"For A Little While" is a song written by Steve Mandile, Jerry Vandiver and Phil Vassar, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in November 1998 as the sixth and final single from his album Everywhere. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart but reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
Content The song is about a man's wistful reminiscing, particularly one summer season that he spent with a woman who is no longer with him.
Critical reception Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the "gentle rolling piano, sturdy fiddle, and out-in-front guitar work make the strong melody come alive, but McGraw's vocal is what really sells this song."Billboard, November 14, 1998 Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B grade, saying that compared to the other singles from this album, this one is the "most frothy and least substantial." He proceeded, saying that it could be "the most historically significant of the singles, given that it’s the blueprint for countless Kenny Chesney hits that followed."CountryUniverse.net Song review
Chart performance The song debuted at number 74 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart dated November 7, 1998. It charted for twenty weeks on that chart, and peaked at number 2 on the chart dated February 6, 1999. It also peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chart (1998–1999)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1999)Position Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 40 US Country Songs (Billboard) 28
Other versions Phil Vassar, who co-wrote the song, recorded a version of it for his 2006 album, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1.
References