{{Short description|1994 single by Live}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = Lightning Crashes | cover = live_lightning_crashes.png | alt = | caption = Artwork for European retail releases | type = single | artist = Live | album = Throwing Copper | released = June 26, 1995<ref name="aus"/> | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Alternative rock<ref>{{cite web|date=August 18, 2014|title=100 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1994|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/08/100-best-alternative-rock-songs-1994-alt/l1ipolfkd92g4kc6k64o880c4g0/|access-date=September 18, 2020|website=Spin}}</ref> * {{nowrap|post-grunge<ref>{{cite web|last=Erickson|first=Anne|date=February 21, 2015|title=Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk celebrates 'Throwing Copper'|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/02/20/live-ed-kowalczyk-interview/23774561/|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=Lansing State Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/list/best-post-grunge-songs/|title=50 Best Post-Grunge Songs|last=Graves|first=Wren|website=Consequence|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref>}} * pop rock<ref>{{cite web|last=Waldman|first=Scott|url=https://loudwire.com/best-pop-rock-songs-90s/|title=10 Best Pop-Rock Songs of the '90s|website=Loudwire|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2022}}</ref> | length = * 5:25 (album version) * 4:24 (edit) | label = Radioactive | writer = Live | producer = * Jerry Harrison * Live | prev_title = I Alone | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = All Over You | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{External music video | type = single | header = Music videos | 1 = {{YouTube|xsJ4O-nSveg|"Lightning Crashes"}} }} }}

"'''Lightning Crashes'''" is a song by the American rock band Live. It was serviced to US radio in January 1995<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Lightning+Crashes+by+Live&id=26153#gsc.tab=0|title=US charts}}</ref> as the third single from their second studio album, ''Throwing Copper''. Although the track was not released as a single in the United States, it received enough radio airplay to peak at {{abbr|No.|Number}} 12 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Airplay chart in 1995. The song also topped the ''Billboard'' Album Rock Tracks chart for 10 weeks and the Modern Rock Tracks chart for nine weeks. Internationally, the song reached No. 3 in Canada, No. 8 in Iceland, and No. 13 in Australia.

In 2021, ''Billboard'' ranked "Lightning Crashes" as the 70th-biggest hit in the history of the Mainstream Rock chart;<ref name="ABC-Shinedown">{{cite web|url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/shinedown-named-number-one-artist-billboards-40th-anniversary-mainstream-rock-chart|title=Shinedown named number-one artist on 'Billboard's' 40th anniversary Mainstream Rock chart|website=ABC Audio|last=Johnson|first=Josh|date=June 3, 2021|access-date=November 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Greatest-MR">{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603233707/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-songs|title=Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs|archive-date=June 3, 2021|access-date=November 11, 2023|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> the same publication ranked the song as the 22nd-biggest hit in the history of Alternative Airplay two years later.<ref name="Alt-35">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alternative-airplay-chart-35th-anniversary-foo-fighters-all-time-low-rule-1235408126/|title=Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Greatest-Alt-2023">{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006001750/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/|title=Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs|archive-date=October 6, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

==Song meaning== The band dedicated the song to a high-school friend, Barbara Lewis, who was killed by a drunk driver in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/live/lightning-crashes|title=Lightning Crashes by Live|publisher=Songfacts|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref> Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk said, "I wrote 'Lightning Crashes' on an acoustic guitar in my brother's bedroom shortly before I had moved out of my parents' house and gotten my first place of my own." Kowalczyk says that the video for "Lightning Crashes" has caused misinterpretations of the song's intent. <blockquote>While the clip is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life.<ref>Scarisbrick, John. "Lightning Strikes." ''Spin Magazine'', June 1995, p. 52.</ref></blockquote> ''New York'' magazine described the band as "deeply mystical" and claimed that the song was, "The story of a...connection between an old lady dying and a new mother at the moment of giving birth."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://live.cerf.net/live_new/HTML/articles/spin0695.html |title=Lightning Strikes |last=White |first=Timothy |website=live.cerf.net |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980425132048/http://live.cerf.net/live_new/HTML/articles/spin0695.html |archive-date=April 25, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{citation|author=Michael Hirschorn|title=[music]|pages=35|magazine=New York|date=September 1995}}</ref> Just a few years before, Kowalczyk discovered the writings of Indian spiritualist Jiddu Krishnamurti, whose philosophy of living life from a place of selflessness and humility influenced the singer's songwriting process, as well as the band's creative philosophy.<ref>{{cite web |last=Healy |first=Ryan |title='Lightning Crashes': The Story Behind Live's Meditation on the Cycle of Life |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/live-lightning-crashes-story-behind-song/ |publisher=UDiscover Music |access-date=March 30, 2022 |date=September 24, 2021}}</ref>

==Composition== The song is written in the key of B major.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning Crashes by Live @ Song Key Finder |url=https://songkeyfinder.com/songs/8493/Live+Lightning+Crashes |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=songkeyfinder.com}}</ref> The identity of the female backing vocalist remains unknown.

==Track listings== All songs were written by Live. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RADS33257}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" (edit) – 4:24 # "The Dam at Otter Creek" (bootleg) – 5:35 # "Selling the Drama" (bootleg) – 3:35

'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=rad 33574}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" (edit) – 4:26 # "Lightning Crashes" (live at Glastonbury '95) – 5:21

'''European maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=European maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=rad 33573}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" (edit) – 4:26 # "Lightning Crashes" (live at Glastonbury '95) – 5:21 # "The Beauty of Gray" (bootleg, live on tour in late 1994) – 4:43 {{col-2}} '''UK CD1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RAXTD 23}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" – 5:25 # "The Beauty of Gray" (bootleg version, live on tour in late 1994) – 4:44 # "T.B.D." (acoustic version) – 3:49

'''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RAXXD 23}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" – 5:25 # "Lightning Crashes" (live at Glastonbury '95) – 5:16 # "White, Discussion" (live at Glastonbury '95) – 5:22

'''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Lightning Crashes|year=1995|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RAXC 23}}</ref> # "Lightning Crashes" – 5:25 # "Lightning Crashes" (live at Glastonbury '95) – 5:16 {{col-end}}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Lightning Crashes" !Chart (1994–1995) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Australia|13|artist=Live|song=Lightning Crashes|rowheader=true|refname="aus"}} |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=9008|artist=Live|song=Lightning Crashes|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2729520#page/n25/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (25.6. '95 – 1.7. '95)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=26|date=June 24, 1995|access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> |8 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1996/week-2|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 2, 1996|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=September 28, 2023}}</ref> |13 |- !scope="row"|Quebec Airplay (ADISQ)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129063315/http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf|url=http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf|title=Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec|publisher=BAnQ|language=fr|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=29 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |align="center"|45 |- {{single chart|Scotland|39|date=19960113|artist=Live|song=Lightning Crashes|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UK|33|date=19960113|artist=Live|song=Lightning Crashes|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardradiosongs|12|artist=Live|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Live|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Live|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|6|artist=Live|access-date=March 18, 2018|rowheader=true}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "Lightning Crashes" !Chart (1995) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/aBqgAcE.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=August 13, 2016}}</ref> |72 |- !scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2840&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2840.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2840|title=RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=May 1, 2019}}</ref> |31 |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2935413?iabr=on#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1995|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=25|date=January 2, 1996|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> |64 |- !scope="row"|US Hot 100 Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf#page=88|title=The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles Airplay|magazine=Billboard|volume=107|issue=51|page=Y-32|date=December 23, 1995|access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref> |30 |- !scope="row"|US Album Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Album Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=107|issue=51|page=YE-76|date=December 23, 1995}}</ref> |2 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=107|issue=51|page=YE-77|date=December 23, 1995}}</ref> |6 |- !scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=3|issue=51|page=8|date=December 15, 1995}}</ref> |22 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Lightning Crashes"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Live|title=Lightning crashes|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1994|certyear=2025|source=radioscope|access-date=12 August 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates and formats for "Lightning Crashes" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United States |January 1995 |Radio |rowspan="4"|Radioactive |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Lightning+Crashes+by+Live&id=26153#gsc.tab=0|title=US charts}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |rowspan="2"|June 26, 1995 |CD |rowspan="3"|<ref name="aus"/> |- !scope="row"|Europe |{{hlist|CD|maxi-CD}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |January 2, 1996 |CD |}

==In popular culture== "Lightning Crashes" was used at the end of episode 3 of ''Strange Luck'', "Last Chance".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVe7EGk2ia4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bVe7EGk2ia4 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Strange Luck - Lightning Crashes - YouTube|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was also used at the beginning of the season 4 finale of ''One Tree Hill'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oth-music.com/episode421.html|title=One Tree Hill Music – www.oth-music.com|website=www.oth-music.com|access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> as well as the ''Yellowjackets (TV series)'' episode "Burial".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a43366087/yellowjackets-season-2-soundtrack-songs/|title='Yellowjackets' Season 2 Soundtrack|website=www.menshealth.com|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref> It was featured in the 2017 film ''Kodachrome'' and is included as a track on its soundtrack album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1W1CatTzkpWKj4AdkQ4Ck3|title=Kodachrome (Music From The Netflix Original Film|website=spotify.com|access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref> The song is also sung by Noah Reid in the second season of ''Outer Range''. In 2023 it was sung by Katie Robertson as Vanessa Latham at her husband's funeral in episode 2 of Australian crime comedy Deadloch.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.friendsoflive.com/ Official band website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811235849/https://friendsoflive.com/ |date=August 11, 2021 }}

{{Live (band)}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1994 singles Category:1994 songs Category:Live (band) songs Category:Music videos directed by Jake Scott (director) Category:Radioactive Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Jerry Harrison Category:Songs about death