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."
Tokyo
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
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Noise and smoke and concrete seem to be going on forever
Grinding gears and drivers getting high on exhaust
I'm thinking about the water down below and what got lost
Pachinko jingle and space torpedo beams
Comic book violence and escaping steam
Grey suited business men pissing against the wall
Oh Tokyo, I never can sleep in your arms
Mind keeps on ringing like a fire alarm
Me and all these other dice bouncing around in the cup
Did you have to show me that accident scene
Didn't I get enough shaking up?
Still I'm gonna miss you
Dragon of good fortune struggles with the trickster fox
Energy and patience and the power of the buck
Tonight I'm flying headlong
To meet the dark red edge of dawn
I know somebody will be crying
And somebody will be gone
Oh Tokyo, I never can sleep in your arms
Mind keeps on ringing like a fire alarm
Me and all these other dice bouncing around in the cup
Did you have to show me that accident scene
Didn't I get enough shaking up?
Still I'm gonna miss you
The lyrics of Bruce Cockburn's song Tokyo paint a vivid picture of the bustling Japanese city, with its noise and chaos, contrasting with the serenity of the river below. The opening of the song describes a car being pulled out of the river, while the noise and smoke of the city continue without end. Cockburn reflects on the contrast between the hectic world above and the lost treasures that may be submerged below. The descriptive language used in the song, particularly in the lines "Pachinko jingle and space torpedo beams / Comic book violence and escaping steam," conveys the sensory overload that Tokyo can often produce.
Throughout the song, Cockburn seems to be struggling with conflicting emotions about Tokyo. On the one hand, he is mesmerized by the city's energy and allure, but on the other, he is disoriented and exhausted by its relentless pace. He uses the metaphor of dice bouncing around in a cup to convey the feeling of being jostled around and never finding solid ground. The reference to the accident scene suggests that the hectic environment of Tokyo can be dangerous and unsettling.
The final verse depicts the struggle between good and evil as a dragon of good fortune battles a trickster fox. The energy, patience, and power that Cockburn attributes to these mythical creatures speak to the challenges of navigating Tokyo's frenetic pace. The final lines of the verse ominously hint at a darker future, suggesting that someone will be lost.
Line by Line Meaning
They're getting prepared to haul a car out of the river
There is an ongoing activity to retrieve a car from the river
Noise and smoke and concrete seem to be going on forever
The surroundings are filled with constant noise, pollution, and buildings
Grinding gears and drivers getting high on exhaust
Drivers are breathing in toxic fumes and causing damage to the environment
I'm thinking about the water down below and what got lost
The artist is reflecting on the polluted water and the wreckage that was lost
Pachinko jingle and space torpedo beams
The sounds of the city include arcade music and futuristic sound effects
Comic book violence and escaping steam
There is violence depicted in popular culture and industrial steam is ever-present
Grey suited business men pissing against the wall
Corporate workers are disrespecting public spaces with their behavior
Cut to crumbling guardrail, slow motions car fall
The scene shifts to a damaged guardrail and a car falling in slow motion
Oh Tokyo, I never can sleep in your arms
The artist can never find peace in the city
Mind keeps on ringing like a fire alarm
The artist's mind is buzzing with noise and chaos
Me and all these other dice bouncing around in the cup
The singer feels like they and everyone else are just pieces being tossed around by the city
Did you have to show me that accident scene
The artist wishes they hadn't witnessed the car accident
Didn't I get enough shaking up?
The singer has already had their fill of chaos and destruction
Still I'm gonna miss you
Despite everything, the singer will feel a sense of loss when leaving Tokyo
Dragon of good fortune struggles with the trickster fox
A metaphor for the struggle between positive and negative forces
Energy and patience and the power of the buck
Success in Tokyo requires a combination of hard work, patience, and money
Tonight I'm flying headlong
The artist is moving forward and determined
To meet the dark red edge of dawn
The singer is looking towards the future, even though it may not be bright
I know somebody will be crying
The singer is aware that there will be sadness and pain associated with their departure
And somebody will be gone
The artist is acknowledging that leaving Tokyo is a goodbye to certain things, including people
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dannymcnamara2554
Bruce Cockburn songs ... timeless masterpieces.
@brucewayne3602
absolutely
@LorenSweet-wk4vr
Saw Bruce 1 yr ago he was 77. The show was outstanding even though he did not do this song 😢.
@brucewayne3602
longevity with brilliance !!!
@andrewpetrie2103
Eddie Van said ask Bruce 🥰
@TheFranceschinian
"My mind - keeps on - ringing like the fire alarm."
@williamcross8894
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