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."
See How I Miss You
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
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All the people get strange but their faces look so pretty
All the walking graffiti, survivalist bums
Even the secret police shout that you're the one
See how I miss you?
See how I miss you?
Every psychopath gets his own magazine these days
But I don't want to cause anybody pain
I only want to hold you in my arms again
See how I miss you?
See how I miss you?
I watch this woman in a tight sequined lizard dress
Tosses her scarlet hair like a sly caress
She got a midnight voice like some beckoning saint
She got something special, but you she ain't
See how I miss you?
See how I miss you?
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
Bruce Cockburn's song "See How I Miss You" is a melancholic ballad that touches upon the universal theme of love and missing someone special. The song's opening stanza creates a vivid image of a moonlit city where the people look strange but their faces shine with a peculiar beauty. The inclusion of walking graffiti, survivalist bums and secret police conveys an aura of tension and danger in contrast to the city’s shimmering facade. The repeated line "See how I miss you?" suggests that the singer is experiencing a deep sense of longing and nostalgia for their departed lover.
In the second stanza, Cockburn introduces the image of a psychopath's magazine, and the singer's interior monologue reveals that he only wants to hold his lover again, rather than to inflict any harm on others. This duality of mind is expressed with vivid, evocative language and the contrast between the two ideas creates a sense of longing and desperation. The third and final stanza describes a woman in a tight sequined lizard dress who has a voice like a "beckoning saint" but who isn't as special as the singer's lover. Again, the repeated line "See how I miss you?" underscores the theme of longing.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of missing someone and the feeling of emptiness that arises in their absence. The lyrics are poignant, and the musical arrangement enhances the emotional impact of the words.
Line by Line Meaning
Rays of the moon make magic in the streets of the city
The moonlight casts a mesmerizing spell over the city, captivating everyone who crosses its path.
All the people get strange but their faces look so pretty
The strange behavior of people under the moon's glow is contrasted with their beauty, creating an alluring and mysterious atmosphere in the city.
All the walking graffiti, survivalist bums
The city is populated with graffiti and homeless people who are just trying to survive.
Even the secret police shout that you're the one
Even the authorities seem to be going crazy under the effects of the moonlight, pointing to someone as the cause of this madness.
See how I miss you?
The singer is reminiscing about someone who is no longer with them, wishing they were there to experience this magical moment together.
Every psychopath gets his own magazine these days
The singer is frustrated with the media's glorification and normalization of violence and criminal behavior.
I just read about how I can kill in a hundred ways
The singer is disturbed by the ease with which they can access information about committing violent acts.
But I don't want to cause anybody pain
Despite their disturbing thoughts, the singer has no intention of harming others.
I only want to hold you in my arms again
The singer's true desire is to be reunited with the person they miss so much, seeking comfort and love from their presence.
I watch this woman in a tight sequined lizard dress
The singer observes a woman's alluring appearance, who is dressed in a striking and tight-fitted outfit.
Tosses her scarlet hair like a sly caress
The woman's movements are seductive and mysterious, accentuating her already hypnotic presence.
She got a midnight voice like some beckoning saint
The woman's voice is as alluring and enchanting as her appearance, eliciting a sense of heightened spirituality or divinity in the eyes of the singer.
She got something special, but you she ain't
Despite her unique and captivating qualities, the woman the singer observes is not the same person they miss so much, highlighting the specificity and irreplaceability of that person in the singer's heart.
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
The singer repeats the refrain, emphasizing the depth of their longing and nostalgia for the person they miss dearly.
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
The singer repeats the refrain once more, expressing the same sentiment as before in a melancholic and wistful tone.
See how I miss you? (hey you, hey you)
The singer repeats the refrain one final time, ending the song with a poignant reminder of their undying affection for the one they miss.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BRUCE COCKBURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind