Do You Wanna Go to Heaven

Last updated
"Do You Wanna Go to Heaven"
Single by T. G. Sheppard
from the album Smooth Sailin'
B-side "How Far Our Love Goes"
ReleasedJuly 1980
Genre Country
Length3:10
Label Warner Bros./Curb
Songwriter(s) Curly Putman
Bucky Jones
Producer(s) Buddy Killen
T. G. Sheppard singles chronology
"Smooth Sailin'"
(1980)
"Do You Wanna Go to Heaven"
(1980)
"I Feel Like Loving You Again"
(1980)

"Do You Wanna Go to Heaven" is a song written by Curly Putman and Bucky Jones, and recorded by American country music artist T. G. Sheppard. It was released in July 1980 as the second single from the album Smooth Sailin' . The song was Sheppard's fifth number one on the country chart. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of eleven weeks on the country chart. [1]

Contents

Content

The song is told through the eyes of a promiscuous young man who has had many sexual experiences, and plays upon the double-meaning of the word "heaven." He first recalls his baptism and how the preacher asked the protagonist (then a young boy), "Do you want to go to Heaven," referring to the religious concept of the afterlife (where good people go after their death).

Later in the song, the man recalls his sexual awakening, where—after a high school dance—he and his teen-aged girlfriend, Bonnie Lou, are alone. Bonnie Lou uses her charms to come on to her boyfriend, asking him before they initiate sex, "Do you want to go to heaven." In this sense, "heaven" refers to the blissful experience of sexual intercourse.

In the final verse, the man is broken down and drowning his sorrows at a tavern. He sees a possible sexual partner at the end of the bar and thinks "she would be a prize to win." Neither one shows any resistance as the two begin their encounter, as once again the term "heaven" refers to the intense pleasure of sex.

At the end of each verse, the man says, "I'll never forget, I remember it yet, that taste of that clear, pure water," before recalling to various degrees the words of the preacher and his expectations that he will live a Christ-centered life. The man, as a young boy and teenager, upholds this promise until—as the song progresses—they become dimmer (his first experience with Bonnie Lou) to totally forgotten (the drunken encounter with the woman at the end of the bar).

Charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [2] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks15

Related Research Articles

John Prine American country singer-songwriter (1946–2020)

John Edward Prine was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death. He was known for an often humorous style of original music that has elements of protest and social commentary.

A Boy Named Sue Song by Shel Silverstein, Johnny Cash

"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by humorist, children's author, and poet Shel Silverstein and made popular by Johnny Cash. Cash recorded the song live in concert on February 24, 1969 at California's San Quentin State Prison for his At San Quentin album. Cash also performed the song in December 1969 at Madison Square Garden. The live San Quentin version of the song became Cash's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his only top ten single there, spending three weeks at No. 2 in 1969, held out of the top spot by "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones. The track also topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Easy Listening charts that same year and was certified Gold on August 14, 1969, by the RIAA.

"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is a rock song written and first recorded by American musician Warren Zevon in 1976.

Piano Man (song) 1973 single by Billy Joel

"Piano Man" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel. His first single in North America, it was included on Joel's 1973 album of the same name and later released as a single on November 2, 1973. The song is sung from Joel's point of view as a piano player at a bar, reminiscing about his experiences there and the people he encountered. "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York City-based record company at the time, Family Productions, following the poor commercial performance of the album Cold Spring Harbor. Joel describes various characters, including a bartender named John and a "real estate novelist" named Paul, all based on real-life individuals.

Id Do Anything for Love (But I Wont Do That) 1993 single by Meat Loaf

"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf with Lorraine Crosby. The song was released in August 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. The last six verses feature Crosby, who was credited only as "Mrs. Loud" in the album notes. She does not appear in the video, in which her vocals are lip-synched by Dana Patrick. Meat Loaf promoted the single with American singer Patti Russo.

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is a Southern Gothic murder ballad, written in 1972 by songwriter Bobby Russell and first recorded by his then wife, singer and comedian Vicki Lawrence. Lawrence's version, from her 1973 album of the same name, went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 after its release. Of several cover versions, the one recorded by Reba McEntire for her 1991 album For My Broken Heart peaked at number 12 on Hot Country Songs.

Dont Take the Girl 1994 single by Tim McGraw

"Don't Take The Girl" is a song written by Craig Martin and Larry W. Johnson, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in March 1994 as the second single from his album Not a Moment Too Soon. The song was McGraw's fifth single overall, and his first number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. It reached number one on the Canadian country charts as well and it was also a successful pop song, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

That Summer (song) 1993 single by Garth Brooks

"That Summer" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released in April 1993 as the fourth and final single from his album The Chase and also appears on The Hits, The Ultimate Hits, The Limited Series and Double Live. It reached number-one on the Billboard Country Charts in 1993. The song was written by Brooks, Pat Alger, and Brooks' then-wife Sandy Mahl.

Some People Change (song) 2006 single by Montgomery Gentry

"Some People Change" is a song written by Neil Thrasher, Jason Sellers and Michael Dulaney. It was originally recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney for his 2004 album When the Sun Goes Down. It was then recorded by Canadian country music artist George Canyon for his 2006 album Somebody Wrote Love. Finally, by American country music duo Montgomery Gentry recorded their version of the song and released it as a single. It was released in August 2006 as the lead single from their 2006 album of the same name. It peaked at number 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

"See See Rider", also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues" or "Easy Rider", is a popular American 12-bar blues song that became a standard in several genres. Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was the first to record it on October 16, 1924, at Paramount Records in New York. The song uses mostly traditional blues lyrics to tell the story of an unfaithful lover, commonly called an "easy rider": "See see rider, see what you have done", making a play on the word "see" and the sound of "easy".

Youll Always Be My Baby 2006 single by Sara Evans

"You'll Always Be My Baby" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in August 2006 as the fourth and final single from her 2005 album Real Fine Place. The song peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song is also included on Evans' 2007 Greatest Hits album. Evans wrote this song with Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro.

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven 2008 single by Kenny Chesney with The Wailers

"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album Troubadour, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records.

Believe (Brooks & Dunn song) 2005 single by Brooks & Dunn

"Believe" is a song written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in October 2005 as the second single from their album Hillbilly Deluxe, and it won the Country Music Association's 2006 awards for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Rolling Stone ranked "Believe" No. 33 on its list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time in 2019.

Anything Goes (Randy Houser song) 2008 single by Randy Houser

"Anything Goes" is the debut single by American country music artist Randy Houser, released in June 2008. It is the title track of his 2008 debut album of the same name. The song was written by Brice Long and John Wiggins.

Holes in the Floor of Heaven 1998 single by Steve Wariner

"Holes in the Floor of Heaven" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Steve Wariner. It was released in March 1998 as the lead-off single from his album Burnin' the Roadhouse Down, and was his first solo single in three years. It peaked at number 2 in both the United States and Canada. The song, written by Wariner with Billy Kirsch, won the award for Song of the Year in 1998 from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). In 2005, Steve Wariner re-recorded a new version of this song for his second studio album that he released on his own SelecTone Records titled "This Real Life". The re-recorded version was not released as a single.

Jacobs Ladder (Mark Wills song) 1996 single by Mark Wills

"Jacob's Ladder" is a song written by Cal Sweat, Brenda Sweat, and Tony Martin, and recorded by American country music artist Mark Wills. It was released in May 1996 as his debut single, and was served as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It reached a peak of number 6 on both the U.S. Billboard country singles chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Wings of a Dove (Bob Ferguson song) 1960 single by Ferlin Husky

"Wings of a Dove' is a country song written by Bob Ferguson in 1958. "Wings of a Dove" was most popular when it was recorded by Ferlin Husky in 1960. This recording went to number 1 on the country charts for 10 nonconsecutive weeks. It was Ferlin Husky's third and final number 1 on the country chart, spending nine months on it. "Wings of a Dove" was successful on the pop charts as well, peaking at number 12 on the Hot 100. In 1987, Broadcast Music Incorporated awarded Ferguson with the "million air" plays for the "Wings of a Dove".

"Mama Sang a Song" is a country music song written and recorded by Bill Anderson.

<i>Thats the Way Love Goes</i> (Merle Haggard album) 1983 studio album by Merle Haggard

That's the Way Love Goes is the 38th studio album by the American country singer Merle Haggard backed by The Strangers, released in 1983.

"Crime in the City " is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1989 album Freedom, although Young had performed longer versions in concert earlier. It was not released as a single but reached number 34 on the Billboard Magazine Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It is a lengthy song, with a released version of almost nine minutes, but earlier versions were more than twice as long. It has been characterized as a document of moral rot in urban regions of the United States in the late 1980s.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 313.
  2. "T.G. Sheppard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.