Across The River

Album: A Night on the Town (1990)
Charted: 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bruce Hornsby struck gold again with this hit, again telling a story from his perspective. This time, it's about a beautiful, strong-willed southern girl who determines to leave her boring, small-town life behind, to the disapproval of her uptight family and neighbors. However, everyone expects that she will be unable to cope in the cosmopolitan outside world and return. This continues even after she leaves. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • This was the last of Hornsby's 6 US Top-40 hits.

Comments: 3

  • Todd from Huntsville, AlabamaAbsolutely love the drums on this song
  • Al from Hollister, CaMy favorite song from Bruce and that says a lot because he has so many great ones.
    I put Bruce Hornsby and Neil Young as my favorite song writers.
    Now if he would only tour the west coast once in a while, it would make his fans here very happy.
  • Justin from Rochester, NyJerry Garcia played lead guitar on the original recording. In the liner notes for his 2004 greatest hits album, Bruce Hornsby said it may have been the second time Garcia ever hit the Top 40 chart (the first being the Grateful Dead's 1987 hit "Touch of Grey").
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.