Jacob's Ladder
Rush
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The clouds prepare for battle In the dark and brooding silence Bruised and sullen storm clouds Have the light of day obscured Looming low and ominous In twilight premature Thunderheads are rumbling In a distant overture All at once, The clouds are parted Light streams down In bright unbroken beams Follow men's eyes As they look to the skies The shifting shafts of shining Weave the fabric of their dreams
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Written by: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
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20 facts about this song
Background and Composition"Jacob's Ladder" is a track from the album "Permanent Waves", which is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush.
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Lyrics and Artistic InspirationThe song is inspired by the Biblical story of the same name. The lyrics describe a dream where a "beam of light" comes down from the heavens like stairways, drawing parallels to the biblical story of Jacob seeing a stairway to heaven in his dream.
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Musicianship and TechniqueThe song showcases the band's proficiency with their instruments. Geddy Lee's bass playing is particularly notable, as well as Neil Peart's polyrhythmic drumming and Alex Lifeson's adept guitar work.
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Live Performances"Jacob's Ladder" was performed live regularly on the tour promoting Permanent Waves, but was absent from setlists for many years afterward, until Rush's 2015 R40 Tour, a full 35 years later.
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Studio RecordingThe rain sounds at the beginning of the studio recording of Jacob's Ladder were recorded by Neil Peart. He used a PZM (pressure zone microphone) to capture the sound of a thunderstorm.
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Retrospective AnalysisWhile not a commercially successful single, "Jacob's Ladder" is often cited by hardcore Rush fans as an underrated gem in their discography.
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Title MeaningThe song’s name "Jacob's Ladder" is taken from a dream described in the Bible in Genesis 28:10-19, where Jacob sees a ladder, or stairway, leading from Earth to Heaven.
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Radio Broadcast Inclusion in LyricsAt the beginning of "Jacob's Ladder," you can hear a line of a weather radio broadcast that says "Attention all ships at sea," signaling oncoming severe weather. This further adds to the atmospheric profile of the song.
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Song StructureUnlike most rock songs, "Jacob's Ladder" doesn't follow a traditional verse-chorus-verse structure. Instead, it takes on a more progressive, mostly instrumental structure.
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Song LengthThe song is one of the longer tracks on the album, running 7:28 minutes in length. This allowed the band to indulge in more complex compositions than typical radio-friendly songs.
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Release Details"Jacob's Ladder" is a song by the renowned Canadian rock band, Rush. It was first released in their seventh studio album "Permanent Waves" in 1980.
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Song InspirationThe song is titled after the biblical story "Jacob's Ladder" which refers to Jacob's dream where he saw a stairway leading to heaven with angels ascending and descending it.
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Composition FactsThe song is noted for its intricate music composition and complexity with its progressive rock elements, odd time signatures, and dynamic shifts in tone and tempo, showcasing Rush's sheer musicianship.
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Not Regularly Performed LiveDespite its popularity among fans, "Jacob's Ladder" is not one of the band’s often played songs in live performances. Only after 35 years, it was reintroduced into their live set during their 40th-anniversary tour in 2015.
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LyricsUnlike most of Rush's songs that are often filled with deep, philosophical and thematic implications, "Jacob's Ladder" is rather simple on the lyrical front. Its lyrics are a descriptive piece about an interesting and peculiar cloud formation.
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Making of the SongThe idea of the song was born when its members, while on their tour, were fascinated by an unusual cloud formation. They took these observations and turned them into lyrics.
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Not a Single"Jacob's Ladder" was not released as a single, yet it received a significant amount of airplay on AOR (Album Oriented Rock) radio stations.
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Album RankingOn Rush's "Permanent Waves" album, "Jacob's Ladder" is often ranked by fans and critics as one of the standout tracks alongside other fan favorites such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill".
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Band MembersThe song credit goes to all three members of the band - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart. Geddy Lee provided the lead vocals and played the bass, Alex Lifeson was on guitars and Neil Peart was on drums and also penned the lyrics.
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Use in Pop Culture"Jacob’s Ladder" along with their other songs has been featured in several video games, movies, and television shows, demonstrating the lasting impact and significance of Rush in pop culture.
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Citation
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"Jacob's Ladder Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1309878/Rush/Jacob%27s+Ladder>.
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