On This Date: Clint Black’s “When My Ship Comes In” Was Sitting #1 On The Charts In 1992

Clint Black country music

An often overlooked goodie.

Clint Black is one of the kings of ’90s county. With hits like “Killin’ Time,” “A Better Man,” and “A Good Run of Bad Luck,” he has spent a lot of time on the charts.

On this date 31 years ago, another one of Black’s hits landed number one on the country charts….”When My Ship Comes In.”

The single was the third and final single release from his 1992 album The Hard Way. Although this song was not as critically acclaimed as his first two studio albums, he still produced hits from it.

“When My Ship Comes In,” being the only single from the album to reach number one, was co-written by Black and Hayden Nicholas, features all of the elements that made a great 90s country tune.

Lots of steel guitar slides, fiddle riffs, twang, and… heartbreak.

However, this heartbreak tune poses the upside of what heartbreak can do, help you find yourself again. The storyline is weary but hopeful in the same breath and mends the bridge of the honky tonk sorrow songs that we live for with something bright while looking into the future.

Let’s not forget the ‘amazing’ greenscreen effects the music video gives us; the footage turns from black and white to color when the optimism from the lyrics kicks in. They don’t make ’em that cinematic anymore.

It’s no wonder it landed at the top of the charts… you can’t help but crank it up and sing along.

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