Dust And Diesel
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics

Battered buses jammed up to the roof
The buses are in such poor condition and are filled with so many people that they have exceeded their maximum capacity and passengers are forced to stand on the roof.

Dust and diesel the prevailing themes
The pervasive sights and smells of dust and diesel fuel are common occurrences on the road.

Farmer sleeping on the truck in front
A farmer is asleep on the truck in front of the singer, his feet trailing over the side, as he perhaps dreams of a better life.

Feet trailing over like he's trolling for dreams
The farmer's feet are trailing over the side of the truck as if he is trying to touch his dreams as they pass by.

Smiling girl directing traffic flow
A young girl is cheerfully directing traffic flow along the road, bringing some brightness to the otherwise dreary scene of dust and diesel.

.45 strapped over cotton print dress
The young girl is carrying a gun as she directs traffic along the road, perhaps indicating that she has to take on unexpected responsibilities at a young age.

Marimba-brown and graceful limbs
The girl directing traffic has graceful limbs that are the color of a marimba, a musical instrument often used in Latin American music.

Give me a moment of loneliness
The artist longs for a moment of solitude amidst the chaos and discomfort of the road.

Dust and diesel
The dust and diesel fuel on the road creates a thick haze in the air, rising up like incense from the road.

Rise like incense from the road
The dust and diesel fuel create a thick and pervasive haze in the air that resembles the smoke of an offering or a prayer.

Smoke of offering
The dust and diesel fume haze on the road is like a ritualistic smoke offering for the morning of revolution.

For the revolution morning
The dust and diesel fume haze on the road feels like a foreboding of the upcoming morning of revolution.

Headlights pick out fallen sack of corn
The headlights on the road shine on a fallen sack of corn, drawing attention to the economic struggle and hardship of the people.

One lone tarantula standing guard
A single tarantula stands guard next to the fallen sack of corn, a sign that even creatures accustomed to harsh conditions can find hope and prosperity where it's least expected.

We pull up and stop and she ambles off
The car that the singer is in comes to a stop and the tarantula ambles away, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting hope that lingers in tough situations.

Discretion much the better part of cars
The artist implies that discretion is often a better approach than direct confrontation, especially when dealing with conflicts arising from scarcity and survival.

Rodrigo, the government driver, jumps out
Rodrigo, a government driver, jumps out of his vehicle when he sees the artist's car, perhaps with the hope that they can help him.

He's got chickens who can use the feed
Rodrigo has chickens that are in need of food, or it could be an indirect plea for food, which highlights the harsh economic conditions and the need for resources.

We sweep the asphalt on our hands and knees
The singer and those with him/her are working to gather up the dusty yellow seeds, picking them up with their hands and knees, revealing the harsh manual labor that is often needed to survive.

Fill up his trunk with dusty yellow seeds
The artist and others fill Rodrigo's trunk with the seeds they collected, highlighting the generative potential of the land and the importance of working together for survival.

Guitars and rifles in blue moonlight
In the peaceful blue light of the moon, guns and guitars coexist, representative of the multiple angles of one's struggle for survival, including artistic expression.

Soldiers stretched out on sparkling grass
Even the military personnel rest on the sparkling grass, alluding to a shared humanity and hope for survival, despite the conflict and its consequences.

Engine broke down, they took us in
The car engine breaking down was a blessing in disguise, allowing the singer and their group to be taken in by the soldiers, where they could play music and rest with others on the road.

Now we make music for the time to pass
Given their current situation, the artist and their group make music to keep them company and to pass the time, perhaps as a way of maintaining hope and solidarity.

Tired men and women raise their voice to the night
The men and women on the road are exhausted from their struggles, but still raise their voices in defiance to the night, expressing their hope for a better future.

Hope the fragile bloom they've grown will last
The people on the road are aware that their hopes and dreams for a better future are fragile, but still hold out that their efforts will make a lasting impact.

Pride and passion and love and fear
The people on the road are motivated by complex emotions including pride, passion, love and fear, all which contribute to their struggle for survival.

Burning hearts burning boats of the past
The people on the road have hearts that are burning with a desire to survive and succeed, so they must also abandon any past failings or missed opportunities in order to move on.