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."
Celestial Horses
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rays of the moon in the mountain air
I'm steeped in the steam of the last wild hot spring
Maybe I'm melting but I don't care
There's darkness in the canyon
But the Light comes pounding through
For me and for you
Maybe a silken sky shaken by the wind
The world's in the wake of those whispering horses
But there's always a pillar of cloud on the valley's rim
There's darkness in the canyon
But the Light comes pounding through
For me and for you
Still river full of the depths of the candles
Burning for the free ones riding on the other shore
Even at the heart of these breathing shadows
You can feel us gathering at the door
There's darkness in the canyon
But the Light comes pounding through
For me and for you
For me and for you
"Celestial Horses" is a song by Canadian musician and songwriter Bruce Cockburn. The lyrics evoke images of a mystical, otherworldly landscape, with the singer observing a herd of silver horses running in the moonlight, and feeling himself melding with the natural surroundings. The darkness in the canyon represents the obstacles and challenges of life, but the "Light" represents hope, wisdom, and the possibility of transcendence.
The imagery of the song is rich and evocative, with vivid descriptions of nature and spiritual symbolism woven throughout. The "silver celestial horses" may represent the divine or spiritual realm, while the "pillar of cloud on the valley's rim" could reference the biblical story of the Israelites' escape from Egypt, where a pillar of cloud led them through the wilderness. The candles burning for the free ones riding on the other shore could symbolize enlightenment or liberation from the constraints of mortality.
Overall, "Celestial Horses" seems to suggest that even in the darkest moments, there is always a glimmer of hope, a way forward towards the light. The beauty and wonder of the natural world can act as a guide and a comfort for those who are searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes those silver celestial horses
The arrival of something majestic, possibly divine, is imminent
Rays of the moon in the mountain air
The natural world is imbued with otherworldly elements
I'm steeped in the steam of the last wild hot spring
The singer is surrounded by natural beauty and is content
Maybe I'm melting but I don't care
The artist is so immersed in their surroundings that they feel at one with them
There's darkness in the canyon
Despite the beauty, there is still an underlying sense of danger or uncertainty
But the Light comes pounding through
There is still hope or optimism in the face of adversity
For me and for you
This experience is meant to be shared by everyone, not just the singer
Tomorrow may be a hissing blowtorch
The future is unknown, but it may be difficult or harsh
Maybe a silken sky shaken by the wind
The future may also hold moments of beauty, but they could be fleeting
The world's in the wake of those whispering horses
The events of the present are being influenced by something beyond human comprehension
But there's always a pillar of cloud on the valley's rim
Despite the uncertainty, there is always a guiding light or beacon of hope
Still river full of the depths of the candles
There is a sense of calm and serenity in nature, even in the midst of chaos
Burning for the free ones riding on the other shore
The natural world is connected to something beyond it, a sort of spiritual plane
Even at the heart of these breathing shadows
The beauty and spirituality of the world can be found even in the darkest or most mysterious places
You can feel us gathering at the door
There is a sense of community or togetherness in this shared experience
For me and for you
This experience is meant to be shared by everyone, not just the artist
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Madison Christine
Gorgeous!!!
Eddie Bast
Similar? It is Jackson Browne singing the harmony vocal!
your mother
Get out!!
tarkineWild
It is