[edit] Career
Wariner began performing as a youth in his father's band and in local clubs. In 1971, he was hired as a bassist for Dottie West's band. He also worked heavily with Chet Atkins (one of his childhood influences) and he played with Bob Luman's band.
His first major recording contract was with RCA Records in 1978. His first single releases failed to chart in the top 40 of Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart, although the song "I'm Already Taken" was re-released in 1999, peaking at #3 that year. His first No. 1 hit came in December, 1981, with "All Roads Lead to You."
However, his real popularity didn't take off until the mid-1980s, when he began recording for MCA Records. During his six-year stint with MCA, he scored 19 consecutive top 10 hits, eight of them going to No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart. The most successful of those songs included "Some Fools Never Learn" (1985, his second No. 1 hit), "What I Didn't Do" (1985), "You Can Dream of Me" (1986), "Lynda" (1987) and "I Got Dreams" (1989).
In the early 1990s, Wariner continued his success with Arista Records, with several of his songs reaching the top 10. But his success soon tapered off, as radio programmers became more interested in newer performers.
Wariner, however, continued to maintain his popularity through his instrumental talents. One example was 1991's "Restless," a collaboration with Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Mark O'Connor (from O'Connor's album The New Nashville Cats). "Restless" won Wariner (as well as Skaggs and Gill) his first Grammy Award in 1991 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. In 1996, Wariner released an album of all instrumental tracks called No More Mr. Nice Guy. Though well-received by critics, it proved to be Wariner's last album for Arista.
Wariner also remained in the public eye with his songwriting talents. His composition, "Longneck Bottle" (a No. 1 hit by Garth Brooks), along with a No. 1 duet from early 1998 with singer Anita Cochran called "What If I Said" (his first No. 1 in more than eight years) reinvigorated Wariner's career.
The highlight of Wariner's career came in the spring of 1998. Now recording for Capitol Records, his song "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" - a song about dealing with grief of close friends and relatives - promptly shot to No. 2 and won the Country Music Association awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
Wariner also collaborated with other well-known singers and songwriters, including Clint Black and Bill Anderson; he also scored several more hits, most notably 1999's "Two Teardrops" and "I'm Already Taken" (the latter a re-recording of his 1978 debut release).
[edit] Discography
Main article: Steve Wariner discography
[edit] External links
The Official Fan Club Website
Grand Ole Opry Bio
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wariner"
Kansas City Lights
Steve Wariner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be coming home soon on leave
I think of her as I stand here on the deck
Stars light the sky like a Kansas City night
Reflections on the water take me back
Kansas City lights
In my mind they shine so bright
Kansas City lights
Shine for me tonight
Watch over her for me 'til I get home
No war is ever won
Find a job that must be done
It's just sometimes, it feels like no one cares
Waves are calm tonight
As I take my pen and write
You're always in my dreams and in my prayers
Kansas City lights
In my mind they shine so bright
She's waiting there, I've been away too long
Kansas City lights
Shine for me tonight
Watch over her for me 'til I get home
I dream I feel the plane descending
Above the lights of Kansas City
And as the plane touches down
I see her standing there right now
Kansas City lights
In my mind they shine so bright
She's waiting there, I've been away too long
Kansas City lights
Please shine for me tonight
Watch over her for me 'til I get home
(Kansas City lights)
(Shine for me tonight)
She's waiting there, I've been away too long
Kansas City lights, oh
Please shine for me tonight
Watch over her for me 'til I get home
"Kansas City Lights" by Steve Wariner is a touching tribute to a long-distance relationship. The lyrics describe a sailor who thinks of his girlfriend as he stands on the deck of the ship, surrounded by stars that remind him of the bright lights of Kansas City. The singer has been away for six months at sea and is coming home soon on leave, but he still feels far away from the woman he loves. The waves are calm, the stars are shining, and reflections on the water remind him of the girl he left behind.
