As part of our lyrical deep dive, here’s the final list of how each of Bruce Hornsby’s songs fits into at least one of our 12 themes.
We have omitted the instrumental songs – obviously – and cover songs, or material not written by Bruce Hornsby. Studio albums only.
Although Lost and Found on the Spirit Trail wasn’t released until 2023, the songs were written in 1998 alongside Spirit Trail, so it sits here in the timeline where it belongs chronologically. It reflects where Bruce was heading creatively in his writing, not when the music was released.
Album 1 — The Way It Is (1986)
On the Western Skyline
- Place and southern identity
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
Every Little Kiss
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
Mandolin Rain
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
The Long Race
- Resilience and hope
- Place and southern identity
- Relationships and family
The Way It Is
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Compassion and empathy
- Resilience and hope
Down the Road Tonight
- Place and southern identity
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
The Wild Frontier
- Place and southern identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
The River Runs Low
- Place and southern identity
- Nature and the environment
- Relationships and family
The Red Plains
- Place and southern identity
- Nature and the environment
- Resilience and hope
Album 2 — Scenes from the Southside (1988)
Look Out Any Window
- Nature and the environment
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
The Valley Road
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Place and southern identity
- Relationships and family
I Will Walk With You
- Relationships and family
- Compassion and empathy
- Resilience and hope
The Road Not Taken
- Place and southern identity
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Relationships and family
The Show Goes On
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Relationships and family
The Old Playground
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Place and southern identity
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Defenders of the Flag
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Spirituality and mortality
Jacob’s Ladder
- Spirituality and mortality
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Till the Dreaming’s Done
- Relationships and family
- Resilience and hope
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Album 3 — A Night on the Town (1990)
A Night on the Town
- Place and southern identity
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Carry the Water
- Compassion and empathy
- Relationships and family
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Fire on the Cross
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Place and southern identity
- Compassion and empathy
Barren Ground
- Nature and the environment
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Across the River
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
- Place and southern identity
Stranded on Easy Street
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Stander on the Mountain
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Spirituality and mortality
Lost Soul
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Compassion and empathy
Another Day
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Spirituality and mortality
Special Night
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Place and southern identity
These Arms of Mine
- Relationships and family
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Album 4 — Harbor Lights (1993)
Harbor Lights
- Place and southern identity
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
Talk of the Town
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Relationships and family
- Place and southern identity
Long Tall Cool One
- Relationships and family
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
China Doll
- Relationships and family
- Resilience and hope
- Compassion and empathy
Fields of Gray
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
- Compassion and empathy
Rainbow’s Cadillac
- Place and southern identity
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Passing Through
- Place and southern identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
The Tide Will Rise
- Nature and the environment
- Resilience and hope
What a Time
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Place and southern identity
Pastures of Plenty
- Resilience and hope
- Place and southern identity
- Nature and the environment
Album 5 — Hot House (1995)
Spider Fingers
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
White-Wheeled Limousine
- Place and southern identity
- Time, history and nostalgia
Walk in the Sun
- Resilience and hope
- Relationships and family
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
The Changes
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
The Tango King
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
Big Rumble
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Country Doctor
- Place and southern identity
The Longest Night
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
Hot House Ball
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Science and technology
- Nature and the environment
Swing Street
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Place and southern identity
- Time, history and nostalgia
Cruise Control
- Relationships and family
- Compassion and empathy
- Time, history and nostalgia
Album 6 — Spirit Trail (1998)
King of the Hill
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Resting Place
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Preacher in the Ring Part 1
- Spirituality and mortality
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Place and southern identity
Preacher in the Ring Part 2
- Spirituality and mortality
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Place and southern identity
Sad Moon
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Compassion and empathy
Pete and Manny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Fortunate Son
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Compassion and empathy
Sneaking Up On Boo Radley
- Place and southern identity
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Great Divide
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Compassion and empathy
Line in the Dust
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
See the Same Way
- Compassion and empathy
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Shadow Hand
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Relationships and family
Sunlight Moon
- Relationships and family
- Resilience and hope
Listen to the Silence
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Funhouse
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Sunflower Cat
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Swan Song
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Spirituality and mortality
Album 7 — Lost and Found on the Spirit Trail (1998)
Living in the Sunshine
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
Groove Infatuation
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
Evening Sun
- Time, history and nostalgia
Clown’s Tambourine
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Album 8 — Big Swing Face (2002)
