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."
Up on This Hillside
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
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Out in the alley hear the hungry dog whine
You and I, friend, sit waiting for a sign
See how the sunset makes the lake look like wine
Over the mountain I can hear myself called
I want to come running but my window's too small
The cliffs are so high and I might fall
What were you saying oh, it's nothing at all
Buick's get bigger and five cents costs a dime
I must get going, you know, there's not much time
The road is waiting and I'm running out of rhyme
Up on the hillside, see how the cross does shine
The lyrics to Bruce Cockburn's song "Up on This Hillside" present a complex and highly introspective perspective on the state of the world and the way in which we navigate our own lives within it. The opening lines of the song juxtapose the image of the shining cross with the sound of a hungry dog whining, setting up a contrast between the ethereal and the grounded, the divine and the animalistic. This contrast carries through the rest of the song, as Cockburn's narrator describes his own desire to answer a call coming from over the mountain, but finding himself held back by his own physical limitations.
The lyrics also address the political and social upheaval of the time, with the references to the world in convulsions and the shifting economic landscape (with Buicks getting bigger and prices rising). Ultimately, though, the song seems to be less about making any grand statements about the state of things and more about a personal feeling of restlessness and the struggle to find one's way in a world that often seems overwhelming and confusing. The closing lines about the road waiting and the singer running out of rhyme underscore this sense of urgency and the need to keep moving forward, even when the path ahead is unclear.
Line by Line Meaning
Up on the hillside you can see the cross shine
From this elevated position, one can clearly see the shining symbol of Christianity, the cross.
Out in the alley hear the hungry dog whine
Beyond this safe and protected place, a dog expresses its hunger and suffering in a mournful vocalization.
You and I, friend, sit waiting for a sign
The singer and their companion sit in expectation of a significant indication, possibly from a higher power or a moment of clarity.
See how the sunset makes the lake look like wine
The natural phenomenon of the setting sun casts a rich, reddish hue upon the water, reminiscent of the color of red wine.
Over the mountain I can hear myself called
From afar, the artist senses a beckoning, perhaps a call to action or adventure.
I want to come running but my window's too small
Despite desire and longing, the limited perspective of the singer's current situation is a barrier to pursuing that which they hear.
The cliffs are so high and I might fall
The danger and uncertainty of the path ahead is represented by the cliffs, which pose a risk of falling or failure.
What were you saying oh, it's nothing at all
The artist requests repetition of their companion's statement, only to realize it held no significant meaning.
Yes, the world's in convulsions and the weather is fine
Despite turmoil and instability on a global scale, the artist observes calm and pleasant weather.
Buick's get bigger and five cents costs a dime
The passing of time is marked by changes, such as the increasing size of automobiles and inflation of currency.
I must get going, you know, there's not much time
The singer recognizes the urgency of their departure and the limited availability of time.
The road is waiting and I'm running out of rhyme
The path forward is awaiting the artist and their creative expression is becoming depleted and unproductive.
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