The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
First Recollection
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
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Black iron steam engine covered in ice
Like some Precambrian monster
Moaning and snorting
Nothing was ever going to beat that beast
In a fair fight
I've sat and watched the woodpiles
Now I'm sitting, smelling summer burn through the fall
Winter's coming on, days getting dreary
And I'm thinking this is the season
That I leave you all
I've heard a man in crisis
Falls back on what he knows best,
A murderer to murder
A thief to theft
And I don't want you to think
That this is some kind of deathbed confession
But run is what I did when put to the test
My first recollection is a day in December
747 tracing lines through the sky
Like some old gypsy curse
Silently preying upon the dreams of those
Who jealously watch life pass by
I've sat and watched my troubles
Pile through the summer
Now I'm sitting, hearing my youngest cry
Down the hall
Winter's coming on, days getting dreary
And I'm thinking this is the season
That I leave you all
I've heard that the son must bear
The burdens of the father
But it's the daughter that is left
To clean up the mess
And I don't want you to think
That I'm asking for absolution,
But run is what I did when put to the test
The Cowboy Junkies’ song "First Recollection" seems to be an introspective reflection on memories and leaving. The opening verse takes us to a time in the past when the singer was a child and saw a black iron steam engine in winter, which looked like a prehistoric monster coming out of the past. This sight was so impressive that nothing could ever beat that beast in a fair fight, symbolizing the nostalgia and longing that we all feel as we age. The second verse speaks of the memories growing through the summer and the realization that winter is coming, and with it, the season to leave everything behind. The chords and melody of the song add to the melancholic mood.
The final verse is a contemplation about the burdens that sons and daughters are forced to bear. The singer admits to running away when put to the test and doesn't ask for absolution. The song is a reminder of how memories can be evocative and create an emotional yearning within us. Sometimes we wish we could go back and relive a specific moment from our childhood, but we can't. And so, we are left to wonder, ponder and reflect.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection on life - on memories, growing up and leaving things behind. The lyrics and the music combine perfectly to create a powerful and moving experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
My first recollection is a day in December
I remember a winter day when I was young
Black iron steam engine covered in ice
I saw a steam train covered in frost
Like some Precambrian monster
It looked like a prehistoric creature
Moaning and snorting
It made loud, deep noises
Nothing was ever going to beat that beast
It was the most impressive thing I had seen
In a fair fight
It was unbeatable by anything that was fair
I've sat and watched the woodpiles
I have observed wood being chopped and piled
Grow through the summer
This happened during the summer months
Now I'm sitting, smelling summer burn through the fall
I'm currently sitting and reminiscing about summer fading away
Winter's coming on, days getting dreary
It's getting colder and gloomier as winter is approaching
And I'm thinking this is the season
I'm considering that now is the time
That I leave you all
To leave everyone behind
I've heard a man in crisis
I once heard about a man in trouble
Falls back on what he knows best,
He turns to things he's familiar with
A murderer to murder
A killer will kill again
A thief to theft
A thief will steal more
And I don't want you to think
I hope you don't misunderstand
That this is some kind of deathbed confession
This is not a confession before dying
But run is what I did when put to the test
But I ran away when I was tested
747 tracing lines through the sky
I watched a big airplane leaving a trail in the sky
Like some old gypsy curse
It seemed like a mysterious and ominous event
Silently preying upon the dreams of those
It affected people's hopes and aspirations without a sound
Who jealously watch life pass by
People who envy others being successful or happy
I've sat and watched my troubles
I've witnessed my problems accumulate
Pile through the summer
This happened over the summer months
Now I'm sitting, hearing my youngest cry
Currently, I'm listening to my child's tears
Down the hall
Probably in a different room
I've heard that the son must bear
It's been said that the son needs to endure
The burdens of the father
The son should carry the responsibilities of his dad
But it's the daughter that is left
However, it's typically the daughter who ends up
To clean up the mess
Cleaning up the troubles
And I don't want you to think
I don't want you to assume
That I'm asking for absolution,
I'm not looking for forgiveness
But run is what I did when put to the test
But I ran away when I was tested
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL TIMMINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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