Inspiration Behind Heaven:
Heaven was initially recorded by Plain Jane just before it disbanded in 1986. Jani Lane and drummer Steven Sweet auditioned for Warrant later in the year. Performing Heaven together secured their future with Warrant. For Jani Lane, heaven is being with the girl that he loves. Regardless of what anyone else may say, Heaven serves as a power ballad for any couple searching for devotion, joy, love and meaning in life.
Biblical Application:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” – John 14:1-4.
Exegesis of Heaven:
[Verse 1]
Got a picture of your house
And you’re standin’ by the door
It’s black and white and faded
And it’s lookin’ pretty worn
See the factory that I worked
Silhouetted in the back
Memories are gray
But man, they’re really coming back
Jani appears to be having a flashback of his first serious girlfriend.
[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t need to be the king of the world
As long as I’m the hero of this little girl
His goal was to win the heart of this special teenager.
[Chorus]
Heaven isn’t too far away
Closer to it every day
No matter what your friends might say
The raw emotions of being with his girlfriend provided a heaven like experience. Jani didn’t care what anyone else thought about these two being together.
[Verse 2]
How I love the way you move
And the sparkle in your eyes
There’s a color deep inside ’em
Like a blue suburban sky
When I come home late at night
And you’re in bed asleep
I’ll wrap my arms around you
So I can feel you breathe
Jani now sings about the woman he is living with, likely the same girl. There are certain aspects that stick out in his mind, things that he has grown to appreciate. Jani just wants to be close to this girl.
[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t need to be a superman, ah ah
As long as you will always be my biggest fan
He wants to please and make this girl feel special, to become her greatest fan.
[Chorus]
Heaven isn’t too far away
Closer to it every day
No matter what your friends might say
We’ll find our way, yeah
Being in the presence of this girl is like having a heaven like experience for Jani.
[Verse 3]
Now the lights are goin’ out
Along the boulevard
The memories come rushin’ back
And it makes it pretty hard
I got nowhere left to go
No one really cares
I don’t know what to do
But I’m never givin’ up on you
Their relationship fell apart. Now Jani is alone, but the memories of their time together are still fresh in his mind. This image leads to hope as Jani is seeking to get back to together.
[Chorus]
Heaven isn’t too far away
Closer to it every day
No matter what your friends say
I know we’re gonna find a way
Jani is still optimistic for reconciliation to occur.
[Outro]
(Heaven)
Whoa, whoa, oh, oh, oh
(Heaven)
Whoa, whoa, oh, oh oh
(Heaven)
It’s not too far away
Oh, oh
Whoa, whoa, oh, oh, oh
Yeah
When around certain people, it brings the best in you out. This is why being with her was like heaven.
Final Thoughts:
I was naive when I first started dating in high school. Every girl that I dated I thought we’d be together forever. It wasn’t until college that I began to mature, viewing each date as a way to figure out what I wanted in a potential wife. These perspectives enabled me to narrow in on a future soulmate. I learned so much over a five-year stretch that I taught a unit on Finding a Soulmate for juniors and seniors in high school. While the Bible is clear about what heaven will be like, there are special people that you will meet in life that will be like angels sent from heaven.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 