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."
Together Alone
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But all I can see is you
In a crowded subway train
Or walking in the country rain
You're there with me too
Of all the songs sung in any day
Your voice is all I hear
And, finished, quickly fades away
I hear you everywhere
And though I know you won't be pleased
By all that I do
Surely we can find a way
To overlook what you don't like
It's been said many times that we're all by ourselves
And each man is on his own
I don't care, that may be true
I just want to be with you
Together alone
The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's song "Together Alone" express the power of human connection and the longing for the presence of a loved one. The singer describes how, despite being surrounded by various distractions, all he sees is the person he loves. The idea that someone can be with you even in your thoughts while in a crowded place or while walking alone shows how profound their connection is. The singer states that he hears his loved one's voice everywhere, which might imply that they are either not present in his life or have passed away.
The song also reflects the conflicts or dynamics of a relationship. The singer acknowledges that they might not always see eye-to-eye, and that his lover may not be pleased with everything he does. Nevertheless, he hopes that they can find a way to overcome their differences for the sake of their relationship. The phrase "together alone" suggests a certain level of independence and mutual respect in the relationship. It is a remarkable expression of the desire for connection, unity and acceptance within a couple or partnership.
Overall, "Together Alone" speaks to the deep and complex nature of human relationships, and highlights the importance of being with the people one loves, even if they are sometimes at odds with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
So many things to see in this old world
There are numerous things to witness in this old world.
But all I can see is you
Despite the numerous things that can be seen in the world, you're the only thing that I can see.
In a crowded subway train
In a densely-packed subway vehicle,
Or walking in the country rain
Or even while walking in the rain in rural areas,
You're there with me too
You're always walking with me.
Of all the songs sung in any day
Of all the melodies that are played during any given day,
Your voice is all I hear
Your voice is the only thing that's audible to me.
For though each song has its own place
Although each song is special in its own way,
And, finished, quickly fades away
And once it's over, it rapidly vanishes.
I hear you everywhere
I can hear you no matter where I go
And though I know you won't be pleased
Even though I understand that you won't be happy
By all that I do
By everything that I do in my life,
Surely we can find a way
We can certainly find a solution
To overlook what you don't like
To ignore what you don't approve of.
It's been said many times that we're all by ourselves
Many individuals have claimed that we're on our own in this world.
And each man is on his own
Each person is responsible for their destiny.
I don't care, that may be true
I'm not concerned, that misconception may be valid
I just want to be with you
I simply want to be with you, no matter what.
Together alone
Together we'll remain, yet in our unique universe.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aurelio Gago
great album of 1970
George Gray
Good music; too bad you criticize other people's taste in music