Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby (born November 23, 1954 in Williamsburg, Virginia) is an A… Read Full Bio ↴Bruce Randall Hornsby (born November 23, 1954 in Williamsburg, Virginia) is an American singer, virtuoso pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. He is probably best known for his 1980s signature song "The Way It Is" and the top five hits "Mandolin Rain," and "The Valley Road", all recorded as Bruce Hornsby & The Range, and for his long association with the Grateful Dead. In some of his solo albums (from 1993) he moved in a less commercial, more musically-challenging direction. From 2000 he recorded albums a series of albums as Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.

In 1984 Hornsby formed Bruce Hornsby & the Range, who were signed to RCA Records in 1985. Besides Hornsby, Range members were David Mansfield (guitar, mandolin, violin), George Marinelli (guitars and backing vocals), Joe Puerta (bass guitar and backing vocals), and John Molo (drums).

During the 1990s he toured with the Grateful Dead, and released four albums, including A Night on the Town (1990) after which he split from The Range. Harbor Lights (1993) was his first solo album and signaled Hornsby was moving in a new jazz-influenced direction, whilst retaining elements of rock and pop. Later releases include Hot House (1995) and Spirit Trail (1998).

His experimental album Big Swing Face (2002) attracted much criticism as it veered away from his piano-based style. Despite these criticisms, he returned with his next studio album, shrugging off RCA and signing to Sony Music Entertainment. Halcyon Days, released in 2004, saw a return to the piano as the key instrument; this album also became the premise for his world tour the same year.

Hornsby continues to tour with his live band "The Noisemakers", in addition to solo shows and his progressive bluegrass performances with Ricky Skaggs.

In 2007 he released Camp Meeting, his first total jazz album as The Bruce Hornsby Trio, which involved jazz giants, Jack DeJohnette and Christian McBride with whom he made live appearances with throughout 2007.

In March 2007 Hornsby teamed with bluegrass player Ricky Skaggs to produce a bluegrass album, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby, and played several tour dates together. The seeds for the album had been sown in 2000 when the pair collaborated on "Darlin' Cory", a track on the Big Mon Bill Monroe bluegrass tribute album and then proposed recording an album together. Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby, featuring the duo backed by Skaggs's band Kentucky Thunder, combined bluegrass, traditional country, "a tinge of Hornsby's jazzy piano and a splash of humor" on a spectrum of songs from the traditional to new compositions such as the opening track "The Dreaded Spoon," "a humorous tale of a youthful ice cream heist. The pair also reinvented Hornsby's hit "Mandolin Rain" as a minor key acoustic ballad and "give his cautionary tale of backwoods violence", "A Night On the Town," a treatment highlighting the "Appalachian storytelling tradition that was always at the song's heart. The album ended with a surprise cover of Rick James's funk hit "Super Freak" in a bluegrass arrangement. Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby topped Billboard's bluegrass charts for several weeks. The album showed Hornsby carving out a place for piano within traditional bluegrass, disproving the notion that the piano is not compatible with "string-oriented" bluegrass.

Concurrently with the bluegrass project, Hornsby recorded a jazz album, Camp Meeting. with Christian McBride (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums). Alongside original compositions by Hornsby, the trio delivered "newly reharmonized versions" of tunes by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, a previously unrecorded Ornette Coleman work ("Questions and Answers") and an early Keith Jarrett composition ("Death and the Flower.") The trio made a series of appearances in the summer of 2007, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival and at the Hollywood Bowl.

On January 4, 2007, former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart reunited along with Hornsby, Mike Gordon (of Phish and the Rhythm Devils) and Warren Haynes to play two sets. including Dead classics, at a post-inauguration fundraising party for Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House in the United States Congress.

Hornsby wrote songs for a Broadway Musical, titled "SCKBSTD"; one song from this project, a playful biographical tune about real-estate tycoon Donald Trump titled "The Don of Dons," made several appearances in setlists during his early-2007 solo piano performances. He also composed the score for Spike Lee's ESPN documentary, Kobe Doin' Work, about NBA star Kobe Bryant and his MVP season.

Outside of music composition and performance, Hornsby has taken an ownership interest in Williamsburg area radio station "The Tide," WTYD 92.3 FM, and he has endowed the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program at University of Miami's Frost School of Music, encouraging the study of songwriting broadly across traditional genres. Hornsby played himself in a cameo role in the Robin Williams movie World's Greatest Dad, in which Williams' character is a Bruce Hornsby fan.

He has also been honored by piano makers Steinway & Sons with their Limited Edition Signature Piano Series. Hornsby selected ten Model B Steinway Grands to be featured in this collection, each one personalized with his signature. Hornsby owns three 9-foot Model D Steinway Grands himself.
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Bruce Hornsby Lyrics


A Night On The Town Van and Willie went out one night Once they get out…
Absolute Zero Time stopped And I'm floating there on air I can watch…
Across The River Then she moved back around here Thirty-five weeks ago today…
Another Day Woke up this morning looking at the screen There's a couple…
Anything Can Happen Oh, little darlin' I know you've been down-hearted inside a…
Barren Ground There were people living in a green valley Found a way…
Big Rumble Cocked and ready oh here I stand Anticipating the laying on…
Big Stick I'm driving down the highway Headed to the range Gonna knock…
Big Swing Face Your cymbal crashing Your teeth are gnashing You're in you…
Bright Star Cast Here we are at last Light of our bright star is…
Candy Mountain Run Rollin' and a-tumblin' Take me to the mountain Fly closer to…
Carry the Water Some live life with eyes that don't see They look away…
Cartoons & Candy Shining down through the trees I'm feeling like such a mann…



Cast-Off I guess it's terrible But it don't feel so bad I abide,…
Changes The scene is set, everybody's in place Two chairs filled for…
Charlie Woody and You I've been riding around with the top down Like I always…
China Doll You lie over there in a bed with iron rails Like…
Circus On The Moon Hey out there, are you hearing my call It's a cry…
Cleopatra Drones Ooh, Cleopatra drones coming in low Ooh, Cleopatra drones c…
Country Doctor Deep down in the south county Over where the paper mill…
Crown of Jewels She came from the backwoods Bright teeth, stylish hair Goo…
Cruise Control It's been a long time coming, this feeling I've got That…
Cyclone Most of our years have flown away with nothing much…
Defenders of the Flag It's coming any day now said the captain It's coming any…
Don't Blame It On Me You said your arms are empty And your eyes full of…
Down the Road Tonight There's a place A local roadside shack A poor man's Paris wi…
Dreamland Isn't this old night so nice I hope you can feel…
Echolocation Well I walk these hills and I won't look back I…
End Of The Innocence Remember when the days were long And rolled beneath a deep…
Every little kiss Way out here, working on the docks Everyone sees the long…
Fields Of Gray When the night lies so still Before I go to sleep I…
Fields Of Gray/That's Where It's At When the night lies so still Before I go to sleep I…
Fire on the Cross They're looking for some hired guns on the Texas border To…
Fortunate Son I'm sitting wondering, watching the parade In my ever-presen…
Fractals Pour you and me onto paper Fold us together and press…
Funhouse Jenny drove out to Vegas for the first time Picked up…
Go Back to Your Woods I came around to your back door Just like I've always…
Gonna Be Some Changes Made Gonna be some changes made Man was a knife expert Kinda of…
Good Life The I'm gonna buy a big red truck Then a rabbit's foot…
Great Divide You're saying I've got, got a lot, a lot of…
Halcyon Days Bright light streaming in, through my window pane Think I'll…
Harbor Lights Close your eyes and slip away To the dream of your…
Heir Gordon There was a young man named Arthur Gordon Heir to a…
Hooray For Tom Will it really help me to learn About Frederick The Great…
Hot House Ball We've lived around here most all of our lives Did most…
I can Turn down the lights Turn down the bed Turn down these…
Jack Straw We can share the women, we can share the wine We…
jacob I met a fan dancer down in south side Birmingham She…
Jacob's Ladder / Blackberry Blossom Well he came to town with a strong pull, c'mon…
Jacobs Ladder I met a fan dancer down in south side Birmingham She…
Jacobs Ladder/Blackberry Blossom Well he came to town with a strong pull, c'mon…
King Harvest Corn In The Fields. Listen To The Rice When The Wind…
King Of The Hill Whoa, I'm leaning on a rail Letting my eyes roam over…
Lady With A Fan Let my inspiration flow in token rhyme, suggesting rhythm T…
Levitate Well what have we here, what do I see I think…
Line In The Dust I'm walking outside and I see you arrive I say, "Let's…
Listen To The Silence You know I think it's a funny thing People talk without…
Little Sadie / White Wheeled Limousine / Just One More She walked into town in a long white gown And the…
Long Tall Cool One Is he sane or insane That's all they want to know Is…
Look Out Any Window There's a man workin' in a field See's the rain and…
Lost In The Snow Come on kids, ya'll come with me Let's go looking for…
Lost Soul There was a man of confused and sad nature Thought no…
Love Me Still Here is my hand for you to hold Here's the part…
Madman Across The Water I can see very well There's a boat on the reef…
Mandolin Rain The song came and went Like the times that we spent Hiding…
Mandolin Rain / Black Muddy River The song came and went Like the times that we…
Meds I'm sitting here on the phone Just listening to the dial…
Mirror On The Wall I'd like to try throwing the I Ching I'd like to…
Never in This House There's a house somewhere, some day With what everybody need…
No Home Training Up in the country Back in the sticks Down in the woods,in…
No Limits Shot me out of a cannon And I maintained Altitude…
Nobody There But Me Oh I wish I could laugh When I look way back To…
