Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Steve Wariner’s “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” Will Make You Shed A Tear or Two

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Steve Wariner’s “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” is widely considered to be one of the saddest country hits of all time.

The song was released in 1998 as the lead-off single from his album Burnin’ the Roadhouse Down and became Wariner’s first solo single in three years. It peaked at No. 2 in both the United States and Canada. And by the end of the year, the song won big both on Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, bringing home the award for Song of the Year.

One Of The Saddest Songs You’ll Ever Hear

Written by Steve Wariner with songwriter Billy Kirsch, “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” tells the tale of a man’s sadness upon the passing of his grandmother when he was just “one day shy of eight years old” and then his young wife who he thought he’d grow old with.

When he was just a child, during one cold lonesome rain, her mother thought him something he had never forgotten.

“My mom smiled, said: ‘Don’t be sad, child. Grandma’s watching you today. Cause there’s holes in the floor of Heaven, and her tears are pouring down. That’s how you know she’s watching, wishing she could be here now. An’ sometimes if you’re lonely, just remember she can see. There’s holes in the floor of Heaven, and she’s watching over you and me,” the song goes. The man in the song held on to this hope, especially when he was missing his wife.

In one interview, Wariner said that “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” is the biggest accomplishment of his career. It was actually inspired by a phrase Billy Kirsch’s wife heard a couple of years prior, and that was “holes in the floor of heaven.”

“When Billy said the phrase, I fell off my chair. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s great. What a great concept,'” Wariner recalled. “He tossed the idea out, and we just started writing it. I had just lost my grandmother not long before that. Billy and I were both drawing on the perspective of our grandparents for the first verse. And then just kind of used our creative liberty to paint the picture. And that’s how it came.”

And the song went on ranking No. 28 on Rolling Stone’s 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time. Thom Owens from AllMusic even described it as an “affecting ballad.” You can listen to it in the video below.

Latest Stories

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...

Julian Ryan smiles with his fiancée and kids in a family photo before the Texas floods that took his life in a heartbreaking tragedy.

Young Dad’s Heartbreaking Final Words Revealed by Family After Texas Flooding Tragedy

Julian Ryan wasn’t just another name on the growing list of the dead in the Texas flood disaster. He was a father, a fiancé, and, in his final moments, a ...

Miranda Lambert performs onstage at a concert, now under fire for focusing on animals during the Texas floods tragedy.

Miranda Lambert Under Fire for Asking Help for Animals in Texas Floods While People Still Missing

Sometimes, doing the right thing still gets you dragged through the mud. Miranda Lambert, country’s resident dog lover and unapologetic Texas girl, is catching flak this week for what some ...

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

One moment, it was just another summer night in the Texas Hill Country, the next the river rose like an angry giant and tore whole lives apart. According to AP ...

Keith Urban holds a CMA award on stage, showing the same trophies he often ships home so his mom can keep a room full of them.

Keith Urban Gives Away Almost Every Award He Wins So One Person Can Keep a Room Full of Them

Keith Urban doesn’t just pick up awards, he packs them up and ships them off faster than most country stars can find a shelf. For a guy who’s racked up ...

Toby Keith performs with his American flag guitar, the same patriotic spirit that fueled his song "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

The Untold Truth Behind Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)”

When Toby Keith sat down with a fantasy football stat sheet and scribbled out “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”, he didn’t just write a song. He lit a ...

Toby Keith plays guitar with an American flag design, capturing the patriotic vibe perfect for a Fourth of July country playlist.

35 Patriotic Country Songs to Turn Your Backyard Into the Ultimate 4th of July Party

Nothing says freedom like blasting a rowdy country playlist while you torch a few burgers, keep the cooler stocked, and watch your drunk uncle light fireworks way too close to ...

Keith Urban sits next to Nicole Kidman looking serious, a moment that echoes him shutting down talk about her steamy movie scenes.

Keith Urban Shuts Down Interview When Nicole Kidman’s Scenes With Younger Men Are Mentioned

Some lines just ain’t worth crossing, especially when you’re asking Keith Urban about Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron rolling around on screen. This week, the whole thing went sideways when ...

Tim McGraw sits outdoors with Faith Hill, leaning on a cane, sparking questions about his health but showing their strong bond.

Tim McGraw Using a Cane With Faith Hill Beside Him Raises Questions About His Health

Sometimes country music’s strongest cowboys need a little help standing tall, and Tim McGraw’s latest photo has folks asking how much longer he can keep carrying that torch. It’s not ...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood smile together at an event, standing united amid the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit drama.

Garth Brooks’ Marriage With Trisha Yearwood Reportedly Unshaken by Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Nothing tests a marriage like ugly headlines, but Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are riding out this storm shoulder to shoulder. Since last October, Garth Brooks has been staring down ...