Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. A contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, influenced by the (songwriting) greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".
He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of famous singer/guitarist Johnny Cash) from 1979 to 1992 and had a great influence on her career, producing most of her albums during that period. They collaborated on a number of duets, including 1988's "It's Such a Small World." Though Crowell and Cash are now divorced, they remain on friendly terms, performing together occasionally. Six years after the breakdown of his marriage to Rosanne he married Claudia Church.
Although best known as a songwriter and alternative country artist, Crowell enjoyed mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His critically acclaimed album, 1988's Diamonds and Dirt, produced five No. 1 hits during a 17-month span in 1988 and 1989: "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with Cash), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," "She's Crazy for Leaving," "After All This Time" and "Above and Beyond." His follow-up album, 1989's "Keys to the Highway," produced two top 5 hits in 1990, which were "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" and "If Looks Could Kill."
As Crowell's popularity in mainstream country faded, he continued his prolific songwriting. In 2001 he released The Houston Kid on Sugar Hill Records. Many songs on the album were semi-autobiographical, and the album included a duet with Crowell's ex father-in-law Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line (Revisited)". Initially, Cash was annoyed at Crowell changing the tune to his song, but he came to like the finished product. Crowell followed up this effort with Fate's Right Hand in 2003 and The Outsider in 2005. Crowell considers these three albums his finest work as a solo artist.
2004 saw the release of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a reunion of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a group that existed briefly in the 1970s with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, and others. The future Keith Urban hit "Making Memories of Us" was included on this disc.
In 2005, Crowell served as producer for established Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Goss on the album Blue Sky Sunrise.
Closer To Heaven
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nosy neighbors and the nation blind
Chirpy news anchors alter my mood
I'm offended by buzz words like awesome and dude
I look like a train wreck, I feel like a blob
Till you get to know me, you may think I'm a snob
But I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
I don't eat sushi, I don't smoke grass
I don't wear pajamas, I don't drive fast
I hate idle gossip and tassle shoes
Slick politicians, give me the blues
I don't ride in limos and I can't play golf
I don't own a rifle that will blow your head off
But I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
I'm riding that way from cradle to grave
I'm learning to feel my hands on the wheel
I love my friends, I love my wife
Four little babies are the light of my life
I love Sissy Spacek, I love Guy Clark
All the biscuits and gravy I can eat with a fork
I don't wanna be famous, who gives a damn?
I just wanna be happy whoever I am
And I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
Closer to heaven
Closer to heaven
In the song "Closer To Heaven," Rodney Crowell expresses his dislike for a number of contemporary things such as humus, long lines, chirpy news anchors, buzz words like "awesome" and "dude," nosy neighbors, and the nation's blindness. He feels like a train wreck and a blob, and acknowledges that he may come across as a snob to others who don't know him well. However, he insists that he is closer to heaven than ever before.
He further describes his characteristics which are different from those deemed "cool" by popular culture: he doesn't eat sushi, wear pajamas, or smoke weed, and he hates idle gossip, tassle shoes, and slick politicians. He doesn't own a limo or a rifle that can blow someone's head off, but he acknowledges that he is closer to heaven than he has ever been.
Ultimately, he expresses his love for his friends, wife, and four kids, Sissy Spacek, and Guy Clark. He also loves biscuits and gravy, and has no desire to be famous. Crowell concludes that regardless of who he is or what he does, he is happier where he is at the moment, and it has brought him closer to heaven than he has ever been.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like humus, I hate long lines
I dislike eating hummus and standing in long lines
Nosy neighbors and the nation blind
I don't like nosy neighbors and people who are oblivious to what's happening in their country
Chirpy news anchors alter my mood
Happy news anchors on TV change my mood
I'm offended by buzz words like awesome and dude
I am annoyed by popular slang words like awesome and dude
I look like a train wreck, I feel like a blob
I feel like I'm a mess and not good-looking
Till you get to know me, you may think I'm a snob
People who don't know me may mistakenly think I'm a snob
But I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
Despite my flaws and dislikes, I feel like I'm closer to being happy and at peace than I've ever been before
I don't eat sushi, I don't smoke grass
I don't eat sushi or smoke marijuana
I don't wear pajamas, I don't drive fast
I don't wear pajamas as clothing and don't drive fast
I hate idle gossip and tassle shoes
I dislike gossiping about others and tassel shoes
Slick politicians, give me the blues
I get depressed when I hear about slimy politicians
I don't ride in limos and I can't play golf
I don't travel in limousines and am not skilled at playing golf
I don't own a rifle that will blow your head off
I don't possess a firearm that's powerful enough to cause severe harm
But I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
Despite my lack of material possessions and skills, I am happy and at peace
I'm riding that way from cradle to grave
I will continue on this journey of life from birth to death
I'm learning to feel my hands on the wheel
I am learning to take control of my own life
I love my friends, I love my wife
I care deeply for my friends and wife
Four little babies are the light of my life
My four children bring me immense joy
I love Sissy Spacek, I love Guy Clark
I am a big fan of the actress Sissy Spacek and musician Guy Clark
All the biscuits and gravy I can eat with a fork
I really enjoy eating biscuits and gravy with a fork
I don't wanna be famous, who gives a damn?
I don't care about being famous
I just wanna be happy whoever I am
I only want to be happy with who I am as a person
And I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
Despite life's ups and downs, I am happy and at peace
I'm closer to heaven than I've ever been
I feel like I am getting closer to being fully content and at peace in my life
Closer to heaven
Getting closer to a state of happiness and contentment in my life
Closer to heaven
Continuing to strive towards happiness and peace in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind