Crossfire

Get caught up in Stevie Ray Vaughan's explosive hit "Crossfire"! This 1989 blues-rock and electric blues anthem from the In Step album features SRV's searing guitar work and impassioned vocals. A Grammy-winning track tackling societal pressures, its powerful groove and message remain undeniably compelling.

Released in 1989 on Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s triumphant album In Step, "Crossfire" marked a commercial and critical peak in SRV's career. Penned primarily by his bandmates and collaborators, this electric blues and blues-rock hit became Vaughan's only number-one single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Its driving rhythm and potent energy captured his revitalized spirit and musical power.

Issued as the lead single around June 13, 1989, "Crossfire" grabbed listeners with Tommy Shannon's iconic bassline and Stevie Ray Vaughan's characteristically blistering guitar solo. This blues-rock track delves into themes of societal struggle and feeling trapped by circumstances ("Caught up in the crossfire"). Its combination of socially conscious lyrics and electrifying electric blues musicianship made it a standout hit.

SONG MEANING: "Crossfire" addresses the feeling of being caught in the middle of overwhelming societal problems – poverty, violence, and economic hardship. The lyrics paint a picture of everyday people struggling to survive ("Tooth and nail /.../ Save the family / Raise the children") while feeling trapped and helpless ("Caught up in the crossfire") against forces beyond their control.