"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" | ||||
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Single by Justin Moore | ||||
from the album Outlaws Like Me | ||||
Released | February 28, 2011 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Valory Music Group | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Jeremy Stover | |||
Justin Moore singles chronology | ||||
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"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" is a song written by Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch and Brett Jones. It was first recorded by American country music artist Rhett Akins, whose version was released as a single in September 2006 but did not chart. Justin Moore covered the song and released it as a single in February 2011 as the lead-off single to his second studio album Outlaws Like Me . Moore's cover is his fifth single release, his third top 10 hit, and his second number one single.
Moore said he chose to record the song because he thought that it was "one of those songs you hear one time, and know immediately that it’s special." [1]
"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" is a ballad in which a young man fantasizes about being able to spend a day in Heaven, visiting friends and family members who have died. [2] The man begins his fantasy when he drives across a bridge near a fishing spot where he and his grandfather spent time and bonded, and the grandfather also operated a fruit stand. Now a family man, he wonders what his children would think of their great grandfather upon meeting him.
Other deceaseds the man thinks about connecting with include a cousin John (who was killed in action in Vietnam), his hunting dog, three teenage girls who were classmates of his in 1999, and singers Hank Williams and Janis Joplin. With the later two, he says he would ask Williams why he took pills that eventually killed him "back in '53" and he asks Joplin to sing the second verse of "Me and Bobby McGee".
The central theme is the ability to cross the mortal divide and reconnect with loved ones lost long ago. [3]
Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the song a positive review, calling it "a tearjerker in the classic country mold." [2] Giving it a "thumbs up" rating, Karlie Justus of Engine 145 noted the "small details" of the first verse and Moore's "easy twang," but thought that the second verse was not as well written. [4] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" at number one on his top 10 list of Moore's best songs. [5]
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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Canada Country ( Billboard ) [6] | 4 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [7] | 76 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] | 49 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] | 1 |
Chart (2011) | Position |
---|---|
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [10] | 14 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [11] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for that label, followed by 1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment. Overall, his albums have accounted for fourteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, including the number one "Don't Get Me Started" from 1996.
Justin Cole Moore is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. For that label, he has released six studio albums: his self titled debut in 2009, Outlaws Like Me in 2011, Off the Beaten Path in 2013, Kinda Don't Care in 2016, Late Nights and Longnecks in 2019, and Straight Outta the Country in 2021. He has also charted eighteen times on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, including with the number 1 singles "Small Town USA", "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", "Til My Last Day", "Lettin' the Night Roll", "You Look Like I Need a Drink", "Somebody Else Will", "The Ones That Didn't Make It Back Home", "Why We Drink", "We Didn't Have Much", and "With a Woman You Love"; and the top 10 hits "Backwoods" and "Point at You".
Son of a Preacher Man is the third solo studio album by American country music artist John Rich, one half of the duo Big & Rich. Rich wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album. Originally slated for a May 2009 release on Warner Bros. Records, the same label to which Big & Rich are signed, Son of a Preacher Man was released on March 24, 2009.
"Sissy's Song" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It was released in March 2009 as the fourth single from his album Good Time, and his fifty-sixth single release overall. Jackson wrote the song after the sudden death of a housekeeper that worked at his house.
"Small Town USA" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Justin Moore. It was released in February 2009 as the second single of his career and the second one from his self-titled debut album. On the charts dated for October 3, 2009, the song became Moore's first Number One hit. In addition, the song fared well as a crossover hit. Just missing the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 44.
Justin Moore is the debut studio album by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released on August 11, 2009 by Valory Music Group, a subsidiary of Big Machine Records. The album includes the singles "I Could Kick Your Ass", "Back That Thing Up", "Small Town USA", "Backwoods" and "How I Got to Be This Way". "Small Town USA" became Moore's first number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2009. Moore co-wrote all but one of the songs on the album.
"Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It was released in February 2009 as the second single from his 2009 album The Man I Want to Be (2009). Young wrote the song with Kent Blazy and Cory Batten. The song garnered positive reviews from critics who praised the suggestive lyrics for sounding sexy and for being a great non-sellout single.
Dallas Davidson is an American country music singer and songwriter from Albany, Georgia, who has written for artists such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, and Billy Currington. He generally writes with others, notably as a member of The Peach Pickers.
"Hell on the Heart" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. It was released in October 2009 as the seventh single of his career and the second one from his 2009 album Carolina. The song became Church's second Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with a peak at number 10. Church wrote this song with Deric Ruttan and Jeremy Spillman.
"Smoke a Little Smoke" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. It was released in June 2010 as the third and final single from his 2009 album Carolina. It was also the eighth single of Church's career to reach the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart after peaking at number 16. Church wrote this song with Jeff Hyde and Driver Williams.
"The Shape I'm In" is a song written by The Peach Pickers and recorded by American country music singer Joe Nichols. It was released in July 2010 as the third single from Nichols' 2009 album Old Things New.
"Colder Weather" is a song by American country music group Zac Brown Band. Lead singer Zac Brown co-wrote the song with Coy Bowles, Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowrey. It is the band's seventh single release overall, and the second single from their 2010 album You Get What You Give.
"Crazy Women" is a song recorded by American country pop artist LeAnn Rimes, and released as the second single from her tenth studio album, Lady & Gentlemen, on December 10, 2010. The song peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Country Songs chart.
Outlaws Like Me is the second studio album by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released on June 21, 2011 via The Valory Music Co. The album's first single, "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", became Moore's second number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Its single, "Bait a Hook" reached the top 20 at number 17. The third single, "Til My Last Day", peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart. Moore co-wrote eleven of the thirteen songs on the album.
"God Gave Me You" is a song written and originally recorded by American contemporary Christian music singer Dave Barnes. It was released in January 2010 as the lead single from the album, What We Want, What We Get.
"Beat This Summer" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in March 2013 as the second single from his 2013 album Wheelhouse. Paisley co-wrote this song with Chris DuBois and Luke Laird.
"Back That Thing Up" is a song written by Jeremy Stover and Randy Houser, and recorded by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released in July 2008 as Moore's second single from his self-titled debut album, and the only track from the album that Moore did not co-write. The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
"Mary Was the Marrying Kind" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kip Moore, co-written by Dan Couch and Scott Stepakoff, released as the lead single from his debut album Up All Night. The song, which was released as Moore's debut single in March 2011, was the fourth most added country single at the time of its release and peaked at number 45 on Hot Country Songs. The song did not make the final cut of Moore's debut album Up All Night, although it was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition.
Off the Beaten Path is the third studio album by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released on September 17, 2013 via Valory Music Group. The album includes duets with Miranda Lambert and Charlie Daniels. A deluxe edition was also made available. The album has sold 364,000 copies in the US as of June 2016.
American country music singer Justin Moore has released seven studio albums, two extended plays, and twenty singles. Moore signed with Valory Music Group in 2007, and his first radio single, "Back That Thing Up", entered the Hot Country Songs chart in 2008. The next year, his single, "Small Town USA", became his first single to enter the Billboard Hot 100.