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."
Call It The Sundance
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
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Hemispheres of sparks, eyes that won’t close
Observe and doing change all things
Falls through Love objects
this gathering of accidents
into dynastic triumph of things
I long for dawn at end of mind
Traveling light deluge of birth and death
quiver of events trembling to be
Shot into the face of time
Call it the Sundance
Everything you do, everything you say
Whether false or true
in some kind of way, touches something
Everything you take, everything you leave
Every move you make
Pulls the fabric of the weave of everything
Call it the Sundance
Everything you do, everything you say
Whether false or true
in some kind of way, touches something
Everything you take, everything you leave
Every move you make
Pulls the fabric of the weave of everything
Call it the Sundance
Bruce Cockburn's lyrics in "Call It The Sundance" are both abstract and profound. The song is about interconnectedness and the way in which everything we do affects the world around us. The first verse speaks to the intricacy of thought and the universe, describing how even the tiniest insect glint can trigger an entire chain of events. It also hints at the notion that everything is cyclical - the closed eyes mentioned may represent the cyclical nature of life.
The second verse delves into the idea that everything is connected by exploring how even accidents and chance events can lead to something greater, even a dynastic triumph. The yearning for dawn at the end of the mind could represent enlightenment or peaceful acceptance of the truth that everything is connected.
The chorus ties everything together, repeating the titular phrase. It emphasizes the idea that all actions, no matter how small, have a ripple effect on the world around us. The metaphor of a Sundance is used to evoke the idea of a communal dance or ceremony where everyone is connected and each action affects the whole.
Overall, "Call It The Sundance" is a deeply introspective and existential song that encourages listeners to consider how their actions affect the world they live in. It encourages us all to take responsibility for our impact and consider our place in the interconnected universe.
Line by Line Meaning
Under the skin insect glint is shot thoughts
Beneath the surface of our beings, ideas flash like lightning bugs
Hemispheres of sparks, eyes that won’t close
Two halves of the brain ignite with electric pulses, never settling down
Observe and doing change all things
Simply watching and acting can transform the world around us
Falls through Love objects
Falling in love with material possessions
this gathering of accidents
Our lives are a collection of coincidences and mishaps
into dynastic triumph of things
But we can turn those random events into monumental victories
I long for dawn at end of mind
It's our hope to reach enlightenment, but it's a long journey
Traveling light deluge of birth and death
The journey is fleeting like a flash flood of birth and death
quiver of events trembling to be
The uncertainty of the future is unnerving
Shot into the face of time
But we must take bold actions that propel us forward
Everything you do, everything you say
Our actions and words have implications beyond what we may understand
Whether false or true
Regardless of our intentions or honesty
in some kind of way, touches something
Our every move has a ripple effect on the interconnectedness of the world
Everything you take, everything you leave
Everything we do has a consequence, whether we realize it or not
Every move you make
Every choice we make has an impact
Pulls the fabric of the weave of everything
We are threads in the tapestry of existence, and our actions help shape it
Call it the Sundance
This is what it means to be alive and dance with the universe
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sonja Adamson
LinnDrum