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.
Resting Place
Bruce Hornsby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sitting here shedding my skin
Don't know about inside, ugly on the outside
They're all messing with me for the shape I'm in
I'm looking for a clean slate
Just need to find a new mind state
Hey, let's go looking for squirrels
Let's find something to do
Look down I said right at you
And the hail falls hard
And the wind whips my face
And I'm a long, long way from anywhere real safe
And the storm clouds are flying high
Mud all over my face
And I'm a long, long way from my resting place
Hey, let's duck down this side street
Maybe no, nobody else will see
Everybody sees us as big fat bastards
But I can just se you looking at me
Ever feel like a side-show attraction
Ever feel like a walking infraction
Some people call me Tarzan in my big, big sweats
Don't know just what they mean
Maybe not good, real bad I bet
And the hail falls hard
And the wind whips my face
And I'm a long, long way from some sheltered space
And the storm clouds are flying high
Mud all over my face
And I'm a long, long way from my resting place
I'm looking for a clean slate
Just need to find a new way, way to relate
You ever feel like a street walker
I get by being a funny talker
All those funny jokes sting, so keep walking
And the hail falls hard
And the wind whips my face
And I'm a long, long way from some sheltered space
And the storm clouds are flying high
Mud all over my face
And I'm a long, long way from my resting place
In Bruce Hornsby’s song Resting Place, the singer seems to be going through a time of change and transition. He speaks of shedding his skin, looking for a clean slate and finding a new mind state. But it’s clear that this journey is anything but easy. He’s being messed with for the shape he’s in, feeling like a side-show attraction or a walking infraction. Yet despite these struggles, he continues to search for a place where he can find peace and rest.
The vivid imagery of the storm in the chorus reinforces this sense of struggle as the hail falls hard, the wind whips his face and he’s a long way from anywhere safe or sheltered. The feelings of isolation and displacement are palpable.
The verse that speaks of being called Tarzan in my big, big sweats is a reference to the famous vine-swinging character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The song is said to be based on Hornsby’s characteristically vivid and complex dreams. It is also interesting to note that Resting Place is not the original title of the song - it was originally called “Tarzan’s Dream”.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on a long sojourn
I'm on a long journey or trip, traveling towards something or somewhere.
I'm sitting here shedding my skin
I'm reflecting on myself and trying to get rid of the negative aspects of me.
Don't know about inside, ugly on the outside
I'm not sure about my inner worth, but I'm aware of my outward imperfections.
They're all messing with me for the shape I'm in
I'm facing criticisms and judgments for my current condition or state.
I'm looking for a clean slate
I'm searching for a fresh start, a new beginning with no past baggage.
Just need to find a new mind state
I need to change my thinking and attitude to overcome my problems.
Hey, let's go looking for squirrels
Let's go on a pointless activity or adventure to escape reality.
Let's find something to do
Let's distract ourselves from our problems and worries with any activity.
I think she's shooting it right at you
I feel like someone is targeting or criticizing you directly.
Look down I said right at you
I urge you to pay attention and notice how someone is treating you.
And the hail falls hard
The problems and difficulties I'm facing are harsh and relentless.
And the wind whips my face
The struggles I'm encountering are hurting and challenging me emotionally and physically.
And I'm a long, long way from anywhere real safe
I'm in a dangerous or unpleasant situation with no clear way out.
And the storm clouds are flying high
The challenges and hardships I'm facing keep accumulating and heightening.
Mud all over my face
I feel dirty, ashamed, or embarrassed due to my current circumstances or actions.
And I'm a long, long way from my resting place
I'm far from finding peace, comfort, or security in my life.
Hey, let's duck down this side street
Let's explore other routes or alternatives, hoping for better outcomes.
Maybe no, nobody else will see
Let's take a chance on something, thinking it's safer or better than our previous choices.
Everybody sees us as big fat bastards
People perceive us negatively, based on our appearance, habits, or personality.
But I can just see you looking at me
I'm aware of someone's attention or opinion towards me, even if they don't express it openly.
Ever feel like a side-show attraction
Ever feel like you're there just for people's entertainment or curiosity, with no real value or respect?
Ever feel like a walking infraction
Ever feel like you're breaking rules, norms, or expectations just by existing or being yourself?
Some people call me Tarzan in my big, big sweats
Some people label me based on one aspect or aspect of me, ignoring the rest of my personality or abilities.
Don't know just what they mean
I don't understand or agree with those labels or judgments people give me.
Maybe not good, real bad I bet
Those labels or opinions people have of me are hurtful, unfair, or untrue.
I'm looking for a clean slate
I'm longing for a chance to erase my negative past and memories and start anew.
Just need to find a new way, way to relate
I need to rebuild my connections or relationships with people, based on a new, positive attitude and approach.
You ever feel like a street walker
You ever feel like you're selling yourself, your body, or your image, in order to gain money, power, or acceptance?
I get by being a funny talker
I manage to cope with my struggles or gain people's sympathy or attention by using humor or sarcasm.
All those funny jokes sting, so keep walking
Even though I try to deflect my pain or issues with humor, deep down, those jokes and criticisms hurt me, and I wish people would stop.
And the hail falls hard
The difficulties and struggles I'm facing now are harsh and overwhelming.
And the wind whips my face
The ongoing challenges and adversities I encounter are messing with my emotions, beliefs, or values.
And I'm a long, long way from some sheltered space
I'm far from finding a safe and peaceful haven or sanctuary in my life.
And the storm clouds are flying high
My troubles and problems seem to escalate and intensify, with no clear end in sight.
Mud all over my face
I feel ashamed, embarrassed, or guilty due to my current situation or past actions.
And I'm a long, long way from my resting place
I'm struggling to find inner peace, fulfillment, or happiness in my life, and it definitely feels like a long journey ahead.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BRUCE HORNSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind