From a first single in 1979, the group successfully combined a pop rock and power pop (and sometimes, a blues rock) influenced backing with harmony side-vocals and Lewis' strident voice, and the band had numerous hit songs during the 1980s and early 1990s. These include "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" (both of which were featured in the film "Back to the Future"), "I Want a New Drug", "Doin' It All (For My Baby)", "Do You Believe in Love?" "Hip to Be Square", "Stuck With You", and "Jacob's Ladder". Huey Lewis shared three Grammy awards, an American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award along with several artists for his role singing the 1985 charity song "We Are the World" as well.
=Albums=
Huey Lewis & the News (1980)
Picture This (1982) [#13 U.S. Gold]
Sports (1983) [#1 U.S. 7x Platinum]
Back to the Future Soundtrack (1985) [Gold]
Fore! (1986) [#1 U.S. 3x Platinum]
Small World (1988) [#11 U.S. Platinum]
Hard at Play (1991) [#27 U.S. Gold]
The Heart of Rock & Roll - The Best of Huey Lewis and The News (1992)
Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) [#55 U.S.]
Time Flies: The Best of Huey Lewis and the News (1996) [#185 U.S.]
Plan B (2001) [#165 U.S.]
Live at 25 (2005)
Greatest Hits & Videos (2006) [#70 U.S.]
www.hueylewisandthenews.com
Jacob's Ladder
Huey Lewis & The News Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in South Side Birmingham
She was running from a fat man
Selling salvation in his hand
Now he's trying to save me
We'll I'm doing alright, the best that I can
Just another fallen angel
Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing Jacob's ladder
Coming over the airwaves
The man says I'm overdue
Sing along, send some money
Join the chosen few
Well, Mister I'm not in a hurry
And I don't want to be like you
All I want from tomorrow
Is to get it better than today
Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing Jacob's ladder
All I want from tomorrow
Is to get it better than today
Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Step by step, rung by rung
Climbing and trying
Step by step, one by one
Step by step
Step by step
Step by step
The lyrics to Huey Lewis & The News's song Jacob's Ladder tells the story of a fallen angel trying to navigate his way through the world with every step he takes. The song begins with the singer meeting a fan dancer in South Side Birmingham who is running from a fat man trying to sell her salvation. The man is now after the singer, but he does not need saving as he is doing the best he can. The fallen angel is then heard singing along to a man coming over the airwaves, saying that he is overdue and needs to send some money to join the chosen few. However, the singer is not in a hurry and does not want to be like him. All he wants is to get tomorrow better than today.
The "Jacob's Ladder" mentioned in the song is a reference to the biblical story of Jacob and his dream of a ladder reaching up to heaven, mentioned in the book of Genesis. The song uses this metaphor to symbolize the singer's journey through life as he climbs the ladder step-by-step, rung-by-rung. The fallen angel mentioned in the song represents the singer's self-doubt and insecurities that he is trying to overcome to reach his goals.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a fan dancer
I encountered a person who performs a traditional dance form.
Down in South Side Birmingham
It happened at a location in the southern part of Birmingham.
She was running from a fat man
She was escaping from an overweight person.
Selling salvation in his hand
He was trying to market the concept of deliverance to others.
Now he's trying to save me
He is attempting to rescue me.
We'll I'm doing alright, the best that I can
I'm managing adequately as per my ability.
Just another fallen angel
I'm another discredited person.
Trying to get through the night
Struggling to pass the night.
Step by step, one by one, higher and higher
Achieving the goal gradually and consistently
Step by step, rung by rung
Ascending the ladder slowly but steadily
Climbing Jacob's ladder
Striving to achieve spiritual growth
Coming over the airwaves
Broadcasting through the radio waves
The man says I'm overdue
The singer on the radio is telling me I need to catch up.
Sing along, send some money
Participate and contribute monetarily.
Join the chosen few
Become part of the privileged ones.
Well, Mister I'm not in a hurry
I don't feel rushed, sir.
And I don't want to be like you
I don't aspire to be like you.
All I want from tomorrow
My aspiration for the future is
Is to get it better than today
To make it better than today.
Climbing and trying
Attempting to rise gradually.
Step by step, one by one
Continuing to progress slowly and consistently.
Step by step
One step at a time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BRUCE HORNSBY, JONATHAN HORNSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind