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."
Waiting For The Moon
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts buzzing like flies around meat
Land here -- land there --
Quick circles in the air
I'm riding smooth but just a little slow
Waiting for the moon to show
Leather-faced old men by the cafe wall
I gaze through curved lens
Trying to identify the sky's end
Little spots on the horizon into gunboats grow
Waiting for the moon to show
Might be a party -- might be a war
When those faceless sailors come ashore
Speculation is a waste of time
You want to go have a glass of wine?
Whatever's coming, there's no place else to go
Waiting for the moon to show
In "Waiting For The Moon", Bruce Cockburn paints a picture of a scene by the beach at night. The opening lines describe the singer's physical state - his body lines are fluid, implying that he is relaxed, but the static heat suggests that he is uncomfortable. His thoughts are buzzing like flies around meat, showing that he is restless and cannot focus. The repeated refrain, "Waiting for the moon to show", shows the singer's hopeful anticipation for something that will change his current state.
The singer then describes the people around him - leather-faced old men by the cafe wall and kids in the surf splashing with a soccer ball. The singer is looking through a curved lens, indicating that he has a distorted view of the world around him. He is trying to identify the sky's end, as if searching for a boundary or limit to his current state. Little spots on the horizon grow into gunboats, suggesting that a disturbance or change is on the horizon. The refrain "Waiting for the moon to show" is repeated, highlighting that the singer is waiting for a change that he hopes will bring relief.
Line by Line Meaning
Body lines fluid in static heat
My body feels limp and languid in this oppressive and still atmosphere.
Thoughts buzzing like flies around meat
My mind is racing and scattered, like flies frantically swarming around decaying flesh.
Land here -- land there -- Quick circles in the air
I'm flying in a circular pattern, looking for a place to land and feeling lost and disoriented.
I'm riding smooth but just a little slow Waiting for the moon to show
I'm making slow but steady progress, and waiting patiently for the night to arrive.
Leather-faced old men by the cafe wall Kids in the surf splashing with a soccer ball
I see old men with weathered faces hanging out by the cafe, and children playfully splashing in the surf with a soccer ball.
I gaze through curved lens Trying to identify the sky's end
I'm peering through a convex lens, trying to discern where the sky meets the sea.
Little spots on the horizon into gunboats grow Waiting for the moon to show
Tiny specks on the distant horizon gradually become recognizable as menacing gunboats, as I eagerly await the moon's appearance.
Might be a party -- might be a war When those faceless sailors come ashore
I'm uncertain whether the sailors I'm seeing will be coming to celebrate or to wage war.
Speculation is a waste of time You want to go have a glass of wine?
I realize that pondering the sailors' intentions is pointless, and suggest shifting focus to enjoying a drink together.
Whatever's coming, there's no place else to go Waiting for the moon to show
Regardless of what happens, there is no escape or alternatives, so I continue waiting for darkness to descend.
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tallen Pelegrin
Still one of my favorite songs of all-time.
Robert Davidson
U have excellent taste in music sir!
Rayle Roads
Bruce's songs can be like a time machine - strap in, set the controls for "time and place unknown," press "launch" and let the sound & story take you somewhere you've never been - lush, foreign, lovely, treacherous...
Robert Davidson
I play this song and some of Bruces other songs added to my sets of originals...its really beautiful never get tired this one!Met him October 2019 someone took our pic together for me one of the most memorable moments my life though short!
Tallen Pelegrin
Wow, how I'd love to have a photo with Bruce. What a treasure that would be. He's been my favorite musician since, well since this album. I became a fan when I discovered his music after hearing "Wondering Where the Lions Are", even though that song in particular I wouldn't call one of my favorites. But all my favorites of his wouldn't fit onto 4 CDs, I know for a fact.
Bluey Grifter
Stunning. Love this.
udo reitz
When Those Faceless Sailors....