Yesterday I mentioned that my Random Weekend selections often lead to the discovery of recent work by the represented artist. Bruce Hornsby is another example. The piano man released a new album just last year — an avant-garde fusion of jazz, classical and progressive rock titled Absolute Zero. Good for him.
I’m partial to Hornsby’s early work. You know, those 80s classics like ‘The Way It Is,’ ‘Every Little Kiss’ and ‘Mandolin Rain.’
Today’s track appears on 1993’s Harbor Lights, Hornsby’s first solo album after recording with The Range on his first three releases. My sister and brother-in-law put this song on a tape to introduce me to more of Hornsby’s work.
It’s a great track, seemingly about a parent vowing to guide his child through an uncertain world. Appropriate for these times.
Before I go to sleep
I come by, I come by
Just to look at you
In the dim light I say
That in my own small way
I will try, I will try
To help you through
There’ll be blue skies falling
There’ll be sad scenes and bad dreams
In a world so uncertain
Through the clouds it’s hard to see
I will grab you and lift you
As you hold on tight and sway
We’ll go walking
Across the fields of gray
There’s a place I can go
When the world gets me down
When nothing, when nothing
Goes quite right it seems
As I look there I know
Fortune smiles on me so
But who knows, no one knows
About tomorrow
There’ll be blue skies falling
There’ll be sad scenes and bad dreams
In a world so uncertain
Through the clouds it’s hard to see
I will grab you and lift you
As you hold on tight and sway
We’ll go walking
Across the fields of gray
When I was younger I saw things in black and white
Now all I see is a sad, hazy gray
Sometimes I see a narrow flash of light
Sometimes I look and you show me the way
No matter what else happens
What the future will be
In a world so uncertain
Through the clouds it’s hard to see
I will grab you and carry you
Calm your fears if you’re afraid
We’ll go walking
Across the fields of gray
Definitely appropriate for the the times we live in. Glad to see Bruce is still plugging away.
💗💗💗💗 this song.