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."
Open
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your signals seem to fly
Keep it open
Keep it open
And help me keep mine open too
Some will lie behind
But we needn't be unkind
Keep it open
And help me keep mine open too
Sun stoned in the east
In our eyes, let there be peace
Keep it open
Keep it open
And help me keep mine open too
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's song "Open" appear to be a call for openness and understanding in a world that often seems to be rushing by, with thoughts and signals flying past us so quickly that it is hard to know what to think or feel. The repeated refrain of "Keep it open / And help me keep mine open too" seems to be an appeal for mutual empathy and connection, even when there is disagreement or conflict.
The second verse suggests that there may be things that some people leave behind or hide, but that this needn't lead to unkindness or division. Instead, the song seems to be suggesting that if we can all just try to stay open to each other and to the world, we might find peace and understanding even in the midst of chaos.
The reference to the "sun stoned in the east" is a somewhat cryptic one, but seems to suggest that even when things seem impossibly bright or overwhelming, we can still find a way to connect with each other and to work towards a common goal of peace and understanding.
Overall, then, "Open" seems to be a song about the power of openness and empathy to transcend the noise and confusion of the world around us, and to help us find meaning and connection in even the most difficult and challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
When thoughts rush by
When thoughts come flooding into our minds
And your signals seem to fly
And when the world around you moves quickly and it can be hard to keep up
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
And help me keep mine open too
Encourage me to stay open and receptive to the world around me
Some will lie behind
Some thoughts and memories may stay in the past
But we needn't be unkind
But we don't have to be harsh or unforgiving about the things we leave behind
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
And help me keep mine open too
Encourage me to stay open and receptive to the world around me
Sun stoned in the east
The sun rises in the east, sometimes looking like it's stoned (slow-moving)
In our eyes, let there be peace
May we find peace in everything we see and experience
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
Keep it open
Stay open to the world and all that it has to offer
And help me keep mine open too
Encourage me to stay open and receptive to the world around me
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Instrumental
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kennewicksheri
"I never live with balance
I wanna feel you near me
There's an aching in my hipbone
Wanna let my heart drop open
It's daylight in the city
There's thumping in the stairwell"
OOh yes.... I awoke today with an aching in my hipbone
and wondering where it came from
THEN .. just heard this song on Radio Paradise...
and I knew
@999manman
Found this on a college radio station...also thanks to Shazam for the artist info!
@vincenewton9282
Sometimes there are no words... just beauty.
@kernelmoses1170
The boss's boss, Bruce.
@aitechnasus1041
This Is A Great Song.
@moonlitme
kundalini sunrise....oh yeah!
@waltdunn2
Genius
@dnmcfall
A favorite
@philness76
Great song can realt to it
@dnmcfall
Aching in my hip bone
@kennewicksheri
"I never live with balance
I wanna feel you near me
There's an aching in my hipbone
Wanna let my heart drop open
It's daylight in the city
There's thumping in the stairwell"
OOh yes.... I awoke today with an aching in my hipbone
and wondering where it came from
THEN .. just heard this song on Radio Paradise...
and I knew