Don't_Close_Your_Eyes_(Keith_Whitley_song)
Don't Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley song)
1988 single by Keith Whitley
"Don't Close Your Eyes" is a song written by Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music artist Keith Whitley. It was released in March 1988 as third single from his album of the same name. In the United States, the single reached number-one for the week of August 13, while peaking at number 2 in Canada. Additionally, it was Billboard's number-one country single of the year 1988.[1]
| "Don't Close Your Eyes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Keith Whitley | ||||
| from the album Don't Close Your Eyes | ||||
| B-side | "Lucky Dog" | |||
| Released | March 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:11 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bob McDill | |||
| Producer(s) | Garth Fundis, Keith Whitley | |||
| Keith Whitley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In the song, the narrator is in a relationship with a girl who is still stuck on a former boyfriend. The narrator tells her, "don't close your eyes," because he believes she is fantasizing about the other guy.
The music video was directed by Michael McClary and premiered in mid-1988.
The song was covered by Alan Jackson for Keith Whitley's 1995 tribute album, by Kellie Pickler for the deluxe edition of her 2008 self-titled second album, and by The Voice Season 6 contestant Jake Worthington for his audition song and fan-chosen final performance. Garth Brooks performed the song at the 50th CMA Awards whilst Whitley's widow Lorrie Morgan looked emotional in the audience. Garth Brooks also recorded this song for The Ultimate Collection box set only sold at Target stores in 2016.
The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs on chart dated August 13, 1988.[2] After it became available for digital download, the song has sold 475,000 digital copies in the United States as of March 2019.[3]
Weekly chart
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
Year-end Chart
| Chart (1988) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks[5] | 15 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[6] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
On July 1, 2015, Billboard Magazine announced the release of "Don't Close Your Eyes (Ashamed)" a tribute to Keith Whitley on his 60th birthday. The song is performed by Shady Records recording artist Kxng Crooked fka Crooked I (from Slaughterhouse), Truth Ali, Jonathan Hay and Morgan McRae. "I feel the rap verses really capture the emotional torment of the original," producer Jonathan Hay tells Billboard. "As you may or may not know, Keith Whitley died from alcoholism -- Kxng Crooked talks about his own chilling battle with alcoholism in his verse," he adds of the evocative tribute. "One of the main reasons I wanted to do this tribute is because I was raised in Kentucky, just like Keith Whitley," Hay continues. "Being all over the United States, it seems Whitley is more iconic back home in the 'Bluegrass State' than he is everywhere else. We want to change that."[7] "Don't Close Your Eyes (The Ashamed Remix)" is part of The Urban Hitchcock LP.[8]
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 382.
- "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. August 13, 1988.
- Bjorke, Matt (March 9, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: March 11, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- "Top 100 Country Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. December 24, 1988. p. 15.
- "KXNG Crooked f. Truth Ali - "Ashamed (Remix)"". HipHopDX. 3 July 2015.
- Tardio, Andres. "KXNG Crooked Opens Up About Suicide And Alcohol Abuse In 'Don't Close Your Eyes' Video". MTV News.