If Heaven was n't So Far Away - wikipedia If Heaven was n't So Far Away `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' Single by Justin Moore from the album Outlaws Like Me Released February 28, 2011 ( 2011 - 02 - 28 ) Format Digital download 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 `` How I Got to Be This Way '' ( 2010 ) `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' ( 2011 ) `` Bait a Hook '' ( 2011 ) `` How I Got to Be This Way '' ( 2010 ) `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' ( 2011 ) `` Bait a Hook '' ( 2011 ) `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' is a song written by Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch, and 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. Contents 1 Background 2 Content 3 Critical reception 4 Chart performance 4.1 Year - end charts 5 Certifications 6 References 7 External links 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. '' Content `` If Heaven Was n'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 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. Critical reception Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the song a positive review, calling it `` a tearjerker in the classic country mold. '' 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. Chart performance Chart ( 2011 ) Peak position Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 76 US Billboard Hot 100 49 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 2011 ) Position US Country Songs ( Billboard ) 14 Preceded by `` Honey Bee '' by Blake Shelton Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one single July 23, 2011 Succeeded by `` Dirt Road Anthem '' by Jason Aldean Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United States ( RIAA ) Platinum 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone References Jump up ^ `` Justin Moore Can Relate To Latest Single ''. Nashville.com. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011. ^ Jump up to : Mansfield, Brian ( 21 March 2011 ). `` Playlist : Justin Moore 's ' Heaven, ' plus 10 more ''. USA Today. Retrieved 22 March 2011. Jump up ^ AOL radio blog Jump up ^ Justus, Karlie ( 18 February 2011 ). `` Justin Moore -- `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' ``. Engine 145. Retrieved 22 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` Justin Moore Chart History ( Canadian Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Justin Moore Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Justin Moore Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Justin Moore -- If Heaven Was n't So Far Away ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 31, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Rhett Akins Studio albums A Thousand Memories ( 1995 ) Somebody New ( 1996 ) What Livin 's All About ( 1998 ) Friday Night in Dixie ( 2002 ) Notable songs `` What They 're Talkin ' About '' `` I Brake for Brunettes '' `` That Ai n't My Truck '' `` She Said Yes '' `` Do n't Get Me Started '' `` Drivin ' My Life Away '' `` If Heaven Was n't So Far Away '' Related articles Thomas Rhett The Peach Pickers Justin Moore Studio albums Justin Moore ( 2009 ) Outlaws Like Me ( 2011 ) Off the Beaten Path ( 2013 ) Kinda Do n't Care ( 2016 ) Singles `` Back That Thing Up '' `` Small Town USA '' `` Backwoods '' `` How I Got to Be This Way '' `` If Heaven Was n'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 '' Guest Singles `` Small Town Throwdown '' Related articles Discography Jeremy Stover Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_Heaven_Wasn%27t_So_Far_Away&oldid=798286336 '' Categories : 2006 singles 2011 singles Rhett Akins songs Justin Moore songs Songs written by Dallas Davidson Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles Music videos directed by Peter Zavadil BNA Records singles Big Machine Records singles Songs written by Rob Hatch 2006 songs Songs written by Brett Jones ( songwriter ) Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canada Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 1 September 2017, at 01 : 14. 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Question: who wrote if heaven wasn't so far away lyrics
Answer: Dallas Davidson