«Jacob’s Ladder» is a song written by Cal Sweat, Brenda Sweat, and Tony Martin, and recorded by American country music artist Mark Wills. It was released in May 1996 as his debut single, and was served as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It reached a peak of number 6 on both the U.S. Billboard country singles chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. Debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts at number 56 on the chart week of June 8, 1996. It spent 20 weeks on that chart, peaking at number 6 on the chart week of September 28. The song’s B-side, «High Low and In Between,» was released in October 1996 as the second single from Wills’ debut.

From the album Mark Wills
B-side «High Low and In Between»
Released May 27, 1996
Genre Country
Length 3:05
Label Mercury Nashville
Songwriter(s) Cal Sweat Brenda Sweat Tony Martin
Producer(s) Keith Stegall Carson Chamberlain

Mark Wills – Jacob’s Ladder Lyrics

Jacob was a dirt poor farm boy
Raised at the fork in the road in a clapboard house
And Rachel was a land baron’s daughter
Born with a silver spoon in her mouth
Her daddy said he wouldn’t stand
For Rachel to waste her life with a common man
He tried hard to keep them apart
But you can’t draw lines in a young girl’s heart

So late one night by the harvest moon
Jacob climbed a ladder up to Rachel’s room
He knew his place, it was right beside her
Step by step up to her world
Head over heels for a brown-eyed girl
And gettin’ caught didn’t seem to matter
‘Cause heaven was waitin’ at the top of Jacob’s ladder

It’ll be five years September
Since her daddy found the ladder and a note on her windowsill
He swore he’d never forgive them
But nothin’ melts a heart like a grandchild will
Now she climbs up on his knee
Says, «Grandpa tell a story, the one about me»
He thinks back and his eyes shine
Says, «Listen child, once upon a time»

Late one night by the harvest moon
Your daddy climbed a ladder to your mama’s room
He knew his place, it was right beside her
Step by step up to her world
Head over heels for my little girl
And here you are, that’s all that matters
‘Cause heaven was waitin’ at the top of Jacob’s ladder

Oh, an angel was waitin’ at the top of Jacob’s ladder