Jacob's Ladder
Bruce Hornsby & the Range, Bruce Hornsby
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
I met a fan dancer down in south side Birmingham She was running from a fat man selling salvation in his hand She said he's tryin' to save me But I'm doin' alright, the best that I can Just a pair of fallen angels tryin' to get through the night Step by step, one by one, higher and higher Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder Comin' over the airwaves the man says I'm overdue Sing a song, send money, join the chosen few But mister I'm not in a hurry, and I don't want to be like you All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today Step by step, one by one, higher and higher Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today Step by step, one by one, higher and higher Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob's ladder
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
_(cropped).jpg/191px-Bruce_Hornsby_(32703421057)_(cropped).jpg "Bruce Hornsby"){kind=spacer}
2 fans
Written by: BRUCE HORNSBY, JONATHAN HORNSBY
Lyrics © BOB-A-LEW SONGS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
22 facts about this song
Genre"Jacob's Ladder" is a song classified in the genres of pop-rock, heartland rock, and adult contemporary.
|
CollaborationThe song was co-written by Bruce Hornsby, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist, and his brother John Hornsby.
- It was performed and popularized by Huey Lewis and the News, an American rock band.
|
Chart Performance"Jacob's Ladder" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart on March 14, 1987.
|
Album FeatureThe song was featured on Huey Lewis and the News' fourth studio album, "Fore!" which came out in 1986.
|
Composition"Jacob's Ladder" has a rich composition based on strong harmonies with a distinct piano influence, showcasing Bruce Hornsby's signature style.
|
Overview and ThemesThe song's lyrics tell a story about a man named Jacob who is climbing a ladder towards success, with the metaphor referring to ambition, hard work, and the struggles to reach the top.
|
Cover VersionsBruce Hornsby himself has covered "Jacob's Ladder" with his band, the Range, on their live album "Here Come The Noise Makers".
|
Award ConsiderationDespite its commercial success, "Jacob's Ladder" was not nominated for any major music awards.
|
BackgroundThe song was reportedly written for Huey Lewis and the News in gratitude for them helping Bruce Hornsby get a record deal.
|
Pop Culture Reference"Jacob's Ladder" continues to be a part of pop culture, played on classic rock and 80s stations, and referenced in media.
|
Song Creation"Jacob's Ladder" was written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John Hornsby.
|
Original PerformerDespite being high profile artists themselves, the Hornsby brothers initially didn't record the song themselves.
|
Notable PerformanceHuey Lewis and the News were the ones to record the song first, making it a part of their album "Fore!".
|
Chart SuccessUpon its release, "Jacob’s Ladder" climbed to the top position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987.
|
GenreThe song is best classified as a rock song with heavy influence from pop and R&B.
|
Role of Huey LewisHuey Lewis provided the lead vocals and harmonica for the song.
|
Unusual Song StructureUnlike many pop songs, "Jacob's Ladder" does not use a standard verse-chorus-verse song structure.
|
Song InspirationThe song is a commentary on televangelists and the commercialization of religion, and its title references the Biblical story of Jacob's ladder.
|
Grammy AwardBruce Hornsby won the "Best New Artist" Grammy Award in 1987, the same year "Jacob's Ladder" reached number one.
|
Bruce Hornsby’s VersionHornsby later recorded his own version of the song, featuring a more piano-driven sound, for his 1988 album, "Scenes From The Southside".
|
Other Performances"Jacob's Ladder" has also been covered by other artists, like Michael Stanley, who released his version in 1990.
|
Live PerformancesThe song is often included in live performances by both Bruce Hornsby and Huey Lewis, and it remains a fan favorite.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Jacob's Ladder Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2656534/Bruce+Hornsby/Jacob%27s+Ladder>.
Powered by CITE.ME
Discuss the Jacob's Ladder Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In