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."
Bicycle Trip
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear the gravel crackle
Butterflies
Shades of the eternal dancer
God has buttered the land with sunlight
Sunlight
Corn grows high
Katydid
Hums a monotonous tune
Rather hypnotically
Hmmmmmm
Overhead there's a parrot with boxing gloves
Singing like me
What a clever bird
Even knows the words
But he doesn't seem to see
Me
Making my great escape
You can just take so much of your own advice
Who needs a king
Sitting in a tree
So loquaciously
Pigeonholing everything
Pigeons have a way of taking wing
Back again
Purple thistles bristle
All around
Bane of the Eternal Dancer
Hmmmmmm
Home is just around the bend...
The end
The lyrics of Bicycle Trip by Bruce Cockburn describe a peaceful bicycle ride through the countryside, full of natural wonders and beauty. The opening line, "Drift along, hear the gravel crackle" evokes a sense of relaxation and ease traveling throughout the song. The lyrics mention butterflies and the "eternal dancer," which could be interpreted as a reference to nature and its constant state of movement and change. The following line, "God has buttered the land with sunlight," creates a sense of the divine and the beauty of creation.
As the ride continues, the corn grows high, and there is mention of a Katydid who hums a monotonous tune. It's interesting to note that although the tune is monotonous, it's described as being rather hypnotic, suggesting that even the smallest parts of nature have their own unique qualities. The line "Overhead there's a parrot with boxing gloves singing like me" is a playful and somewhat surreal moment in the song. The parrot singing like the singer suggests that nature might be more aware of our existence than we might think.
The lyrics from "You can just take so much of your own advice" to "Pigeons have a way of taking wing" suggest a desire to break free from societal norms and expectations. The song concludes with "Home is just around the bend...The end," which seems to imply a sense of contentment and closure. Overall, this song promotes an appreciation for nature and the beauty that can be found when taking a moment to slow down and enjoy the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Drift along
Relax and move forward with no specific destination in mind
Hear the gravel crackle
Notice the small sounds of nature around you
Butterflies
Beautiful creatures symbolizing transformation and growth
Shades of the eternal dancer
The natural beauty of the world, forever dancing with life
God has buttered the land with sunlight
The sun provides warmth and light for the growth of the earth and its inhabitants
Sunlight
The life-sustaining force of the sun
Corn grows high
The natural abundance of life, like the tall stalks of corn
Like a tall watusi
A lively dance with roots in African culture
Katydid
A type of cricket with a droning, monotonous sound
Hums a monotonous tune
The unchanging rhythm of nature
Rather hypnotically
The soothing effect of nature's sounds and rhythms
Hmmmmmm
The sound of contemplation and observation
Overhead there's a parrot with boxing gloves
A surreal image of nature that hints at the unexpected and mysterious
Singing like me
Finding joy and expression in the world around you
What a clever bird
The intelligence and creativity of nature
Even knows the words
The interconnectedness of all beings, with the parrot mimicking human language
But he doesn't seem to see
Nature exists on its own terms, not simply for human observation or control
Me
The individual experience of appreciating and participating in nature
Making my great escape
The freedom and rejuvenation that comes with immersing oneself in nature
You can just take so much of your own advice
Learning to listen to the guidance of others
Who needs a king
Questioning the idea of hierarchy and power
Sitting in a tree
The natural environment that surrounds us all
So loquaciously
With excessive talk or chatter, like the way humans sometimes dominate nature
Pigeonholing everything
Trying to categorize and control the world around us
Pigeons have a way of taking wing
Even the most mundane creatures can take flight and remind us of the boundless potential of life
Back again
Returning to a familiar environment and the cyclical nature of life
Purple thistles bristle
The sharp, prickly edges of nature that remind us of both beauty and danger
All around
The omnipresence of nature in our lives
Bane of the Eternal Dancer
The ways in which humans disrupt and harm the natural balance and rhythms of the world
Home is just around the bend...
The comfort and familiarity of home, waiting for us at the end of our journey
The end
The cyclical nature of life, with every end leading to a new beginning
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BRUCE COCKBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind