Bruce Cockburn (pronounced "CO-burn") (born May 27, 1945 in Ottawa, Ontario… Read Full Bio ↴Bruce Cockburn (pronounced "CO-burn") (born May 27, 1945 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) has had a long and distinguished career, with much success in his native Canada. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll. Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2012 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (in Canada the award was to honour "significant contributions and achievements by Canadians").

Cockburn's early albums were fairly straight ahead folk music spotlighting his brilliant guitar playing. In fact, there were a good number of instrumental guitar numbers on those early recordings. A Christian element came into his music around the time of the album Salt, Sun and Time, and over time his writing has taken on a stronger and stronger political orientation.

Perhaps the most consistent element of Cockburn's music has been his willingness to change and evolve over time. In this way, he is similar to fellow Canadians Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.

He has had a couple of radio hits in the United States, including (Wondering Where the Lions Are and If I Had a Rocket Launcher).

His albums in the 80s are considered some of his strongest, including Humans, Inner City Front, Stealing Fire, and Big Circumstance. After Big Circumstance he struggled with writer's block, and his output began to slow down; but he recovered with the formidable Nothing But a Burning Light, which led the way back to a sparer, more folk-oriented form of music. His later album The Charity of Night contains one of his most thoughtful songs, Pacing the Cage.

His 2006 album Life Short Call Now was preceded by Speechless, a collection of instrumentals, many of them from earlier albums. The album highlights Cockburn's prodigious abilities as a guitarist.

Cockburn's 31st studio album,Small Source of Comfort was released in March, 2011. BruceCockburn.com called the album "an adventurous collection of songs of romance, protest and spiritual discovery. The album, primarily acoustic yet rhythmically savvy, is rich in Cockburn’s characteristic blend of folk, blues, jazz and rock."

A Life Story
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sky-wild
Far cry
Wings-slash-free
Christ is born for you and me

Wind rush
Reed bend
Storm tossed sea

Christ is nailed upon a tree

Mists part
Sunrise

Shining key
Christ is risen to lead us free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's song 'A Life Story' use natural imagery to depict the various stages of Christ's life, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection. The first stanza alludes to his birth, as the sky is described as "wild" and his birth is referred to as a "far cry." The line "Wings-slash-free" seems to reference the angelic announcements of Jesus' birth, as well as the freedom that his message brings.

The second stanza paints a picture of the stormy seas on which Jesus was crucified. The wind rushes and the reeds bend in the tumultuous surroundings, highlighting the physical and emotional pain of the situation. The use of the phrase "Christ is nailed upon a tree" is a direct reference to the act of crucifixion, and serves to emphasize the brutality of his death.

In the final stanza, the mist parts and the sun rises, symbolizing the hope and new life that comes with the resurrection. The phrase "shining key" suggests that Christ's resurrection opens the door to salvation and eternal life. The final line, "Christ is risen to lead us free," brings the song full circle, emphasizing that the ultimate message of Christ's life, death, and resurrection is one of freedom for all.

Line by Line Meaning

Sky-wild
The atmosphere is uncontrolled and untamed

Far cry
Immersed in a different reality that seems distant

Wings-slash-free
The freedom to explore the world unhindered, like a bird in the sky

Christ is born for you and me
The idea that Christ came into the world for the benefit of all people

Wind rush
The sound and force of the wind moving quickly

Reed bend
The botanical structures sway with the wind

Storm tossed sea
The ocean's waves violently crash against each other during a storm

Christ is nailed upon a tree
The crucifixion of Christ, where he was fastened to a tree

Mists part
The thinning of clouds and fog to allow visibility

Sunrise
The point at which the sun rises above the horizon, signifying the beginning of a new day

Shining key
A bright and distinct symbol of access to something