“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
I still get a little tug at my heart whenever Johnny Rodriguez’s gentle voice floats in, reminding us that sometimes people are just passing through our lives. Released in October 1972, “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)” marked Rodriguez’s very first single on Mercury Records. Clocking in at just 2 minutes and 30 seconds, its brevity only deepens its impact—no second is wasted in that warm Nashville studio sound.
Before fame found him, Johnny was discovered while singing in a Texas jail cell—a story as legendary as the song itself. Within weeks of signing with Mercury, he laid down this track at Mercury Custom Studio in Nashville, under the watchful ear of producer Jerry Kennedy. The simplicity of its arrangement—just Johnny’s voice, a strummed guitar, and a subtle rhythm section—lets the lyrics shine, like a friendly conversation you don’t want to end.
When the single hit the airwaves, country fans couldn’t get enough. It climbed steadily over 18 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 9 in January 1973. Up north, Canadian listeners embraced it too, pushing it to number 7 on the RPM Country chart. These milestones weren’t just numbers—they were proof that Johnny’s honest delivery connected across borders and backgrounds.
Beyond its melodic charm, “Pass Me By” holds a special place in history: Johnny Rodriguez became the first well-known American of Mexican descent to land a top-ten country hit. That achievement opened doors for countless other Latin-American artists, reminding us how one heartfelt song can shift an entire landscape.
Listening now, you can almost feel those fleeting moments the lyrics describe—brush-by smiles, short-lived romances, and the bittersweet beauty in every goodbye. Have you ever met someone unforgettable, only to part ways too soon? That’s the magic Johnny taps into: universal, gentle, and endlessly relatable.
Video
Lyrics
Would you look at what came down the road today
Wanting me to be one more mistake to make
A bridge to burn to get to some one new
Hey pass me by if your only passing through
You sure look like the traveling kind to me
Don’t stop if this ain’t where you want to be
Now I don’t know what you think you run into
Hey pass me by if your only passing through
I’m not going to be a steeping stone
Amoung the other hearts that you walk on
Lord help me if I fall in love with you
Hey pass me by if your only passing through
Hey pass me by if your only passing through