Fire on the Cross features: Bruce Hornsby (piano, vocals, synthesizer); George Marinelli (guitar, backing vocals); John Molo (drums, percussion); Joe Puerta (bass, backing vocals); Bela Fleck (banjo); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax).
In this song, we tried to create the darkness and threat of the violent, white-supremacist groups and their twisted ways of trying to justify attacks on people by using symbols and rhetoric of some higher cause.
Their lack of justification is referred to in the words that describe the burning cross as “it’s not a candle burning, and it’s not a Sunday night.”
The music goes for a hardness and aggressiveness and blends jazz and country, rural and urban.
– John Hornsby
From “Bruce Hornsby & The Range – A Night On The Town” Sheet music published in 1990 by Cherry Lane Music Company, Inc. (ISBN 0-89524-580-9)
Fire on the Cross meaning of the song
Bruce Hornsby’s song “Fire on the Cross” is a powerful commentary on the persistence of racism and violence, particularly in the southern United States. The imagery of burning crosses and the references to hooded figures evoke the terror and intimidation historically associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The song captures the pain of witnessing hate still thriving in modern times and reflects on the struggle for racial harmony amidst this hate.
The enduring presence of racial hatred
The song draws on the deeply ingrained racism in American history, with imagery that recalls the terror tactics of the KKK. The mention of “old white hoods and the same old orders” directly points to the Klan, which used violence, including cross burnings, to intimidate Black people and those who supported civil rights. Bruce contrasts the past with the present, showing that although the days when the KKK rode “on horses” may seem long gone, the hateful ideologies they represent still persist, and their torches are being passed on to a new generation.
Fire as a symbol of hatred
The central image of “fire on the cross” refers to the burning crosses the KKK historically used to terrorise Black communities. This fire is not just literal but also symbolic of the ongoing flames of hatred, violence, and racial injustice. The phrase “it’s not a candle burning and it’s not a Sunday night” distinguishes this fire from the peaceful or religious symbolism of a candle or church service. Instead, it is a destructive force, a violent act meant to spread fear and division.
The cross, traditionally a symbol of Christian faith and sacrifice, is perverted by the Klan into a symbol of hate and violence. By using fire on the cross, they attempt to twist a sacred symbol into one of terror, making their hate all the more painful for the victims.
The legacy of violence
The line “there’s a shotgun blast, there’s a secret sign” suggests the covert yet brutal nature of this violence. While the days of widespread, open acts of racial terror may have diminished, the song suggests that these hateful sentiments continue to operate in the shadows, often in ways that go unnoticed or unchallenged by mainstream society. The “secret sign” evokes a sense of an underground, ongoing movement that is waiting for the right moment to strike again.
The historical reference in “the nights they came on horses are long gone with the wind” harks back to the early 20th century, when the Klan was most active in its public displays of violence and intimidation. Bruce juxtaposes this with the present, warning that though those days seem like part of a distant past, the ideologies driving such hatred remain very much alive.
Desire for unity amidst division
Despite the images of violence and hate, Bruce weaves in a sense of longing for racial unity and brotherhood. The lyric “he just wants to be brothers” reflects a desire for reconciliation and peace. The use of “brothers” highlights a yearning for kinship and equality between Black and white people, a vision that stands in stark contrast to the divisive actions of those perpetuating hate.
However, the person witnessing the burning cross is left to “wonder” what more he can do to change the minds of those filled with hate. This suggests a sense of frustration and helplessness in the face of such deep-seated racism. The image of the man seeing the burning cross through a window underscores the personal pain of witnessing these hateful acts and feeling powerless to stop them.
Summary
Fire on the Cross is Bruce’s reflection on the persistence of racial hatred and the struggle for racial unity. The song uses potent imagery of KKK violence, particularly the burning cross, to evoke the ongoing threat of racism, even in contemporary times. While the historical legacy of the Klan is clear in the song, Bruce’s use of symbols like the torch and shotgun blast serves to remind listeners that these ideologies are not dead but continue to simmer beneath the surface. Through all this, there is a hopeful yet frustrated longing for brotherhood and unity, making the song both a commentary on historical racism and a plea for a better future.