The Barricades Of Heaven by Jackson Browne is yet another song recommended to me by Christian at Christian’s Music Musings. It’s Browne’s second entry here after Late For the Sky – another Christian recommendation. I used to think since listening to his popular hit Running on Empty that Browne’s singing resonated strongly and the music ebbs and flows like a river, but just when I think he will go somewhere in a song it seems to flounder or not reach the cascades of what I envisioned. But it seems my proclivity for a killer crescendo misses the whole point. Like how the old saying goes ‘Life is a journey, not a destination‘ and that couldn’t be more fitting of Browne’s music, at least based on what I have heard.
The Barricades Of Heaven like Late For the Sky is told with a blend of warmth, intimacy, and emotional depth. There are shades of Bob Seger’s Americana epic – Against the Wind and Springsteen’s road trip songs interspersed with a ‘coming of age’ love. There is so much to like about The Barricades Of Heaven and seems to get better on repeated listens. It comes from the American singer-songwriter’s eleventh album Looking East which peaked at number 36 on the Billboard charts. Coming two years after his successful I’m Alive, Wikipedia states ‘that Browne returned to more politically and socially oriented themes on Looking East. The most notable song, Barricades of Heaven is a reference to the “barrios” (Spanish for neighbourhoods and perhaps associated with low income housing) of Los Angeles.‘
Critic William Ruhlman said about the album “it is a highly referential work from an artist who started where most end and has been earnestly seeking the right direction ever since. Looking East finds him in his own backyard, still searching.”
For further information about Jackson Browne and his extensive discography, I point you to Christian’s all you need to know article – My Playlist: Jackson Browne.
[Verse 1]
Running down around the towns along the shore
When I was sixteen and on my own
No, I couldn’t tell you what the hell those brakes were for
I was just trying to hear my song
[Verse 2]
Jimmie found his own sweet sound and won that free guitar
We’d all get in the van and play
Life became the Paradox, the Bear, the Rouge et Noir
And the stretch of road running to LA
[Chorus]
Pages turning
Pages we were years from learning
Straight into the night our hearts were flung
Better bring your own redemption when you come
To the barricades of Heaven where I’m from
[Verse 3]
All the world was shining from those hills
The stars above and the lights below
Among those there to test their fortunes and their wills
I lost track of the score long ago
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Childhood comes for me at night
Voices of my friends
Your face bathing me in light
Hope that never ends
References:
1. Looking East – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Thanks for the shout-out, Matt. Obviously, “Barricades of Heaven” is a Jackson Browne song I really dig.
You mentioned “Running On Empty,” which was my entry to Browne. If I recall it correctly, it was my brother-in-law who had that album on vinyl. When I first heard it in the early ’80s, it was instant love.
In fact when I had the pipedream of becoming a professional musician in my early twenties, “Running On Empty” was the kind of music I was dreaming to make! While I sometimes regret I gave up playing music, thank goodness my dream didn’t go any further. I never would have had what it takes to succeed in the cut-throat music business!
‘Running on Empty’ was the first song I recall by him.
So Jackson Browne’s music did have quite the impact on you in your early adulthood! From the scant music I have heard by him, I could understand how a young musician might be inspired and desire replicating his sound and lyric. Also his voice is magnificent. And Browne is German-born as well!
I can see how giving up everything to dedicate solely to a music career would be a scary proposition.
I remember in my school days, a friend of mine Daniel, got me into Springsteen. He would lend me all his records. And we tried to even write lyrics like him during class. Haha