About The Song
“Haunted Heart” is a song written by Buddy Brock and Kim Williams, recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw, and released in January 1993 as the second single from his debut studio album Don’t Go Near the Water on Mercury Records. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, following the success of the album’s lead single “Cadillac Style,” which reached No. 3, establishing Kershaw as a rising star in the early 1990s country music scene.
The recording took place in Nashville, produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson, with a traditional country arrangement featuring steel guitar, fiddle, and Kershaw’s rich vocal tone. The session included musicians such as Brent Mason on electric guitar and Paul Franklin on steel guitar, contributing to the song’s emotional and melodic depth. The track runs 2:45 on the album, with the single version maintaining the same length for radio play. Don’t Go Near the Water, released on August 25, 1992, reached No. 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified platinum, selling over 1 million copies.
The lyrics depict a man grappling with the lingering presence of a lost love, with lines like “There’s a cold place in my heart / Where the memory lingers on.” The narrative conveys a sense of longing and unresolved feelings, as the “haunted heart” symbolizes the emotional scars left behind. The song was praised for its heartfelt delivery, with a Billboard review noting it showcased Kershaw’s “ability to convey vulnerability with a strong country voice,” contributing to its chart performance.
The music video, directed by Michael Merriman, premiered in 1993, featuring Kershaw performing in a dimly lit setting with imagery of a ghostly figure, reflecting the song’s theme of a lingering past love. It was released to support the single’s promotion. Kershaw, born Samuel Paul Cashat on February 24, 1958, in Kaplan, Louisiana, drew from his early experiences performing in honky-tonks, bringing authenticity to the track. The song followed his debut single “Cadillac Style,” marking his breakthrough into the country mainstream.
The track was released in multiple formats, including CD and cassette singles, with B-sides like “What Am I Worth” from the same album. It was performed live during Kershaw’s 1993 tour, with a 14-piece band, and was later included on his 2003 compilation Best of Sammy Kershaw: 20th Century Masters. The song’s success helped solidify Kershaw’s reputation as a versatile vocalist capable of handling both upbeat and ballad styles.
Video
Lyric
There’s a cold place in my heart
Where the memory lingers on
Like a shadow in the night
You still haunt me when you’re goneHaunted heart, you’re in my dreams
Every night, or so it seems
I can’t escape the love we knew
Haunted heart, it’s still for youI walk the streets where we once met
Every corner brings regret
Your laughter echoes in my mind
A love I thought I’d leave behindHaunted heart, you’re in my dreams
Every night, or so it seems
I can’t escape the love we knew
Haunted heart, it’s still for youThe nights grow long, the days are gray
I search for words I can’t say
Your ghost is with me everywhere
A silent pain I cannot bearHaunted heart, you’re in my dreams
Every night, or so it seems
I can’t escape the love we knew
Haunted heart, it’s still for youHaunted heart, forever true
Haunted heart, I’m lost in you