Non-Secure Connection I found a non-secure connection Or a thousand I'm routing at…
Old Valley Road Sometimes I lead sometimes I follow This time I'll go where…
On the Western Skyline About this time of evening, out by the bay They turn…
Passing Through Train rolls by about 3 a.m. Wakes me from a fitful…
Pastures Of Plenty Hey now, where are you going? Where are you going, to…
Pete & Manny Pete took up Latin dancing Sherry loved his style We loved t…
Piano Intro / Great Divide You're saying I've got Got a lot, lot of nerve To say…
Place Under The Sun I've been bouncing around Trying hot coals, jogging, shiats…
Porn Hour She bought tube socks on Amazon I watched girls remove…
Preacher in the Ring Part II There were tambourines and moans and wails Wrappin' the snak…
Preacher in the Ring Pt I Spent the night over at a friend's place Sunday morning came…
Preacher In The Ring PT. I Spent the night over at a friend's place Sunday morning cam…
Preacher In The Ring PT. II There were tambourines and moans and wails Wrappin' the sna…
Rainbow He came to town with a strong pull Would flash his…
Rainbow's Cadillac > He came to town with a strong pull Would flash his…
Red Plains The Four walls I built one winter She came to share my…
Resting Place I'm on a long sojourn I'm sitting here shedding my skin Don'…
Sad Moon I think maybe I knew her in school In my memory's…
See The Same Way There was a little girl, picked up a doll, oh…
Set Me in Motion Sit there with a blank expression Say you can't go on…
Shadow Hand In light of all I've learned so far I don't believe…
Shadowland Darkness is def'nitely fallin' Movin' so slow I'm barely cr…
Shit's Crazy Out There Wood floor, glass board Fine place to go up and down…
Sneaking Up On Boo Radley Crawl up the back steps up to the back door Reach…
So Out This is so out but I like it So outside but…
Song A She came from the backwoods Bright teeth, stylish hair Good …
Special Night Riding in the early evening I'd say I know of a…
Spider Fingers So nice to be here With all you good people Is anybody…
Spider Fingers / Tempus Fugit So nice to be here With all you good people Is anybody…
Stander On The Mountain And he stands at the banquet room bar Looking over the…
Sticks & Stones Scabby head knobby kneed old nappy head Thunder thighs, juic…
Sticks and Stones Scabby head knobby kneed old nappy head Thunder thighs, jui…
Strander On The Mountain And he stands at the banquet room bar Looking over the…
Sunflower Cat One eye is open, the other eye is shut Don't throw…
Sunlight Moon I would try most anything While I stand here lingering Have …
Swan Song Here is my hand for you to hold Here's the part…
Swing Street I heard you say that tonight's the night You say there's…
Take Out The Trash This is an epic story Of low man's love and family…
Take You There Light as a feather take to the air Light…
Talk Of The Town I've been riding around with the top down Like I always…
Thats Just The Way It Is Standing in line marking time, waiting for the welfare dime …
The Blinding Light Of Dreams In our town we wake up early every day It's seven…
The Changes The scene is set, everybody's in place Two chairs filled fo…
The Chill Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I swear I see the…
The Dreaded Spoon Here we go to the Tasty Freeze Or maybe Dairy Queen If…
The End of the Innocence Remember when the days were long And rolled beneath a deep…
The Good Life I'm gonna buy a big red truck Then a rabbit's foot…
The Long Race It's a hazy winter's day And I'm staring out on the…
The Longest Night Someone's dancing on the table Someone's got an old book in…
The Rat King I'm standing up proud Soaking it all in All applauding me An…
The Red Plains Four walls I built one winter She came to share my…
The River Runs Low The rain held back again Haven't felt a drop since you…
The Road Not Taken Down in the southwest virginia town of richlands I fell in…
The Show Goes On What's the long face, what's all the crying for Didn't you…
The Tango King Parking lot's full, the crowd's here All to see and hear…
The Tide Will Rise Sometimes I get lucky Most times I come up short Got to…
The Valley Road Sometimes I lead sometimes I follow This time I'll go where…
The Way It Is Standing in line, marking time Waiting for the welfare dime …
The way it is 9163 Standing in line marking time-- Waiting for the welfare dim…
The Wild Frontier Here I am I'm in a gaseous haze Ten lanes and tall…
These Arms Of Mine Well I'm walking on the floor Hanging right round the door …
This Too Shall Pass I gotta get somethin' done today Give a accomplishment a sho…
Tide Will Rise Sometimes I get lucky Most times I come up short Got to…
Time The Thief Time the thief has stolen away All move away Time is…
Twelve Tone Tune / King of the Hill Oh, I'm leaning on a rail Letting my eyes roam over…
Valley Road Sometimes I lead sometimes I follow This time I'll go where…
Variations on Swan Song & Song D Here is my hand for you to hold Here's the part…
Voyager One There's magic in our present tense not coincidence, but fate…
Walk In The Sun My name is Vernon James and I live to the…
Way It Is Standing in line, marking time Waiting for the welfare dime…
What A Time It came on fast when I heard the blast And the…
What The Hell Happened Look at my pop Look at my brother Making them little girls'…
White Noise Silent room, hundred strong all hearing distant Muzak It's s…
White Wheeled Limousine She walked into town in a long white gown And the…


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