Jacob’s Ladder features: Bruce Hornsby (accordion, vocals, synthesizer); George Marinelli (guitar, backing vocals); Peter Harris (mandolin, guitar); John Molo (drums); Joe Puerta (bass, backing vocals).
Jacob’s Ladder meaning of the song
“Jacob’s Ladder” by Bruce Hornsby is a song that combines religious imagery with a commentary on the struggles of everyday life. The song draws from the Biblical story of Jacob’s ladder, a vision described in the Book of Genesis where Jacob sees a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. However, Bruce uses this imagery to contrast the lofty promises of salvation offered by evangelists with the grounded, real-world struggles of ordinary people. The characters in the song are not seeking a grand spiritual awakening; instead, they are just trying to make it through life “step by step” and “one by one.”
The setting of Birmingham and its significance
The song is set in Birmingham, Alabama, a southern city with a rich cultural history. This location is significant, as it places the song within the context of the Bible Belt, where evangelism and religious preaching are common. The reference to Birmingham also brings to mind the city’s history with civil rights movements, which could subtly underline the theme of struggle and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The opening line introduces “a fan dancer down in southside Birmingham,” referring to someone in a lower socio-economic position, possibly involved in the performance or entertainment industry. The image of her “running from a fat man selling salvation” highlights the tension between those who offer religious salvation for profit and those who are simply trying to survive. The mention of the street preacher being “fat” may symbolise greed or excess, further pointing to a critique of those who profit from people’s desperation.
Rejection of evangelism and the focus on daily struggles
The line “She said he’s trying to save me / But I’m doing alright, the best that I can” reflects a rejection of the preacher’s offer of salvation. Instead of embracing the preacher’s message, the character feels that she is already managing her life as best she can. This sentiment is reinforced throughout the song, as the focus remains on getting through each day rather than seeking some grand religious transformation.
The line “Just a pair of fallen angels trying to get through the night” adds to this theme of struggling through life. The “fallen angels” reference evokes a sense of imperfection, implying that the characters are not seeking to be morally or spiritually pure; they are simply trying to survive, one day at a time. This contrasts with the preacher’s promise of salvation, which requires repentance and change.
Critique of televangelism
Bruce extends the critique of evangelism with the lines “Let me see the people / Coming over the airwaves / Where the man says I’m overdue / Sing a song, send some money, join the chosen few.” This is a direct reference to televangelists, who often ask for donations while claiming that financial support will lead to spiritual blessings or inclusion in a “chosen” group. The character’s response—”Yes, mister I’m not in a hurry, and I don’t wanna be like you”—is a rejection of this manipulative message. The televangelist represents another figure profiting from people’s fears and desires, but the character refuses to buy into the promise of quick salvation.
The meaning of “Jacob’s ladder” in the song
In the Biblical story, Jacob’s ladder symbolises a connection between heaven and earth, a pathway to divine salvation. However, in Bruce’s song, the ladder becomes a metaphor for the daily grind and the slow process of improving one’s situation. The repeated chorus, “Step by step, one by one, climbing Jacob’s ladder,” reflects a more grounded and pragmatic view of life. Rather than ascending to spiritual heights, the characters are simply trying to make it through each day, inching forward in their own personal struggles.
The refrain “All I want from tomorrow is just to get it better than today” encapsulates the song’s core message: the goal is not to reach heaven or achieve some grand spiritual reward but simply to improve life, even if only by a little, from one day to the next. This contrasts with the traditional view of Jacob’s ladder as a symbol of striving toward spiritual perfection.
Summary
“Jacob’s Ladder” by Bruce Hornsby combines religious imagery with a critique of evangelism and televangelism. The song portrays characters who are more concerned with surviving daily life than seeking salvation from preachers or televangelists. The ladder, instead of being a symbol of spiritual ascension, represents the gradual and difficult process of making it through life’s challenges, “step by step, one by one.” Through this song, Bruce offers a message about perseverance and self-reliance in a world where salvation is often promised but rarely delivered. The characters’ rejection of proselytising figures reflects a broader critique of those who exploit others for profit while offering unattainable promises.
Jacob’s Ladder runs along a very similar theme to the Phil Collins’ hit, “Jesus He Knows Me”, released in 1992. Basically, we have an ordinary girl running from “a fat man selling salvation in his hand”. It simply tells of the irrelevance of forced, evangelical religion to the ordinary concerns of the working person.
The only other point to make is that this is one of two songs that I can remember at the moment where Bruce actually states a specific location to the story: “… southside Birmingham…” (Presumably Alabama – there’s nothing much southside of Birmingham, England to write home about, apart from the Cadbury’s chocolate factory). The significance of geographical location becomes more significant in a song reviewed in due course. In the meantime, that’s your lot!
Carwyn Tywyn
Southside in Birmingham, Alabama is an area South of UAB on the crest of Red Mountain. Southside is the most popular bar and club district and is also probably the most liberal area of the city. For Bruce to set his story here seems to make a bit of sense, since the fat man selling his salvation has come to Southside to find all of the drinkers and partiers to preach to and the fan dancer has just come to have a good time. Also, the location goes back to the title of the album.
Hunter Walton
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Washington DC
October 9 2009