Hell Of A View

Album: Soul (2020)
Charted: 28
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This romantic track is a love song for rebels. Church sings of a couple who choose an adventurous life together over a safe one centered on making money. The two leave their hometown and chase their dreams of music and art, making it work against the odds.

    Ain't always heaven, baby
    This livin' on the edge
    You holdin' me holdin' you
    It's a hell of a view


    There are downsides to taking the road less traveled, but some serious upsides, too.
  • Church co-wrote "Hell of a View" with Casey Beathard ("The Outsiders," "Mr. Misunderstood") and Monty Criswell ("Like Jesus Does").
  • The song is one of 28 born from a sequestered session at an old restaurant in the North Carolina mountains that Church turned into a studio for the occasion. The singer wrote and recorded one song per day for nearly a month including the single "Stick That In Your Country Song."
  • Longtime backing vocalist Joanna Cotton joins Church on the song. She also features prominently on "Bad Mother Trucker."
  • While Eric Church was jogging in the North Carolina mountains, Monty Criswell and Casey Beathard were working on a song idea. When Church returned, Beathard looked up at him and said, "Don't say anything. You've got to hear this. This is really good." He started playing the first part of this song.

    After one verse Church was hooked. He especially loved the line, "Caught your wings on fire. When I smoked my Bronco tires out of town."

    They finished the song that night, titled it "Hell Of A View," and then recorded it.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.