I always took the ladder reference as wanting to "rise above" the sadness and madness.Not a favorite, but here is a case of running out of rhymes:
Every day a little sadder
A little madder
Someone get me a ladder
Still...You Turn Me On by Emerson, Lake & Palmeron Brain Salad Surgery (1973), The Best of Emerson Lake & Palmer (1994)
ladder? Listening to the song makes it even clearer that it they were stretching here to make the song work.
LOL!! Risky move at your reception, unless she has a good sense of humor!“If you can’t be with the one you love, honey, love the one you’re with”
I requested this played at my wedding reception. Still makes me laugh every time I hear that song.