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."
One Day I Walk
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And shall be one again
And few the ones with help to lend
Within the world of men
One day I walk in flowers
One day I walk on stones
Today I walk in hours
One day I shall be home
And watched the boot heels shine
And cried out loud and cried out sad
With every voice but mine
One day I walk in flowers
One day I walk on stones
Today I walk in hours
One day I shall be home
One day I shall be home
The lyrics to Bruce Cockburn's song "One Day I Walk" are filled with raw emotion and introspection. The first verse shows the vulnerability of the singer who has been a beggar and expects to go back to being one again. It also laments the lack of compassion from others in the world. The imagery of walking on flowers and stones represents the highs and lows of life, and how the singer is presently walking through time. The final line of the first verse, "one day I shall be home," can be interpreted as a hope for finding a place of comfort and belonging.
The second verse talks about the singer's experiences of sitting on the street corner and watching people pass by. The boot heels shining and the tears show the stark contrast between their own life and the comfortable lives of others. The final line of "every voice but mine" shows the feeling of being unheard and ignored. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the theme of hope for a better future.
The song conveys a powerful message about the human condition and the struggle for survival. It also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion towards those less fortunate. Through the use of strong metaphors and emotive language, the song creates a sense of longing for a better life and a longing for belonging. Ultimately, the song is about hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I have been a beggar
I have experienced poverty and begged for basic necessities.
And shall be one again
And I may experience poverty yet again in the future.
And few the ones with help to lend
There aren't many people who are willing to offer assistance to those in need.
Within the world of men
This is the reality within human society.
One day I walk in flowers
One day, I will experience happiness and joy in life.
One day I walk on stones
One day, I might encounter challenges and hardships in life.
Today I walk in hours
Currently, I am just passing through the time.
One day I shall be home
One day, I will feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in a place that I can call home.
I have sat on the street corner
I have had to sit helplessly and watch others go about their daily lives.
And watched the boot heels shine
And watched people who were wearing nice attire and shoes pass me by.
And cried out loud and cried out sad
I have cried out for help and support, and become overwhelmed with sadness.
With every voice but mine
But nobody listened, and my cries went unheard.
One day I shall be home
One day, I will find the sense of belonging and acceptance that I have always longed for.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BRUCE COCKBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lione en René Kolsteren
This charted at 64 in Canada in 1971. I first heard it during my first visit to Canada in 1971. Still a good song. From his 2nd album 'High winds white sky'. Een van de betere zangers uit de geschiedenis van de popmuziek.
leonard c. middelkamp
Uitstekend !
Hepwa BabaHo
Used to play this on the radio back in the 80's CKYL Peace River. Always loved this tune, one of my faves.
Doug Babiy
Brad Mellesmoen I was in Peace River from 79 to 99 and fell in love with the song when I was delivering a customers vehicle to him. Great times I. PR
Rob Davidson
One my all tiime fave songs
Penicillin : Heroes or Villains ?
quality CCM from the ottawa Valley Bev Shea’d be proud...
Jules Akers
"Today I walk in hours"