Sticks and Stones
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Resilience and hope
Cartoons and Candy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
The Chill
- Time, history and nostalgia
Big Swing Face
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
This Too Shall Pass
- Resilience and hope
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Try Anything Once
- Resilience and hope
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Take Out the Trash
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
The Good Life
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
So Out
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
No Home Training
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Place Under the Sun
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Album 9 — Halcyon Days (2004)
Gonna Be Some Changes Made
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Candy Mountain Run
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Dreamland
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
Circus on the Moon
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Halcyon Days
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Relationships and family
- Resilience and hope
What the Hell Happened
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Time, history and nostalgia
Hooray for Tom
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Time, history and nostalgia
Heir Gordon
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Mirror on the Wall
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Lost in the Snow
- Relationships and family
- Compassion and empathy
Album 10 — Levitate (2009)
The Black Rats of London
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Nature and the environment
Prairie Dog Town
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Cyclone
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Continents Drift
- Relationships and family
- Science and technology
- Time, history and nostalgia
Paperboy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Place and southern identity
Invisible
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Levitate
- Resilience and hope
- Compassion and empathy
- Spirituality and mortality
Here We Are Again
- Science and technology
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Relationships and family
Space is the Place
- Science and technology
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Michael Raphael
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Simple Prayer
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
In the Low Country
- Place and southern identity
- Satire, irony and the funny
Album 11 — Rehab Reunion (2016)
Over the Rise
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
Soon Enough
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Relationships and family
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
MIA in M.I.A.M.I.
- Place and southern identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
Tipping
- Satire, irony and the funny
Rehab Reunion
- Compassion and empathy
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Hey Kafka
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Satire, irony and the funny
Tropical Cashmere Sweater
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
TSA Man
- Satire, irony and the funny
Celestial Railroad
- Spirituality and mortality
- Resilience and hope
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Album 12 — Absolute Zero (2019)
Absolute Zero
- Science and technology
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
Fractals
- Science and technology
- Relationships and family
Cast-Off
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Compassion and empathy
- Resilience and hope
- Relationships and family
Meds
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Compassion and empathy
- Relationships and family
Never in this House
- Relationships and family
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Voyager One
- Science and technology
- Resilience and hope
Echolocation
- Science and technology
- Resilience and hope
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Nature and the environment
The Blinding Light of Dreams
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Place and southern identity
- Compassion and empathy
White Noise
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Take You There (Misty)
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
Album 13 — Non-Secure Connection (2020)
Cleopatra Drones
- Science and technology
- Spirituality and mortality
Time, The Thief
- Science and technology
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Spirituality and mortality
Non-Secure Connection
- Science and technology
- Satire, irony and the funny
The Rat King
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Time, history and nostalgia
My Resolve
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Resilience and hope
Bright Star Cast
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Compassion and empathy
- Resilience and hope
Shit’s Crazy Out Here
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Anything Can Happen
- Resilience and hope
- Relationships and family
- Compassion and empathy
Porn Hour
- Satire, irony and the funny
- Science and technology
No Limits
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
Album 14 — ‘Flicted (2022)
Sidelines
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Tag
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Resilience and hope
The Hound
- Compassion and empathy
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
Maybe Now
- Spirituality and mortality
- Resilience and hope
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Bucket List
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Relationships and family
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Days Ahead
- Resilience and hope
- Relationships and family
- Time, history and nostalgia
Lidar
- Science and technology
- Nature and the environment
- Time, history and nostalgia
Is This It
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Had Enough
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Nature and the environment
Simple Prayer 2
- Relationships and family
- Spirituality and mortality
Point Omega
- Science and technology
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Album 15 — Deep Sea Vents (2024)
The Wild Whaling Life
- Nature and the environment
- Artistic creativity and musical identity
- Resilience and hope
My Theory of Everything
- Science and technology
- Nature and the environment
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
Platypus Wow
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
- Nature and the environment
Phase Change
- Science and technology
- Relationships and family
Foreign Sounds
- Nature and the environment
- Social Justice, inequality and societal critique
- Compassion and empathy
The Wake of St Brendan
- Time, history and nostalgia
- Resilience and hope
Deep Blue
- Spirituality and mortality
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider
The Baited Line
- Resilience and hope
- Place and southern identity
- Nature and the environment
Barber Booty
- Satire, irony and the funny
Deep Sea Vents
- Science and technology
- Nature and the environment
- Identity, self-reflection and the outsider