The chorus repeats the theme of the song, with the singer asking the Kansas City lights to shine for him and watch over his girlfriend until he can get home. He dreams of descending in a plane above the lights of the city, and sees his girlfriend standing there as the plane touches down. This reveals the eagerness and yearning of the singer to see his lover again, to be home, holding her.
Overall, "Kansas City Lights" is a heartfelt love song that expresses the sorrow, loneliness, and constant longing of a sailor who is away from home. The lyrics are poignant, and the melody further adds to the emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Six months out at sea
After being away for six long months at sea
Be coming home soon on leave
Coming back home soon for a break
I think of her as I stand here on the deck
Thinking of a loved one as he stands on the deck
Stars light the sky like a Kansas City night
The sky is shining with stars like a typical KC night
Reflections on the water take me back
Memories reflected on the water takes him back
Kansas City lights
Referring to the bright lights of the city
In my mind they shine so bright
Bright city lights are stuck in his head
She's waitin' there, I've been away too long
Someone he loves is waiting for him in KC and he's been gone too long
Shine for me tonight
Asking the city lights to light up tonight
Watch over her for me 'til I get home
Asking the city lights to keep an eye on his loved one until he gets back
No war is ever won
Pointing out that no one really ever 'wins' in war
Find a job that must be done
Finding tasks that are necessary to be taken care of
It's just sometimes, it feels like no one cares
Acknowledging the feeling that the work is thankless at times
Waves are calm tonight
The ocean is calm tonight
As I take my pen and write
He's writing with a pen in this moment
You're always in my dreams and in my prayers
He thinks of this person he loves all the time
Please shine for me tonight
Asking the city lights to shine bright once again
I dream I feel the plane descending
Dreaming of landing in a plane
Above the lights of Kansas City
Above the bright city lights of KC
And as the plane touches down
The moment when the plane touches the land
I see her standing there right now
Spotting the person he loves waiting for him upon his arrival
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rhonda Fleming, Dennis Morgan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marco Hofschneider
This is one of the finest country songs ever written in my opinion and sung by a truly great artist who deserves much more credit than he has received.
Scott Rogers
38 year old production and still sounds as fresh as ever!
Marvin Blankinchip
This song really has a special meaning for me. I grew up in a little town seventy miles south of Kansas City. In 1969 I entered the U.S.Army and went for a eighteen month tour of the Southeast Asian war games in Vietnam. After completing my tour I was given a leave to visit home and I can remember the flight from Seattle to Kansas City and as the plane descended I was staring out into the night sky looking for those Kansas City lights. When I first heard this song I was amazed at how well Steve had described my experience. This song came out ten years after my return. I have seen Steve three times and have not been able let him know what this song means to this old Nam Vet. If someone should see this and you have a chance to talk to Steve will you please pass this along for me. Thanks
Phill Cline
I was born and grew up just 20 miles north of Kansas City Mo. A little spot in the road on Hwy 45 called Farley, Mo. we was just 5 miles from the Kansas city airport. The Population when I left in 1973 was 163 and this song reminds me of seeing the lights of Kansas City every night as i grew up there. Sweet little farm town.
Tom Smith
Marvin..thank you for your service
Kathy Hanes
Thanks for your Service God bless you and yours
Katie Copeland
Nice. For some odd reason, it reminds me of my mom. My dad was stationed in Kansas city, in the army. . I can relate
elmer0308
My 1st deployment was from Whiteman AFB east of KC. I had a very similar feeling descending upon the lights of Kansas City coming home to the girl I would marry. Thank you for you your service sir...I will certainly pass your message on!
Debra Hattaway
I have been a lifelong fan of Steve Wariner. He is one of the most unappreciated talents in Country Music. Excellent singer and gifted guitarist!
seawolfnavy
as a former Navy Sailor and a Country boy at heart,this song is for my Shipmates at sea who put themselves in harms way. may i toast my Shipmates and say we may be ships that don't come in but we never forget Kansas City Lights..