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."
Anything Can Happen
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
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I could have been run down in the street
You could have got botulism anytime
I could have gone overboard into the sea
Anything can happen
To put out the light
Is it any wonder
I could have been hit by a falling pane of glass
You could have had shark teeth write "finit"
We could have been nailed by some vigilante-type
In a case of mistaken identity
Obviously
Anything can happen
To put out the light
Is it any wonder
I don't want to say goodnight?
We could have been lynched and tarred and feathered
Been on a plane that crashed in flames
Could have done the neutron melt together
But here we are just the same!
You could have been daggered in the dead of night
You could have been gassed inside your car
I could have been walking in the open fields
And been drilled through the head by a shooting star
Anything can happen
To put out the light
Is it any wonder
I don't want to say goodnight?
The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's song "Anything Can Happen" speaks to the unpredictable nature of life and how anything can happen at any given moment. The lyrics are a reminder that there is no guarantee of safety or security in life, and that even the most mundane of activities can be dangerous. The song speaks to the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment, as anything can happen to change the course of one's life in an instant.
The lyrics paint vivid images of potentially lethal scenarios, such as falling from a viaduct or being hit by a falling pane of glass. These scenarios highlight how everyday activities can be dangerous and fatal without warning. The song also touches on the theme of mortality and the concept of death as a certainty, as anything can happen at any moment.
The chorus of the song, "Anything can happen to put out the light, is it any wonder I don't want to say goodnight?" speaks to the fear of the unknown and the desire to hold on to life as long as possible. The song is a powerful and thought-provoking reminder to live every moment to the fullest and appreciate the beauty and fragility of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You could have gone off the Bloor Street Viaduct
You were in a vulnerable position and could have taken an extreme action.
I could have been run down in the street
I was in danger of being hit by a vehicle while walking.
You could have got botulism anytime
You were at risk of getting a type of food poisoning due to ingestion.
I could have gone overboard into the sea
I was at risk of falling overboard while on a boat ride.
Anything can happen
There is a possibility of the unpredictable occurring.
To put out the light
To end a situation or experience suddenly.
Is it any wonder
It's not surprising.
I don't want to say goodnight?
I'm not ready to end the experience or situation for fear of the dangerous possibilities.
We could have been lynched and tarred and feathered
We were in danger of being brutally attacked by a violent mob.
Been on a plane that crashed in flames
We could have been in an airplane crash or accident.
Could have done the neutron melt together
We could have experienced a nuclear meltdown together.
But here we are just the same!
Despite all of the dangerous possibilities, we are still here and have survived.
You could have been daggered in the dead of night
You could have been attacked and killed by someone with a dagger or knife.
You could have been gassed inside your car
You could have been the victim of someone gassing you inside your vehicle.
I could have been walking in the open fields
I could have been exposed and vulnerable while walking in an open area.
And been drilled through the head by a shooting star
I could have been hit and killed by a meteorite falling from the sky.
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Robert Davidson
Bruce is so underrated and underwatched!Met him in October 2019 !Great experience someone took our pic together his new album Crow Ignites wonderful,,
Thomas Walker
one of my favorite's from Bruce, there 's just so many endless outcomes to cashing out ones final ticket. The fade out at the end I believe is like a homage to Hello my darling,Hello my baby,Hello my rag time girl..? Just love how he blends that in to the song.