’d been standing by the jukebox
Dropping quarters all night longHe said, “Tell me: are you lonely?
Is there some place we can go?”
She said, “Cowboy, you know I’m lonely
But there’s something you should knowIf you wanna find gold, go looking in the mountains
If you wanna find silver, go digging in stones
If you wanna find heaven, go reading in the Bible
If you wanna find love, go looking at home.”She touched the gold ring on his finger
And held it to the jukebox light
And she said, “Stranger, think what you’re losing
If you leave here with me tonight.”So, he hold her body closer
She felt feelings she’d never known
And he said, “Thank you for the lesson
And if you need me, I’ll be at home.”If you wanna find gold, go looking in the mountains
If you wanna find silver, go digging in stones
If you wanna find heaven, go reading in the Bible
If you wanna find love, go looking at home