Title track on Bruce Hornsby’s Big Swing Face (album) from 2002.
Features: Bruce Hornsby (keyboards, vocals); Michael Baker (drums); David Bendeth (guitar, bass); Steve Kimock (guitar); J.V. Collier (bass).
Big Swing Face meaning of the song
“Big Swing Face” by Bruce Hornsby is a playful, surreal song that blends humour, performance, and identity. The lyrics focus on a character who is larger-than-life, someone who embraces their eccentricities and revels in the attention they receive from others. The song’s tone is light and whimsical, with underlying themes of showmanship, public persona, and the thin line between confidence and absurdity.
Character and performance
The character in “Big Swing Face” appears to be a performer, someone who is “in the arena” and commands attention from a crowd. The imagery of cymbal crashing and teeth gnashing evokes a sense of intense energy, as if the performer is fully immersed in their act. The line “We’d love to see you, we’d love to be you” reinforces that this figure is someone admired for their audacity and charisma.
The repeated phrase “big swing face” suggests a facial expression or attitude that exudes confidence, swagger, or even exaggerated showmanship. This character embraces their eccentricity and performs with such intensity that they seem to exist in their own world, or as the song says, “away out in space.”
Humour and absurdity
Bruce infuses the lyrics with a playful sense of humour. The mention of an “elephant costume” immediately evokes an absurd, comical image, making the character seem even more outlandish and larger than life. The line “It’s easy to laugh when your zipper’s down” further highlights the comedic tone, bringing the grandiose performer down to earth with a moment of vulnerability or embarrassment.
The mix of costume foolery, beads, sandals, and jewellery suggests a quirky, bohemian persona, someone who doesn’t conform to societal norms and is perfectly comfortable in their eccentricity. The character is described as “hilarious” and is said to “leave us in the dust,” as if their confidence and unique personality are awe-inspiring yet humorous at the same time.
Public persona and isolation
While much of the song focuses on the performer’s larger-than-life qualities, there are hints of underlying loneliness. The repeated phrase “away out in space” gives the impression that, despite the character’s public confidence and comedic presence, they may feel detached or isolated in their own world. Being admired by others and performing for a crowd can lead to a kind of separation from those around them, making their “beautiful place” seem both alluring and distant.
The line “You’ve got your lonely night away out in space” suggests that, once the performance is over, the character is left alone, away from the crowd’s laughter and applause. This could point to the theme of how performers, while entertaining and loved in public, may experience moments of isolation in private.
Showmanship and confidence
“Big Swing Face” is ultimately a celebration of showmanship, of embracing one’s quirks and uniqueness. The character’s “big swing face” is a metaphor for their bold, unapologetic attitude. The song’s whimsical tone highlights how this persona captivates and amuses others, while also exploring the delicate balance between confidence and vulnerability.
Cultural references
The title is a nod to the jazz musician Buddy Rich, who famously had an album titled “Big Swing Face”. Rich was known for his flamboyant drumming style and larger-than-life persona, much like the character in Bruce’s song. The use of the term “swing” in both jazz and the song suggests a connection to the spontaneity and freedom that jazz musicians embody in their performances.
The reference to “away out in space” could be seen as a nod to the sense of otherworldliness that performers often project when they are fully immersed in their art. It evokes the image of a performer so caught up in their act that they appear to be in another realm, separate from everyday reality.
Final thoughts
“Big Swing Face” is a quirky exploration of performance, eccentricity, and confidence. Bruce uses humour and surreal imagery to create a character who embraces their uniqueness and captivates those around them. At the same time, the song subtly hints at the isolation that can come with being in the spotlight, showing the complexities of living with both public admiration and private detachment.