If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away: Difference between revisions

"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"
"If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"
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)	Dallas Davidson; Rob Hatch; Brett Jones;
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.

Background

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]

Content

"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]

Critical reception

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 performance

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Canada Country (Billboard)^[6]	4
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[7]	76
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	49
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[9]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2011)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[10]	14

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[11]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Justin Moore Can Relate To Latest Single". Nashville.com. February 26, 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Mansfield, Brian (March 21, 2011). "Playlist: Justin Moore's 'Heaven,' plus 10 more". USA Today. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
^ AOL radio blog
^ Justus, Karlie (February 18, 2011). "Justin Moore — "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
^ Dauphin, Chuck (August 16, 2017). "Justin Moore's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
^ "Justin Moore Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
^ "Justin Moore Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
^ "Justin Moore Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
^ "Justin Moore Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
^ "American single certifications – Justin Moore – If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 15, 2024.

[1] "Justin Moore Can Relate To Latest Single". Nashville.com. February 26, 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.

[usa-2] Mansfield, Brian (March 21, 2011). "Playlist: Justin Moore's 'Heaven,' plus 10 more". USA Today. Retrieved March 22, 2011.

[3] AOL radio blog

[4] Justus, Karlie (February 18, 2011). "Justin Moore — "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2011.

[5] Dauphin, Chuck (August 16, 2017). "Justin Moore's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.

[sc_Billboardcanadacountry_Justin_Moore-6] "Justin Moore Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2011.

[sc_Canada_Justin_Moore-7] "Justin Moore Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2011.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Justin_Moore-8] "Justin Moore Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2011.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Justin_Moore-9] "Justin Moore Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2011.

[10] "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.

