[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"
The Tips Of My Fingers
Steve Wariner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With soft words I whispered your name
I held your love on the tips of my fingers
But that was as close as I came
My eyes had a vision of sweet lips
Yielding beneath my command
I held you right on the tips of my fingers
But I let you slip right through my hands
Somebody took you when I wasn't looking
I should have known from the start
It's a long, long way from the tips of my fingers
To the love hidden deep in your heart
To the love hidden deep in your heart
Somebody took you when I wasn't looking
I should have known from the start
It's a long, long way from the tips of my fingers
To the love hidden deep in your heart
To the love hidden deep in your heart
I held your love on the tips of my fingers
But I let you slip right through my hands
Yes I let you slip right through my hands
I held your love on the tips of my fingers
In Steve Wariner's song "The Tips of My Fingers", the singer is expressing his regret for not being able to hold onto the love that he had. He had the person he loves so close to him that he could touch them, whisper their name, and hold their love on the tips of his fingers. However, he wasn't able to fully grasp their love and it eventually slipped right through his hands. The singer had envisioned a future with this person and had thought about what it would be like to have their sweet lips yielding to his command, but he was unable to hold onto the love he so desperately wanted.
In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that someone else took the person he loved while he wasn't looking. He realizes that it was a long way from being able to touch and feel the person he loves to understanding the love hidden deep in their heart. The singer had been too focused on having the person in his life physically rather than emotionally, and it ended up costing him the love he held at the tips of his fingers.
Overall, Wariner's "The Tips of My Fingers" is a heartfelt song about missed opportunities and regret. The lyrics express how important it is to hold onto love when it is present in your life, and to not take it for granted. It is a reminder that love is more than just being physically close to someone, but it is about understanding and accepting the love that is hidden deep in a person's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I reached out my arms and I touched you
I made physical contact with you and reached out to connect with you.
With soft words I whispered your name
I spoke to you tenderly, calling your name.
I held your love on the tips of my fingers
I had your affection and care within my grasp, but it was not secure or certain.
But that was as close as I came
Despite my efforts, I was unable to fully attain or maintain this love.
My eyes had a vision of sweet lips
I had sensual thoughts of your mouth, and imagined it submitting to my desires.
Yielding beneath my command
I envisioned you listening and submitting to my requests and instructions.
But I let you slip right through my hands
Despite my initial grip on your love, I ultimately lost it due to my own actions or inactions.
Somebody took you when I wasn't looking
When I was not paying attention, someone else took your affections.
It's a long, long way from the tips of my fingers
The distance from having a superficial, fleeting connection to establishing a deep, meaningful relationship is substantial.
To the love hidden deep in your heart
The true love and affection that lies within you is profound and significant, and cannot be easily grasped.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roger Barrett
This is my favorite version of this song. Steve Wariner did a hell of a job on it. It always plays in my head because it's such a great classic.
Lucy Baty
yes, imo even better than bill andersens.. sorry bill!
Margie beard
I love his songs and voice!
Ander Ander
I like the Roy Clark version too.
Blue Sky
Steve Wariner is one of God's gifts to the world. ā¤ļø
Douglas Smith
Being a musician myself I realize just how great , Steve really is.
TXNANA
ā¤OHHHHH yassssshe isā¤
Johnny Ela
His voice soothes the soul. At least for me it does.
James Baxter
Awesome song by an awesome singer with another awesome singer singing backup Vince Gill. Love this version. Thank you Bill Anderson for writing this.
JustCallMeLoathesome
My Lord, the steel guitar, the harmonies, that acoustic guitar just chiming the beat ... This is so so good.