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."
World Of Wonders
Bruce Cockburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darkness alive with possibility
Nose to this wind full of twinkling lights
Trying to catch the scent of what's coming to be (in this)
World of wonders
Somewhere a saxophone slides through changes
Gives me a chill, sounds like danger
But I can't stop moving till I cross this sector (of this)
World of wonders
There's a rainbow shining in a bead of spittle
Falling diamonds in rattling rain
Light flexed on moving muscle
I stand here dazzled with my heart in flames (at this)
World of wonders
Moment of peace like brief arctic bloom
Red-gold ripple of the sun going down
Line of black hills makes my bed
Sky full of love pulled over my head
World of wonders
In Bruce Cockburn's song "World of Wonders," the lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and amazement at the world's boundless beauty and complexity. In the first verse, the singer stands on a bridge, gazing out into the darkness and attempting to discern the future. He is aware of the potentiality of the unknown, and he is eager to discover what is coming.
As the song progresses, the singer is drawn to a saxophone's sound, which he describes as dangerous but compelling. He cannot resist the urge to keep moving through this "sector" of the world of wonders. The lyrics continue to describe the beauty that the singer observes, from a rainbow shining in a bead of spittle to the light flexed on moving muscle. The stunning visuals leave the singer's heart in flames, and he is overwhelmed by the glamour and splendor of it all.
The final verse brings about a sense of peace and tranquility. The singer experiences a moment of calm amidst the chaos of the world, with a red-gold ripple of the sun going down and a line of black hills as his bed. The sky is full of love as he reflects on the beauty that surrounds him.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand on a bridge before the cavern of night
I am standing on a bridge, imagining the endless possibilities that exist in the darkness of the night.
Darkness alive with possibility
The darkness is full of hidden opportunities and potential.
Nose to this wind full of twinkling lights
I am inhaling the fresh air that is full of shining lights.
Trying to catch the scent of what's coming to be
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of something exciting that I can sense in the air.
World of wonders
All of the amazing and remarkable things in the world that are full of awe and wonder.
Somewhere a saxophone slides through changes
I hear a saxophone playing, improvising and changing its melody in an unpredictable way.
Like a wet pipe dripping down my neck
The sound of the saxophone sends shivers down my spine, like water dripping down my neck.
Gives me a chill, sounds like danger
The music is thrilling and adventurous, perhaps a little frightening, but I cannot resist it.
But I can't stop moving till I cross this sector
I cannot help but keep going forward, eager to explore this new territory and immerse myself in its wonders.
There's a rainbow shining in a bead of spittle
Even tiny, seemingly insignificant things like drops of spit can contain beautiful rainbows of color and light.
Falling diamonds in rattling rain
The rain is shimmering with shimmering diamonds, falling like precious jewels from the sky.
Light flexed on moving muscle
The light reflects and shimmers on the physical movements of living creatures, creating a mesmerizing effect.
I stand here dazzled with my heart in flames
All of the beauty and wonder around me is leaving me breathless and emotionally on fire with joy and excitement.
Moment of peace like brief arctic bloom
The peace I feel in this moment is delicate and fleeting, like a small blossom in the arctic that only appears briefly.
Red-gold ripple of the sun going down
The sunset is creating a ripple of warm red and golden tones, signaling the end of the day.
Line of black hills makes my bed
I am lying down, resting in a bed made of the silhouette of black hills in the distance.
Sky full of love pulled over my head
As I drift off to sleep, I am surrounded by the sky, which is full of love and all of the wonder that the world possesses.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr
Bruce himself the unsung hero, yet highly honored Canadian (Order of Canada) Champion for the advocacy for human rights, the marginalized & the environment ; highly gifted singer songwriter talent, yet largely underappreciated on the world stage.
@brucecockburn5025
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thanks for watching and commenting on my YouTube channel God bless you🤗🌞 hope you don’t stop with your love and support❤️👑✏✒✏kindly drop your email address or WhatsApp contact below for more details about my upcoming album🎊 , 💫Tour or Concert🎄 🎹🎙🎷🎷🎷🎤🎻🥁🎚💛🎷🎷🎷✨💯.........
@craighemstreet4137
I think it was the fall of '78. We had just returned to Humboldt State after summer break. A few of my friends met and Jeff said "I've got something you're going to love, Craig". He then proceeded to place Dancing in the Dragon's Jaw on the turntable. The first I ever heard of Bruce was "Creation Dream". 40+ years later, he is still my favorite. Thanks Jeff!
@TheUrbanFarmer11
I discovered Bruce's music when I was18, still in high school in 79'. My sister took me a to a small show on campus in Calgary and I was hooked. Dancing in the Dragon's jaw was a hugely influential album for me as well. A few years later I was on a long cycling trip down the Oregon and California coast. Another cyclist around my age found out I was Canadian and asked me - "Hey do you know about Bruce Cockburn's music 'cause you kind of look like him." Of course I told him of my Bruce love affair and then he proceded to tell me he had been in the hospital a year ago, not far from death by cancer. A friend brought him the Dragon's Jaw album and he played it non stopped. He credited the album for saving his life, touching his spirit deeply and calling him back to live in this world. He too became a BC convert. How many of us have been so positively and so deeply impacted by this man's work?
@davidbentley145
Bravo Brother Bruce...Ty for all the yrs of pure Love!
@miles6593
I take the time to wonder about this world of wonders ... in search of a truth ...
which God already knows ... but which I have yet to discover for myself .
There is nothing which tickles my fancy more ... than to discover a truth about this wondrous world .
Bruce's song " World of Wonders " sends me down that path of discovery every time .
@octaneartllc
As if he sang this song straight to my soul.
He put the quarter in the juke box of my spirit and hit the button...
A song so magical it defines what the song is about...
Without God what would there be... how would it be.. For a man to define that in a song... and speak to those who listen...
To be present to experience this...
A miracle in this world of wonders..
Not a moment taken for granted..
@phillipkampman621
Very well expressed, so poignant. The power of music, what a wonder.
@thomasreinhardt1683
Yes indeed!
We stand here dazzled with our heart in flames as well!
@guytitanic
Bruce is one of the Wonders of the world.