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."
Put Our Hearts Together
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't need the cold white heroin breath
Don't need Pizzarro or the Inquisition
No berserk worship of a hero's death
Don't need reactionary politicians
Don't need the gunfight at the O.K.
Don't need no Reverend Paisley hate-masturbation
Don't need no Jihad or no IRA
We need to put our hearts together
Set up a rhythm in combination
And if we put our hearts together
We get a rhythm that will shake creation
Who needs supremacy of pink people
There's no such thing as a pure racial strain
It takes all colours to make a rainbow
Takes every part to make a working brain
The whole of history is a growing together
If you want pure, you're gonna have caves again
Anyway who needs a geek like the Grand Dragon
So full of shit his breath makes acid rain
We need to put our hearts together
Set up a rhythm in combination
And if we put our hearts together
We get a rhythm that will shake creation
Woman-in-kitchen, man-in-palace
Worshipping the performance of the phallus
Gaming for power till their hearts grow callous
As if a human's just an animal with malice
Limp lance, phallocrat, finger on the trigger
Go ahead and stay small while everything gets bigger
It's a bully's game and I don't want to play
Why don't you think about the better way
We need to put our hearts together
Set up a rhythm in combination
And if we put our hearts together
We get a rhythm that will shake creation
The lyrics to Bruce Cockburn's song Put Our Hearts Together are a powerful call for unity and love in the face of bigotry, hatred, and division. Cockburn argues that we do not need the things that have historically driven us apart: expansionist trade, heroin addiction, conquest, and hero worship. He rejects reactionary politics and extremist ideologies, from Reverend Paisley's hate-mongering to the violent Jihad and IRA paramilitaries. Instead, he implores us to come together as one, to put our hearts together in a rhythm of cooperation and mutual support. By doing so, he suggests, we will "shake creation" and create something greater than ourselves.
Cockburn's song is a rallying cry for those who seek to build a world based on compassion, justice, and equity. He challenges us to reject racism and prejudice, reminding us that there is no such thing as a "pure racial strain" and that a rainbow requires many colors. He encourages us to reject gender stereotypes and the violent games of power that often accompany them, urging us to find a better way forward. Ultimately, he sees the solution in human connection, in the power of our shared humanity to bind us together and create a better future.
Overall, Put Our Hearts Together is a stirring and provocative song that challenges us to be our best selves in a world full of negativity and hate. It is a call to action and a reminder that we can do better if we work together with love in our hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't need the everlasting trade expansion
We don't need to constantly expand trade for eternity.
Don't need the cold white heroin breath
We don't need the cold and deadly breath of heroin addiction.
Don't need Pizzarro or the Inquisition
We don't need the conquistadors or the religious persecution and violence of the Inquisition.
No berserk worship of a hero's death
We don't need to idolize and celebrate a hero's violent death.
Don't need reactionary politicians
We don't need politicians who are opposed to progressive or liberal change.
Don't need the gunfight at the O.K.
We don't need the Wild West-style shootout at the O.K. Corral.
Don't need no Reverend Paisley hate-masturbation
We don't need the hateful and obsessive preaching of Reverend Paisley.
Don't need no Jihad or no IRA
We don't need violent extremist organizations like the Jihad or IRA.
We need to put our hearts together
We need to unite and work together as a community.
Set up a rhythm in combination
Establish a harmonious and cooperative momentum.
And if we put our hearts together
If we unite and work together
We get a rhythm that will shake creation
We will create a powerful force for positive change.
Who needs supremacy of pink people
Why should white people aspire to dominance and superiority?
There's no such thing as a pure racial strain
Race is not based on pure genetic traits, it is diverse and constantly evolving.
It takes all colours to make a rainbow
Diversity and inclusion are crucial elements of society.
Takes every part to make a working brain
Individuals of all backgrounds and experiences contribute to the success of society.
The whole of history is a growing together
Throughout history, humanity has grown and evolved together.
If you want pure, you're gonna have caves again
If we strive for racial purity, we will regress to a primitive state.
Anyway who needs a geek like the Grand Dragon
Who needs a foolish and powerless leader like the Grand Dragon?
So full of shit his breath makes acid rain
He is so full of lies and hate that even his breath is toxic.
Woman-in-kitchen, man-in-palace
The traditional gender roles of women being confined to the kitchen and men in positions of power.
Worshipping the performance of the phallus
Focusing on male sexuality and masculinity as the measure of success and power.
Gaming for power till their hearts grow callous
People are competing for power and status to the point where they become indifferent to others' suffering.
As if a human's just an animal with malice
Some people view others as only capable of violence and ill will.
Limp lance, phallocrat, finger on the trigger
A man who lacks virility, is obsessed with power and control, and is ready to use violence.
Go ahead and stay small while everything gets bigger
You can choose to remain selfish and small-minded while the world around you grows and expands.
It's a bully's game and I don't want to play
The pursuit of power and domination is a cruel and hostile game that the singer wants no part of.
Why don't you think about the better way
Why not consider an alternative approach that promotes cooperation and empathy?
Contributed by Grace E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert Davidson
Great album great song met Bruce October 2019