[United_StatesJustin_MooreIf_Heaven_Wasn't_So_Far_AwaysingleCertRef-11] "American single certifications – Justin Moore – If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 15, 2024.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox song
-{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
-| Name           = If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away
+| name       = If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away
-| Cover          = Justin-Moore-2011-300-01.jpg
+| cover      = Justin-Moore-2011-300-01.jpg
-| Artist         = [[Justin Moore]]
+| alt        =
-| Album          = [[Outlaws Like Me]]
+| type       = single
-| Released       = {{Start date|2011|02|28}}
+| artist     = [[Justin Moore]]
-| Format         = [[Music download|Digital download]]
+| album      = [[Outlaws Like Me]]
+| released   = {{Start date|2011|02|28}}
-| Recorded       =
+| recorded   =
-| Genre          = [[Country music|Country]]
+| studio     =
-| Length         = {{Duration|m=3|s=44}}
+| venue      =
-| Label          = [[Big Machine Records|Valory Music Group]]
-| Writer         = {{flatlist|
+| genre      = [[Country music|Country]]
+| length     = {{Duration|m=3|s=44}}
+| label      = [[Big Machine Records|Valory Music Group]]
+| writer     = {{flatlist|
 * [[Dallas Davidson]]
 * Rob Hatch
 * [[Brett Jones (songwriter)|Brett Jones]]}}
-| Producer       = [[Jeremy Stover]]
+| producer   = [[Jeremy Stover]]
+| prev_title = [[How I Got to Be This Way]]
-| Certification  =
+| prev_year  = 2010
-| Last single    = "[[How I Got to Be This Way]]"<br />(2010)
+| next_title = [[Bait a Hook]]
-| This single    = "'''If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away'''"<Br />(2011)
-| Next single    = "[[Bait a Hook]]"<br>(2011)
+| next_year  = 2011
-| Misc           =
 }}
-"'''If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away'''" is a song written by [[Dallas Davidson]], Rob Hatch, and [[Brett Jones (songwriter)|Brett Jones]].  It was first recorded by American country 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.
+"'''If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away'''" is a song written by [[Dallas Davidson]], Rob Hatch and [[Brett Jones (songwriter)|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.
 ==Background==
-Moore said that 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nashville.com/music/2011/02/justin-moore-can-relate-to-latest-single/|title=Justin Moore Can Relate To Latest Single|date=26 February 2011|work=Nashville.com|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref>
+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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nashville.com/music/2011/02/justin-moore-can-relate-to-latest-single/|title=Justin Moore Can Relate To Latest Single|date=February 26, 2011|work=Nashville.com|accessdate=March 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720100748/http://www.nashville.com/music/2011/02/justin-moore-can-relate-to-latest-single/|archive-date=July 20, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ==Content==
 "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.<ref name="usa"/> 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 teen-aged 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 and he asks Joplin to sing the second verse of "[[Me and Bobby McGee]]".
+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 [[Death of Hank Williams|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.<ref>[http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/02/08/justin-moore-if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away/ AOL radio blog]</ref>
 ==Critical reception==
-[[Brian Mansfield]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the song a positive review, calling it "a tearjerker in the classic country mold."<ref name="usa">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2011-03-21-playlist22_N.htm|title=Playlist: Justin Moore's 'Heaven,' plus 10 more|last=Mansfield|first=Brian|date=21 March 2011|work=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref> Giving it a thumbs up, 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/justin-moore-if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away/|title=Justin Moore — "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"|last=Justus|first=Karlie|date=18 February 2011|work=Engine 145|accessdate=22 March 2011}}</ref>
+[[Brian Mansfield]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the song a positive review, calling it "a tearjerker in the classic country mold."<ref name="usa">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2011-03-21-playlist22_N.htm|title=Playlist: Justin Moore's 'Heaven,' plus 10 more|last=Mansfield|first=Brian|author-link=Brian Mansfield|date=March 21, 2011|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=March 22, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/justin-moore-if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away/|title=Justin Moore — "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"|last=Justus|first=Karlie|date=February 18, 2011|work=Engine 145|accessdate=March 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218090215/http://www.engine145.com/justin-moore-if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away/|archive-date=December 18, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7904981/justin-moore-songs-best-hits-list|title=Justin Moore's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|last=Dauphin|first=Chuck|authorlink=Chuck Dauphin|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=August 16, 2017|accessdate=May 23, 2020}}</ref>
 ==Chart performance==
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
 !align="left"|Chart (2011)
 !align="center"|Peak <br/> position
+|-
+{{singlechart|Billboardcanadacountry|4|artist=Justin Moore|artistid=1061633|accessdate=January 31, 2011}}
 |-
 {{singlechart|Canada|76|artist=Justin Moore|artistid=1061633|accessdate=June 16, 2011}}
@@ Line 54: / Line 58: @@
 !scope="col"|Position
 |-
-| US [[Hot Country Songs|Country Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs | title=Best of 2011: Country Songs | work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] | date=2011 | accessdate=December 10, 2011}}</ref>
+| US [[Hot Country Songs|Country Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs|title=Best of 2011: Country Songs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|date=2011|accessdate=December 10, 2011}}</ref>
 | align="center" | 14
 |}
-{{start box}}
-{{s-bef | before="[[Honey Bee (Blake Shelton song)|Honey Bee]]" <br />by [[Blake Shelton]]}}
-{{s-ttl | title=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] <br/>[[List of number-one country singles of 2011 (U.S.)|number-one single]]
-|years=July 23, 2011}}
-{{s-aft | after="[[Dirt Road Anthem]]" <br />by [[Jason Aldean]]}}
-{{end box}}
 ==Certifications==
 {{certification Table Top}}
-{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Justin Moore|title=If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away|award=Platinum|certyear=2015|certmonth=7|relyear=2011|autocat=yes|accessdate=March 31, 2016}}
+{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Justin Moore|title=If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|number=2|relyear=2011|access-date=March 15, 2024}}
-{{Certification Table Bottom}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-==External links==
-* {{MetroLyrics song|justin-moore|if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{Rhett Akins}}
 {{Justin Moore}}
+{{authority control}}
+[[Category:2006 songs]]
 [[Category:2006 singles]]
 [[Category:2011 singles]]
+[[Category:Country ballads]]
+[[Category:2000s ballads]]
+[[Category:2010s ballads]]
 [[Category:Rhett Akins songs]]
 [[Category:Justin Moore songs]]
-[[Category:Songs written by Dallas Davidson]]
-[[Category:Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles]]
-[[Category:Music videos directed by Peter Zavadil]]
 [[Category:BNA Records singles]]
 [[Category:Big Machine Records singles]]
+[[Category:Music videos directed by Peter Zavadil]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jeremy Stover]]
+[[Category:Songs written by Dallas Davidson]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Rob Hatch]]
-[[Category:2006 songs]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Brett Jones (songwriter)]]
+[[Category:Songs about Hank Williams]]

v t e Rhett Akins
Studio albums	A Thousand Memories (1995) Somebody New (1996) What Livin's All About (1998) Friday Night in Dixie (2002)
Notable songs	"That Ain't My Truck" "She Said Yes" "Don't Get Me Started" "Drivin' My Life Away" "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"
Related articles	Thomas Rhett The Peach Pickers

v t e Justin Moore
Discography
Studio albums	Justin Moore (2009) Outlaws Like Me (2011) Off the Beaten Path (2013) Kinda Don't Care (2016) Late Nights and Longnecks (2019) Straight Outta the Country (2021) Stray Dog (2023) This Is My Dirt (2024)
Singles	"Back That Thing Up" "Small Town USA" "Backwoods" "How I Got to Be This Way" "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" "Bait a Hook" "Til My Last Day" "Point at You" "Lettin' the Night Roll" "Home Sweet Home" "This Kind of Town" "You Look Like I Need a Drink" "Somebody Else Will" "Kinda Don't Care" "The Ones That Didn't Make It Back Home" "Why We Drink" "We Didn't Have Much" "With a Woman You Love" "You, Me, & Whiskey" "This Is My Dirt"
Featured singles	"Small Town Throwdown"
Related articles	Jeremy Stover