Jacob's Ladder

Album: Fore! (1986)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • After extolling the power of love" and letting us know it's hip to be square, Huey Lewis & the News hit us with "Jacob's Ladder," a song about a dancer being pursued by a fat man offering salvation. His offer is tempting, but she rejects it, telling him, "All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today."

    Rockers have a history of taking on religious evangelists, often naming them. This one doesn't name any names, but could apply to any preacher who preys on the desperate, looking not to improve their spiritual well being, but to get what's left of their money.
  • The song was written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother, John Hornsby. Huey Lewis helped produce Bruce's debut album The Way it Is, and also sang on the track "Down the Road Tonight."

    John Hornsby explained: "To us, the song is really about one persons' personal goal and on the other hand it does deal with certain media evangelists who preach 'sing along, send money, join the chosen few.'"
  • The title "Jacob's Ladder" refers to a dream in the Book of Genesis in which Jacob sees a ladder ascending to Heaven with angels climbing up and down it. At the top of the ladder stands God, who reiterates the promise he made to Jacob's grandfather Abraham that he will have numerous descendants who will live in the land he has promised to them.
  • Huey Lewis climbed all the way to the top of the American charts with this release. It was his third and last American #1.
  • Bruce Hornsby recorded a version which was included on his second album, Scenes From The Southside, in 1988. He regularly sings it in concerts.

Comments: 1

  • Charles from Charlotte, NcThe first verse in Hornsby's song: "Met a fan dancer on the southside of Birmingham" refers to an actual incident that took place in Birmingham AL when Hornsby was there for the University of Virginia's appearance at a bowl game circa early 1980s.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.