[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"
Snowfall on the Sand
Steve Wariner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bringing treats like Santa Claus on Christmas day
Momma always said son don't you get your hopes too high
Daddy he's a dreamer reaching for the sky
Still I waited by the window at Christmas time
And I sat on the front steps as Easter rolled by
Then we moved to Arizona 'round the 4th of July
But Daddy never came I waited just the same
[Chorus:]
And they say it never snows in Arizona
But I never stopped believing that it would
And before I'd go to sleep at night I'd look up at the desert sky
Close my eyes the same ole prayer again
I'd wake up and see the snowfall on the sand
Part of growing up for me was learning way too soon
The difference between fantasy and cold hard truth
Momma liked to say accept those things you cannot change
She was scared I 'd be like Dad and dream my life away
But in a corner of my mind I kept a place for him
Cause a promise lasts forever when you're just a kid
Yea he told me in a season he'd be back again
But Daddy never came I waited just the same
[Chorus]
Last night my Father's sister called me on the phone
Said today your father passed away I thought that you should know
You were the one that he thought of as he left this world behind
He said tell my boy I'm goning to find a way to
Come and say goodbye
And they say it never snows in Arizona
But I'm looking out my window and it is
And I swear I can't believe my eyes to see the desert painted white
For a moment we're together once again
As I see the snowfall on the sand
The song "Snowfall on the Sand" by Steve Wariner is a touching story of a son who longed for his father's return during the winter season as he promised. The singer has grown up with his father always having the same statement that he would return when he first sees snowfall in Arizona. The son always believed that his father would come to visit bringing sweetness and gifts like Santa Claus. Although the mother remains skeptical about the father's return, the son held onto his father's promise even though he failed to show up every year. He continued to look forward to seeing the snow fall on the sand in the desert, hoping that his father would come back soon.
However, as he grows up, the son realizes the harsh reality of life, starting to draw a line between fantasy and the truth. Her mother advises him to accept things that he cannot change, warning him against nurturing unrealistic expectations. The song highlights the mixed emotions of the son towards his father. On the one hand, he doesn't want to be dreamy like his father, but on the other hand, he maintains the hope of his father's return. The song ends on a poignant note when the singer learns of his father's passing from his aunt, with his father requesting his son from her deathbed to let his son know he was there with him, even if he couldn't be during his life. When the snow flurries about, touching the sand, the singer finds the peace of feeling that he shared the same scenery with his father.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy always said he'd come back when the first snow came
Steve's father made a promise that he would return when the first snow fell.
Bringing treats like Santa Claus on Christmas day
Steve's father would bring gifts and treats much like Santa Claus on Christmas day.
Momma always said son don't you get your hopes too high
Steve's mother warned him not to let his expectations get too high.
Daddy he's a dreamer reaching for the sky
Steve's father was a dreamer always striving for something bigger.
Still I waited by the window at Christmas time
Steve still waited for his father to return during Christmas.
And I sat on the front steps as Easter rolled by
Steve also waited on Easter for his father's return.
Then we moved to Arizona 'round the 4th of July
Steve's family moved to Arizona around Independence Day.
But Daddy never came I waited just the same
Despite the move, Steve still waited for his father's return, but he never came.
And they say it never snows in Arizona
It is commonly believed that it does not snow in Arizona.
But I never stopped believing that it would
Steve never gave up hope that it would snow in Arizona.
And before I'd go to sleep at night I'd look up at the desert sky
Steve would gaze at the sky each night before sleeping.
Close my eyes the same ole prayer again
He would recite the same prayer each time before going to sleep.
I'd wake up and see the snowfall on the sand
Despite others' beliefs, snow fell on the sand in Steve's mind.
Part of growing up for me was learning way too soon
Steve learned a difficult lesson about life at an early age.
The difference between fantasy and cold hard truth
He learned the distinction between fantasies and painful realities.
Momma liked to say accept those things you cannot change
Steve's mother would tell him to accept the things he could not change.
She was scared I 'd be like Dad and dream my life away
Steve's mother worried he would end up like his father, always dreaming and not acting.
But in a corner of my mind I kept a place for him
Steve always kept a hopeful place in his mind for his father.
Cause a promise lasts forever when you're just a kid
Steve believed in his father's promise, as it is natural for young children to do.
Yea he told me in a season he'd be back again
Steve's father promised to return in a specific season.
Last night my Father's sister called me on the phone
Steve receives a phone call from his father's sister.
Said today your father passed away I thought that you should know
She tells Steve that his father passed away that day.
You were the one that he thought of as he left this world behind
Steve's father was thinking of him as he passed away.
He said tell my boy I'm goning to find a way to
Before he died, Steve's father told his sister to tell Steve that he will find a way to:
Come and say goodbye
Visit Steve and say goodbye before departing from this world.
And I swear I can't believe my eyes to see the desert painted white
Steve is surprised to see the dry desert covered in snow.
For a moment we're together once again
Steve feels reunited with his father, even if only for a moment.
As I see the snowfall on the sand
The snowfall on the sand symbolizes the reunion between Steve and his father, even if it is only in his imagination.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY KIRSCH, STEVE NOEL WARINER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind