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."
Loner
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shark grins and sandpaper conversation
Men's faces women's bodies on the magazine stand
And a headline about Sarajevo and Tehran
They are radiant angels, they are earthly slaves
They are predators moving in their endless days
Days of striving, nights of novocaine
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
Wild shadows, acid verbs
Eyelids opening dans mon coeur
Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres*
In the elevator and the empty hall
How am I ever going to hear you when you call
I'm always living and I always die
on the event horizon of your eyes
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
* TRANSLATION:
Wild shadows acid verbs
Eyelids opening in my heart
You touch me like the pressure
Of the stars on the darkness
The lyrics of "Loner" by Bruce Cockburn appear to be a commentary on the isolation and despondency felt by many people in contemporary society, particularly those who feel out of place or marginalized. The bus station, filled with lurid magazines, is a symbol of the cheap and superficial distractions that people use to avoid confronting the reality of their situation. The "radiant angels" and "earthly slaves" are two sides of the same coin, embodying both the desire for transcendence and the limitations imposed by the material world. The singer of the song professes to be a "loner," someone who sees the world from a standpoint of solitude and estrangement, but paradoxically discovers a sense of connection and meaning through his love for someone else. The cosmic imagery of "wild shadows" and "pressure of the stars" suggests a sense of wonder and awe at the mystery of existence, even amidst the mundane struggles of daily life.
The song is notable for its rich and evocative language, which blends together elements of surrealism, romance, and social critique. The juxtaposition of "shark grins" and "sandpaper conversation" creates a vivid image of the seediness and banality of urban life, while the French phrase "dans mon coeur" adds a touch of exoticism and sophistication. The repeating refrain of "I'm a loner, with a loner's point of view" emphasizes the sense of alienation and disconnection that pervades the song, but the final line, "and now I'm in love with you," offers a glimmer of hope and salvation. In sum, "Loner" is a complex and multifaceted work of poetic expression that captures the contradictions and ambiguities of modernity.
Line by Line Meaning
Down at the bus station
At the location of transportation for the masses
Shark grins and sandpaper conversation
People's faces show predatory smiles and their talks are rough and harsh
Men's faces women's bodies on the magazine stand
Pictures of men and women with unrealistic body standards on the cover of magazines on display
And a headline about Sarajevo and Tehran
News of conflict and war happening in different parts of the world
They are radiant angels, they are earthly slaves
People are both divine beings and bound by the limitations of the physical world
They are predators moving in their endless days
People act as hunters in their daily lives
Days of striving, nights of novocaine
Times of making an effort are followed by periods of numbness and lack of emotion
Never going to bring them freedom from their pain
These behaviors won't lead to liberation from suffering
I'm a loner
I am someone who tends to be alone
With a loner's point of view
I have a particular outlook that stems from being solitary
And now I'm in love with you
Despite being a loner, I have romantically fallen for someone
Wild shadows, acid verbs
Unpredictable dark areas and harsh language
Eyelids opening dans mon coeur
My heart is becoming more open and attentive
Tu me touche comme la pression
You touch me with a force
Des etoiles sur les tenebres
Of the stars piercing the darkness
In the elevator and the empty hall
In these enclosed spaces with nobody around
How am I ever going to hear you when you call
It can be difficult to listen for and respond to someone's requests
I'm always living and I always die
I exist and then cease to exist, continuously
on the event horizon of your eyes
At the point which separates your iris from your pupil
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
moonlitme
Down at the bus station
Shark grins and sandpaper conversation
Men's faces women's bodies on the magazine stand
And a headline about Sarajevo and Tehran
They are radiant angels, they are earthly slaves
They are predators moving in their endless days
Days of striving, nights of novocaine
Never going to bring them freedom from their pain
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
Wild shadows, acid verbs
Eyelids opening dans mon coeur
Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres*
In the elevator and the empty hall
How am I ever going to hear you when you call
I'm always living and I always die
On the event horizon of your eyes
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
[Translation:]
Wild shadows acid verbs
Eyelids opening in my heart
You touch me like the pressure
Of the stars on the darkness
Geoff Alexander
Hugh Marsh's violin rips through this song like summer lightening over the lake.
rocketpost1
I love this song and can never understand why Bruce Cockburn isn't a huge name. His songs have a unique sound both with guitar
and vocals and he's written loads of great songs. I know he's big in Canada but in the UK, he's probably only got a small following. Maybe Pacing the Cage is his best known song.
blumusik
Heard this song live back in early 80s as a teen. Still one of my fav for sure. Hes a poet and artist.
moonlitme
Down at the bus station
Shark grins and sandpaper conversation
Men's faces women's bodies on the magazine stand
And a headline about Sarajevo and Tehran
They are radiant angels, they are earthly slaves
They are predators moving in their endless days
Days of striving, nights of novocaine
Never going to bring them freedom from their pain
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
Wild shadows, acid verbs
Eyelids opening dans mon coeur
Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres*
In the elevator and the empty hall
How am I ever going to hear you when you call
I'm always living and I always die
On the event horizon of your eyes
I'm a loner
With a loner's point of view
I'm a loner
And now I'm in love with you
[Translation:]
Wild shadows acid verbs
Eyelids opening in my heart
You touch me like the pressure
Of the stars on the darkness
green horn
appreciate the translation- I WAS wondering(yes, I was)
CaapriceTube
so good.
Devon Steinke Art (Games Turned Irrelevant)
Needed this
Skye1234
A loner, i'm in love with you!
William Cross
(C) 1981 Diplomat Records LLC. A Universal Music Group. All rights reserved.
Chinietzche
Hugh Marsh tripping out.