Only the Wind (song)

For the Pet Shop Boys song, see Behaviour (Pet Shop Boys album).
"Only the Wind"
Single by Billy Dean
from the album Billy Dean
B-side "Simple Things"[1]
Released December 30, 1991
Format CD single
Genre Country
Length 3:40
Label Capitol #44803
Writer(s) Tom Shapiro
Chuck Jones
Producer(s) Chuck Howard
Tom Shapiro[2]
Billy Dean singles chronology
"You Don't Count the Cost"
(1991)
"Only the Wind"
(1991)
"Billy the Kid"
(1992)

"Only the Wind" is a song written by Tom Shapiro and Chuck Jones, and recorded by American country music artist Billy Dean. It was released in December 1991 as the second single from his album Billy Dean. The song spent twenty weeks on the Hot Country Songs charts in 1992, peaking at number four.[1]

The song uses an analogy of a common childhood fear of a windstorm to frame a young man's failing relationship with a woman. Here, the protagonist recalls being comforted by his mother as a gusting, howling wind smacks the screen door and causes him to be frightened. The scene then shifts to the present, where he reveals his relationship difficulties and a fight that causes the woman to leave. Upon hearing the screen door slam shut, he remembers his childhood and wishes aloud that her leaving is just temporary ("It's only the wind, and nothing more/not the end of my world, walking out the door"), knowing that in this case, he has no one to immediately turn to to comfort him.

Music video

The music video was directed by Bill Young and premiered in early 1992.

Chart positions

Chart (1991-1992) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] 3
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1992) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 37
US Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 56

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 119. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. Billy Dean (cassette). Billy Dean. Liberty Records. 1992. 96728.
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2094." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 11, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. "Billy Dean Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Billy Dean.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  6. "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.

External links