[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"
Waiting In The Wings
Steve Wariner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How he longed to feel the light
Jimmy's older brothers sure could make some noise
So he became the quiet type
But deep inside he had some powerful dreams
He'd think about them then he'd smile
[Chorus]
Where he was strong, strong, shining in the sun
They say that someday the meekest heart will sing
There was Jimmy waiting in the wings
Susie was a waitress morning noon and night
But she never did complain
Jimmy'd stopped for lunch there at least a thousand times
But one Monday something changed
She leaned across him with some chocolate pie
Then he looked into her eyes
[Chorus]
And he was gone, gone, to somewhere far beyond
His heart beat strong strong he knew she was the one
They say that someday the meekest heart will sing
Love found Jimmy waiting in the wings
And when he held her for the very first time
He found the one thing he'd been missing all his life
[Chorus]
And they were gone, gone, to somewhere far beyond
Their love was strong strong two hearts beat as one
He stood beside her and she put on his ring
And when she smiled how his heart did sing
They say that someday the meekest heart will sing
So remember if you're waiting in the wings
The song "Waiting in the Wings" by Steve Wariner tells the story of two characters: Jimmy and Susie. Jimmy is the youngest of three brothers and is the quiet type. He has powerful dreams and often thinks about them with a smile. Susie, on the other hand, is a waitress who works every day, but never complains. Jimmy encounters Susie while he is having lunch at the diner where she works, and something changes. She leans across him while serving him some chocolate pie, and he looks into her eyes. Jimmy then realizes that he has found the one thing that he has been missing all his life. They fall in love, and eventually get married, with Jimmy finally taking center stage instead of just waiting in the wings.
The lyrics of the song suggest that sometimes, we have to look beyond our current situation and circumstances to find what we have been looking for. In Jimmy's case, his dream of finding love was realized by stepping out of his comfort zone and speaking to Susie. The song also highlights the idea that even the meekest heart will eventually find its voice and sing.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy was a shadow the youngest of three boys
Jimmy was overshadowed by his older brothers and was always in their shadow as he was the youngest of the three boys
How he longed to feel the light
Despite being overshadowed, Jimmy had powerful dreams and longed to feel the light of recognition and success
Jimmy's older brothers sure could make some noise
Jimmy's older brothers were outgoing and attracted attention with their actions, making Jimmy feel even more invisible
So he became the quiet type
To cope with feeling unseen, Jimmy became reserved and avoided drawing attention to himself
But deep inside he had some powerful dreams
Unbeknownst to others, Jimmy had aspirations that he kept hidden within himself
He'd think about them then he'd smile
Jimmy would imagine his dreams and feel happy about the possibilities, despite feeling invisible in reality
And he was gone, gone, to somewhere far beyond
Jimmy left behind his invisibility and transcended to a place of recognition and success in his dreams
Where he was strong, strong, shining in the sun
In his dreams, Jimmy was confident, powerful, and radiated with potential
They say that someday the meekest heart will sing
Even the most reserved and unnoticed can find their voice and express their potential one day
There was Jimmy waiting in the wings
Despite feeling invisible, Jimmy was always ready to take action and pursue his dreams
Susie was a waitress morning noon and night
Susie was working hard as a waitress and dedicated long hours to her job
But she never did complain
Despite the hard work, Susie remained positive and didn't let it break her spirit
Jimmy'd stopped for lunch there at least a thousand times
Jimmy was a regular customer at the restaurant where Susie worked, having stopped there numerous times in the past
But one Monday something changed
One day, something brought about a significant shift in the routine at the restaurant
She leaned across him with some chocolate pie
Susie made an intimate gesture towards Jimmy by leaning across him while serving him chocolate pie
Then he looked into her eyes
Jimmy saw something special when he looked into Susie's eyes
His heart beat strong strong he knew she was the one
Jimmy's heart felt strong and powerful as he realized that Susie was the one he had been waiting for
Love found Jimmy waiting in the wings
Love finally found Jimmy when he least expected it, being a quiet observer until things fell into place
And when he held her for the very first time
The first time Jimmy held Susie, he felt a deep emotional connection and knew he had found his soulmate
He found the one thing he'd been missing all his life
Jimmy's soulmate came into his life and filled the gap he had been feeling for a long time
Their love was strong strong two hearts beat as one
Jimmy and Susie's love was real and powerful, with both of their hearts beating together as one
He stood beside her and she put on his ring
Jimmy proposed to Susie and she said yes, symbolized by her putting on his engagement ring
And when she smiled how his heart did sing
Hearing his soulmate's laughter and seeing her smile filled Jimmy's heart with intense joy and happiness
So remember if you're waiting in the wings
If you are feeling invisible or overlooked, remember that your dreams and waiting can still lead to success and happiness beyond your imagination
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BILLY KIRSCH, STEVE NOEL WARINER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind