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."
Broken Wheel
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The gifts of the Lord lie torn
Into whose charge the gifts were given
Have made it a curse for so many to be born
This is my trouble --
These were my fathers
So how am I supposed to feel?
Way out on the rim of the broken wheel
Water of life is going to flow again
Changed from the blood of heroes and knaves
The word mercy's going to have a new meaning
When we are judged by the children of our slaves
No adult of sound mind
Can be an innocent bystander
Trial comes before truth's revealed
Out here on the rim of the broken wheel
You and me -- we are the break in the broken wheel
Bleeding wound that will not heal
Lord, spit on our eyes so we can see
How to wake up from this tragedy
Way out on the rim of the broken wheel
Bleeding wound that will not heal
Trial comes before truth's revealed
So how am I supposed to feel?
This is my trouble --
Can't be an innocent bystander
In a world of pain and fire and steel
Way out on the rim of the broken wheel
The opening line of "Broken Wheel" by Bruce Cockburn sets the stage for a song about a tragic situation that has occurred on the outskirts of the galaxy. The lyrics discuss the degradation of "the gifts of the Lord" that were once plentiful but are now "torn". The song is looking at the impact of the decisions made by those in power, who were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and nurturing these gifts. Instead, they have turned the situation into a curse for the many who have been born into this world. Cockburn's lyrics convey a sense of disillusionment with the state of the world and the people responsible for shaping it.
As the song progresses, Cockburn offers hope for redemption. The "water of life" will eventually flow again, and the power dynamic will change. The people who have been oppressed for generations will one day hold those in power accountable for their actions. Cockburn writes, "No adult of sound mind can be an innocent bystander. Trial comes before truth's revealed." These lines suggest that we all have a role to play in shaping the world we live in, and that we must hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions. The song ends on a note of uncertainty, asking how we are supposed to feel about living in a world rife with pain, fire, and steel.
This song speaks to the human experience of living in a world that can be both beautiful and terrible. It is a call to action, urging us to acknowledge and take responsibility for the damage that has been done to our shared environment and to work towards building a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Way out on the rim of the galaxy
The singer is acknowledging their limited scope of understanding compared to the vast, unexplored universe.
The gifts of the Lord lie torn
The world, once believed to be a divine creation, is now in a state of decay and disarray.
Into whose charge the gifts were given
The question of who or what is responsible for the state of the world.
Have made it a curse for so many to be born
The current condition of the world has made it a burden for many people to live in.
This is my trouble --
The artist acknowledges that they are personally affected by the state of the world.
These were my fathers
The singer attributes some responsibility for the state of the world to their ancestors or predecessors.
So how am I supposed to feel?
The singer is unsure of how they should feel about their connection to the world's problems.
Water of life is going to flow again
The artist expresses hope that the world can be restored to a better state.
Changed from the blood of heroes and knaves
The artist acknowledges that both good and bad deeds have contributed to the current state of the world.
The word mercy's going to have a new meaning
The artist expresses a desire for a more compassionate, empathetic approach to life in the future.
When we are judged by the children of our slaves
The singer suggests that the moral judgment of future generations will reflect how we have treated those who are oppressed or marginalized.
No adult of sound mind
The artist believes that anyone who is capable of rational thought should be mindful of their actions.
Can be an innocent bystander
The singer encourages people to take responsibility for their actions instead of remaining passive observers.
Trial comes before truth's revealed
The singer believes that it is not always easy or comfortable to confront the truth, but that it is necessary in order to make changes for the better.
You and me -- we are the break in the broken wheel
The singer believes that individual people can rise above the chaos and dysfunction of the world, becoming a force for positive change.
Bleeding wound that will not heal
The pain and suffering of the world persist and will continue to do so until significant change is made.
Lord, spit on our eyes so we can see
The artist seeks clarity and understanding in the midst of the darkness and confusion of the world.
How to wake up from this tragedy
The singer desires a way for humanity to end the cycle of destruction and begin to rebuild and heal.
Can't be an innocent bystander
The singer emphasizes their earlier point that individuals should take responsibility for their actions instead of remaining passive observers.
In a world of pain and fire and steel
The artist acknowledges that the world can be a hostile and unforgiving place, but still calls on people to take actions that can make it better.
Way out on the rim of the broken wheel
The title, repeated throughout the song, refers to the artist's feeling of being on the edge of a world that is spinning out of control, but also offers a sense of hopeful possibility for change.
Contributed by Henry F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.