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."
Closer To The Light
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swimming deeper into mystery
Here I remain
Only seeing where you used to be
Stared at the ceiling
'Til my ears filled up with tears
Never got to know you
And suddenly you're out of here
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
Walked outside
Summer moon was nearly down
Mist on the fields
Holy stillness all around
Death's no stranger
No stranger than the life I've seen
Still I cried
Still I begged to get you back again
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
The song “Closer to the Light” speaks of the mysteries of life, death, and what lies beyond. The lyrics describe the singer swimming deeper into mystery, while remaining behind in the world, only seeing where someone else used to be. The singer is filled with emotion, staring at the ceiling until his “ears fill up with tears”. The person he lost has gone from one mystery into another, one form of light into another, and one step deeper into darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
There you go
You are venturing further into unknown and complex realms.
Swimming deeper into mystery
Exploring the unknown depths of life.
Here I remain
I am stuck in my own limited perspective of the world.
Only seeing where you used to be
I am unable to embrace the present because I am too focused on the past.
Stared at the ceiling
I am lost in thought, pondering on what could have been.
'Til my ears filled up with tears
My thoughts and emotions are overwhelming.
Never got to know you
I regret that I never truly understood your innermost self.
And suddenly you're out of here
Your departure from life is sudden and unexpected.
Gone from mystery into mystery
You have entered into another realm of the unknown.
Gone from daylight into light
You have transitioned from a life of the mundane to one of the divine.
Another step deeper
Moving closer towards something greater, beyond our understanding.
Into darkness
Entering unknown territory, feeling lost and helpless.
Closer to the light
Drawing closer to the divine, to greater purpose and understanding of life.
Walked outside
Stepping out of my internal world and into reality.
Summer moon was nearly down
The night is drawing to a close, a symbol for life's fleetingness.
Mist on the fields
The world is shrouded in mystery and the unknown.
Holy stillness all around
A sense of sacredness and reverence for life's beauty and complexity.
Death's no stranger
Death is an ever-present reminder of life's fragility.
No stranger than the life I've seen
Life itself can be as perplexing and complicated as death.
Still I cried
I cannot help but mourn your passing.
Still I begged to get you back again
I understand life and death are beyond my control, yet still I plead to bring you back.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RichardFeynmanRules
There you go
Swimming deeper into mystery
Here I remain
Only seeing where you used to be
Stared at the ceiling
'Til my ears filled up with tears
Never got to know you
And suddenly you're out of here
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
Walked outside
Summer moon was nearly down
Mist on the fields
Holy stillness all around
Death's no stranger
No stranger than the life I've seen
Still I cried
Still I begged to get you back again
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
@garygilliam6587
Bruce has always been a great shadow light in music. He is one of the best songwriters of the age and so underappreciated.
Many have outsold him, but rarely have any achieved his talent.
@SteveWarner
A beautiful ode to the passing of Mark Heard.
@thunt9292
A little known fact that makes this song sadly haunting.
@RichardFeynmanRules
There you go
Swimming deeper into mystery
Here I remain
Only seeing where you used to be
Stared at the ceiling
'Til my ears filled up with tears
Never got to know you
And suddenly you're out of here
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
Walked outside
Summer moon was nearly down
Mist on the fields
Holy stillness all around
Death's no stranger
No stranger than the life I've seen
Still I cried
Still I begged to get you back again
Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into light
Another step deeper
Into darkness
Closer to the light
@sighfactor
'Closer to the Light' was my theme song through some dark times that slowly turned beautiful, like a sunrise after a long cold winter night... I'm so glad I saw it through to the dawn.. Thank you, Bruce Cockburn.
@Cinz11
Love this song! Was just introduced to Bruce Cockburn today and feel I've been deprived all my life. Will always think of my uncle, auntie and Canada when I hear this ❤
@terichace7798
You have much beauty and heart and soul to discover in his long career. Godspeed!
@ArtofHappiness33
This song is on the album Dart to the Heart. Some of my favourite albums are Inner City Front, Stealing Fire, Night Vision, Big Circumstance, but he has many more.
@matthewzarris9177
Better late than never, and never have those words rang more true than for the person who finally discovers this genius talent!
I know it took me way too long too, but thank God I found Bruce 10 years ago—it has been a fabulous ride since!
Enjoy!
@john_ford
Skillful mastery of travis picking and lyrical perfection.