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."
Festival Of Friends
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the palace falls and the parlour's gone
We all must leave but it's not the end
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
Smiles and laughter and pleasant times
There's love in the world but it's hard to find
I'm so glad I found you -- I'd just like to extend
Some of us live and some of us die
Someday God's going to tell us why
Open your heart and grow with what life sends
That's your ticket to the festival of friends.
Like an imitation of a good thing past
These days of darkness surely will not last
Jesus was here and he's coming again
To lead us to his festival of friends.
Black snake highway -- sheet metal ballet
It's just so much snow on a summer day
Whatever happens, it's not the end
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
The lyrics to Bruce Cockburn's song Festival Of Friends are an ode to friendship and the importance of cherishing and honoring the people in our lives who bring joy and goodness. The song acknowledges that life can be difficult and dark at times, but in these moments it is the bonds of friendship that sustain us and offer hope for the future. Cockburn describes the transience of life but also the enduring strength of connection, likening life to a memorable festival that will always draw us back together.
The opening lines of the song suggest that an "elegant song" may not be enough to sustain us when life falls apart. Although beauty and art can inspire and uplift us, they can also be fleeting in the face of adversity. The next few lines shift the focus to friendship and the idea that while we all must leave this world eventually, the connections we create with others will endure even beyond our own lifetimes. The invitation to the festival of friends is an invitation to celebrate these connections and cherish the moments of joy and love they bring.
The song goes on to acknowledge the difficult and painful realities of life, such as death and suffering, but also encourages listeners to open their hearts to whatever life brings. This is our "ticket" to the festival of friends - an attitude of openness, curiosity and willingness to grow and connect with others. The final verse touches on the transient nature of life again, but also offers a message of hope and renewal, with the arrival of Jesus symbolizing a new beginning and a return to the festival of friends.
Overall, Festival Of Friends is a song about gratitude, resilience, and the power of human connection in the face of darkness and uncertainty. It offers a message of hope and encouragement to listeners, reminding us that even in tough times, the bonds of friendship and community can sustain us and offer a path towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
An elegant song won't hold up long
A song that only relies on surface-level pleasantries will not last forever.
When the palace falls and the parlour's gone
When we lose our material possessions or material comforts, we must find other ways to connect.
We all must leave but it's not the end
Death is not the end. We will continue to live on in the memories of those who loved us and in the greater universe.
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
There will be a place where we can all be together and rejoice in our shared humanity.
Smiles and laughter and pleasant times
The simple pleasures of life bring us joy.
There's love in the world but it's hard to find
Love is an essential human need, but sometimes it's difficult to find.
I'm so glad I found you -- I'd just like to extend
It's important to cherish the relationships we have and show our appreciation for the people in our lives.
An invitation to the festival of friends.
Come join us in celebrating friendship and community.
Some of us live and some of us die
Life is a mix of birth and death, and we must learn to accept both as natural parts of existence.
Someday God's going to tell us why
The reason behind the cycle of life and death is unknown to us, but we trust that there is a higher purpose.
Open your heart and grow with what life sends
Be open to all experiences, good and bad, and learn and grow from them.
That's your ticket to the festival of friends.
By embracing life's ups and downs, we can live a fulfilling life and connect with others at the festival of friends.
Like an imitation of a good thing past
Times may be tough now, but we know that happiness and goodness will come again.
These days of darkness surely will not last
We must keep faith that a brighter future is on the horizon.
Jesus was here and he's coming again
The promise of a savior's return is a source of hope for many people.
To lead us to his festival of friends.
Jesus will be the guide who brings us all together at the festival of friends.
Black snake highway -- sheet metal ballet
Life can be chaotic and painful sometimes, like a dance of dangerous and unpredictable elements.
It's just so much snow on a summer day
Sometimes life presents us with unexpected challenges that don't make sense.
Whatever happens, it's not the end
No matter what setbacks we face in life, we must remember that it's never the end of our story.
We'll meet again at the festival of friends.
We will find our way to the festival of friends, where we can all be together and happy once again.
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Carpenter
I can think of no more beautiful song of faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Paul Dominic
From one of my favorite albums of all time! In The Falling Dark. Thanks, Bruce.
Skye1234
Thank you so much for uploading this song, its one of my favorites of his.
iohannesfactotum
Had this song on an old cassette of my Dad's.
Mountain Angel, "All In a Day's Work"
Mario Cantella
Nel 1976 grazia e bellezza si sono dati appuntamento per colorare aria e animi.