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."
The Coldest Night Of The Year
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to keep the latent depression from crystalizing
Now the sun is lurking just behind the Scarborough horizon
And you're not even here
On the coldest night of the year
I took in Yonge street at a glance
Watched the bikers dance
Everybody wishing they could go to the south of France
And you're not even here
On the coldest night of the year
Hey look at me now
See the shape I'm in
It's taken me so long to catch on to what's going on
Inside this skin
When two lovers really love there's nothing there
But this suddenly compact universe
Of skin and breath and hair
I watched the all night TV show
In the all night bar
I drove all the people home
I was the one with the car
Now I'm sitting here alone and sleepless
And wondering where you are
And wishing you were here
On the coldest night of the year
Now I'm sitting here alone and sleepless
And wondering where you are
And wishing you were here
On the coldest night of the year
The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's "The Coldest Night Of The Year" is a reflection of the loneliness and isolation that comes with a cold winter night. He opens the song by describing how he had been up all night "socializing" - trying to keep the depression away but failing. The coming dawn merely signals the end of a long and lonely night. Cockburn then takes us on a journey through Toronto's Yonge street, observing the different characters out late and the sense of ennui that permeates the air. He feels out of place, wanting to be in the south of France with the others. But the central theme continues - his lover is not here, and tonight feels like the coldest night of the year.
The second verse takes a more introspective approach. Cockburn describes himself, the shape he is in, and how it took him a long time to understand what's happening inside his skin. He then speaks about the idea of love itself - how when two people truly love each other, there is nothing except their togetherness in that moment. It's a sudden, compact universe of the senses that transcends everything else. The third verse sees Cockburn drive people back home, leaving him alone and sleepless. He wonders where his lover might be and wishes they were here with him on the coldest night of the year.
Overall, "The Coldest Night Of The Year" is a song about loneliness, love, and the difficulties of living through life's harsher moments. It's not a happy song, but it's one that's filled with an intense beauty that's hard to ignore.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
I was up all night, socializing
I spent the night being around people, trying to avoid my depression from getting worse.
Trying to keep the latent depression from crystalizing
I was attempting to prevent my hidden feelings of sadness from becoming more severe or taking a definite form.
Now the sun is lurking just behind the Scarborough horizon
The sun is close to rising on the horizon of the Scarborough location.
And you're not even here
I feel lonely because you are not present with me.
On the coldest night of the year
It is the most frigid night of the year.
I took in Yonge street at a glance
I swiftly observed Yonge Street.
Heard the punkers playing
I listened to the punk musicians playing music.
Watched the bikers dance
I viewed the movement of the bikers' bodies.
Everybody wishing they could go to the south of France
Everyone hoped to travel to southern France.
Hey look at me now
Pay attention to me currently.
See the shape I'm in
Notice the physical state I am currently in.
It's taken me so long to catch on to what's going on
It has taken me an extended period to comprehend what is happening around me.
Inside this skin
Inside my body.
When two lovers really love there's nothing there
When two individuals fall in love, they exist in a state where no one else exists.
But this suddenly compact universe
They exist in a universe that is suddenly condensed.
Of skin and breath and hair
Consisting of their bodily aspects such as skin, breath, and hair.
I watched the all night TV show
I viewed the TV program that played throughout the night.
In the all night bar
I visited the bar that stayed open all night long.
I drove all the people home
I gave the individuals a ride back to their homes.
I was the one with the car
I was the individual who had a vehicle.
Now I'm sitting here alone and sleepless
Presently, I feel isolated and am experiencing insomnia.
And wondering where you are
I'm feeling curious about your whereabouts.
And wishing you were here
I'm yearning for you to be present with me.
On the coldest night of the year
It is currently the most frigid night of the year.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RamonaMcKean
He sang this song tonight in Victoria, BC, February 2, 2023. He came out on stage, stooped and walking with a cane. Snow white hair and long beard. (He'll be 78 in May.) AND, the same strong, wonderful voice as ever!
@canzuk4711
Our man is a ROCK, a national treasure, a TRUE Canadian in every sense of the word.. Mr Young should take a long look @ Bruce and .... aw 4get it he is not worth the time, MERCI Bruce !
@makeiteasyonurself
He isn’t well known in the US so I only really discovered him in the past year and I hope I get the chance to see him soon! I love his music so much
@canzuk4711
@@makeiteasyonurself you have good taste I see, he is getting on in yrs so I hope you r lucky, I saw him in 1975 the first time here in London, at the University of Western Ontario amazing night, you just knew we were in the presence of an awesome human being and great musician
@makeiteasyonurself
@@canzuk4711 Very jealous, I love his folksier pre-Dragons Jaw 70s stuff. He is so underrated as a guitar player, up there with the best of them. Wish he was as well known as Jackson Browne or Paul Simon in the states, his versatility and songwriting are so enduring!
@canzuk4711
@@makeiteasyonurself Spot on Tr... :)
@abcangirl
I'm from Canada. It never occurred to me to decipher where exactly this song speaks about, but more about the lyrics behind it. The man has travelled the world and seen unspeakable things that no one ever talks about. I love this song.❤ and when two lovers love there's nothing else, but the suddenly compact universe of skin and breath and hair. I wish that for every person on Earth.
@Dana-be1bm
Spent 6 months in hospital last year. Lucky to have a true love waiting for me to return home. This song...I cannot begin to describe it's significance. Thank you Bruce.
@tdunph4250
This might just be one of the 20 best Canadian songs ever written!!!
@noelchong9671
Amen!