The song helped McEntire to become a member of country music's Grand Ole Opry program, where she has been a member since. The song peaked one position higher than her last single, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in late 1985, while also reaching number 6 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. 'Only in My Mind' was officially released as a single to radio in September 1985, her last single released during the year. It's a noncheater's cheating song, a tense dialogue between husband and wife ('He said, 'Have you ever cheated on me?'/And I said, 'Only in my mind' '), as told to the man with whom she refrains from cheating.' Release and chart performance Gates stated, 'McEntire is at her best on these songs and on 'Only in My Mind,' her first noncollaborative songwriting effort on record.

William Ruhlmann of Allmusic called it 'Another mistake was that she dared to do some writing herself, although her 'Only in My Mind,' which actually got to number five in the country charts, demonstrated that she had absorbed the lesson of ' Somebody Should Leave' in trying to come up with songs that addressed the viewpoint of contemporary women.' Rolling Stone Magazine's David Gates gave the song a favorable review, after reviewing her 1985 album.

Unlike her previous releases, 'Only in My Mind' received mixed reviews from many music critics. Brenda Lee originally recorded Always on My Mind written by Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson and Mark James and Brenda Lee released it on the single Always. ( G D/F Em G/D C G/B Am D) Outro: G You were always on my mind G D/F Maybe I didnt treat you Em G/D C C D Quite as good as I should have G D/F Maybe I didnt love you Em G/D C C D Quite as often as I could have G D/F Maybe I didnt hold you Em G/D C C D All those lonely, lonely times G D/F And I guess I never told you Em G/D C G Im. The woman's husband asks if she has ever cheated on him, and she answers, 'only in my mind.' Content įrom the viewpoint of a female narrator, the song's storyline explains the conversation between a woman and man. When, in the finale of Always on My Mind, Willie Nelson claims he wasn’t tryin’, he seems to be summing up his attitude toward this whole sorry album. The song was the only track on McEntire's, Have I Got a Deal for You that was singlehandedly written by McEntire.

'Only in My Mind' was recorded at the MCA studio located in Nashville, Tennessee. But you were always on my mind You were always on my mind Tell me Tell me that your sweet love hasnt died And give me Give me one more chance To keep you satisfied Ill keep you satisfied Instrumental Interlude Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time But you were always on my mind You were always on my mind You.

Jt always on mymind