Across the Great Divide

The Band

About Across the Great Divide

"Across the Great Divide" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was first released by The Band on their 1969 album The Band and was subsequently released on several live and compilation albums. According to music critic Barney Hoskyns, it was one of several songs that contributed to The Band being something of a concept album about the American South.


Year:
1990
3:49
39 

Lyrics currently unavailable…


The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

9 fans


10 facts about this song

Album Release
"Across The Great Divide" is the opening track on The Band's third album, simply called "The Band", released in 1969.
Songwriter
The song was written by The Band's guitarist and primary songwriter, Robbie Robertson.
Genre
"Across the Great Divide" falls within the folk-rock genre, a style primarily associated with The Band during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Theme
Lyrically, the song is a narrative, telling a tale of a hard-drinking and free-spirited individual looking for redemption.
Album Reception
The album “The Band” reached number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart, and it received massive applause from critics and listeners.
Influence
The Band's song influenced a similar title track by Kate Wolf in 1981 and a 1996 box set of The Band was named after this song, suggesting its cultural and artistic significance within the group's body of work.
Instrumentation
Some notable features of the song include Levon Helm's reverberating drumming, Richard Manuel's piano stylistics, and harmonic singing.
Style
"Across the Great Divide" reflects The Band's roots in American folk, country and rock music, a style that the band was influential in popularizing.
Critical Acclaim
The song, as a part of "The Band" album, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, indicating its enduring quality and historical significance in the world of music.
Live Performances
Even though "Across the Great Divide" was not a radio hit, it was frequently performed live by the band during concerts and has hence built an enduring fanbase.

Discuss the Across the Great Divide Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Across the Great Divide Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2228473/The+Band/Across+the+Great+Divide>.

    Missing lyrics by The Band?

    Know any other songs by The Band? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Across the Great Divide

    45,345
    471     81

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which the Alan Parsons Project member sings their 1982 biggest hit single: "Old and Wise"?
    A Eric Woolfson
    B Colin Blunstone
    C Elmer Gantry
    D David Paton

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    The Band tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!