If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away

{{Infobox song

| name = If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away

| cover = Justin-Moore-2011-300-01.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Justin Moore

| album = Outlaws Like Me

| released = {{Start date|2011|02|28}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Country

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=44}}

| label = Valory Music Group

| writer = {{flatlist|

| producer = Jeremy Stover

| prev_title = How I Got to Be This Way

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Bait a Hook

| next_year = 2011

}}

"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."{{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}}

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. 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 decedents 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.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110212131126/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2011/02/08/justin-moore-if-heaven-wasnt-so-far-away AOL radio blog]}}

Critical reception

Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the song a positive review, calling it "a tearjerker in the classic country mold."{{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}} 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.{{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=usurped}} 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.{{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|date=August 16, 2017|accessdate=May 23, 2020}}

Chart performance

class="wikitable sortable"

!align="left"|Chart (2011)

!align="center"|Peak
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}}

{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|49|artist=Justin Moore|artistid=1061633|accessdate=March 31, 2011}}

{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Justin Moore|artistid=1061633|accessdate=March 21, 2011}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col"\|Chart (2011) !scope="col"\|Position
US Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs\|title=Best of 2011: Country Songs\|magazine=Billboard\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|date=2011\|accessdate=December 10, 2011}} \| align="center" \| 14

class="wikitable sortable"

scope="col"|Chart (2011)

!scope="col"|Position

US Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/hot-country-songs|title=Best of 2011: Country Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=2011|accessdate=December 10, 2011}}

| align="center" | 14

Certifications

{{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|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}