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.
Helpless
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With dream comfort memory to spare,
And in my mind I still need a place to go,
All my changes were there.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow Moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
Yellow Moon on the rise,
Big birds flying across the sky,
Throwing shadows on our eyes.
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Baby can you hear me know?
The chains are locked and locked
and tied across the door.
Baby sing with me somehow.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
"Helpless" by Cowboy Junkies is a song that speaks about nostalgia, the longing for a place to call home, and the feeling of helplessness that can come with that longing. The opening lines refer to a specific town in north Ontario that holds a special place in the singer's heart. This town serves as a symbol for the feeling of comfort and familiarity that many people striving for. However, even though the singer has left this town, they still feel a pull towards it.
The use of colours and imagery in the song is powerful in forming a vivid picture of the world that the singer is describing. The blue windows and yellow moon evoke a calming, melancholy atmosphere, while the big birds throwing shadows on the eyes can be seen as a metaphor for the issues that are blocking the singer's path towards finding a sense of home. The repeated chant of "Helpless, helpless, helpless" further emphasizes the overwhelming sense of uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with feeling lost and disoriented.
In the last verse, the singer sings, "The chains are locked and locked and tied across the door / Baby sing with me somehow." Here, we see the singer feeling trapped and powerless in their search for a sense of belonging. They are asking for support and comfort from their loved one, highlighting how the search for home is often a communal one.
Overall, Cowboy Junkies's "Helpless" is a deeply introspective and poignant song that speaks about the universal need to find a place to belong, as well as the sense of helplessness that can come with that quest.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in north Ontario
I know of a town located in Northern Ontario.
With dream comfort memory to spare,
It is a place where dreams, comfort, and memories are abundant.
And in my mind I still need a place to go,
Although I know of this town, I still yearn to visit it.
All my changes were there.
I have fond memories of changing and growing up in that town.
Blue, blue windows behind the stars,
I see ethereal blue windows behind the stars in the sky.
Yellow Moon on the rise,
The yellow moon is ascending in the sky.
Big birds flying across the sky,
I see large birds soaring across the sky.
Throwing shadows on our eyes.
Their flight is casting shadows that veil our eyes.
Leave us helpless, helpless, helpless.
The beauty of the sights we see leaves us feeling powerless and overwhelmed.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
We are completely at the mercy of the beauty we behold.
Baby can you hear me now?
My dear, are you able to hear me presently?
The chains are locked and tied across the door.
I am trapped and unable to leave my current situation.
Baby sing with me somehow.
Despite the situation, please sing with me and provide comfort.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
I still feel powerless and unable to change my circumstances.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
I am completely overwhelmed and powerless in this moment.
Helpless, helpless, helpless.
I am still completely at the mercy of my emotions and circumstances.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brettfielding207
just beautiful... her voice is magic, and the band is hauntingly good....
@fionamckinnon1167
I’m not from Canada I simply love this song because my best girlfriend loved it and she passed very young and I still miss her many years later that’s all ❤
@stephenlewin1226
Sorry for your loss. Remember her through this song
@fionamckinnon1167
@@stephenlewin1226 I do and Thankyou hope you had a lovely Christmas and wising you all good things in 2023
@fionamckinnon1167
@@stephenlewin1226 Hey
@tomdorsey5965
She is still with you and will never leave your heart and mind.
@mattmcquinn4992
Carry on
@asphotographics
I drove from Calgary, Alberta, to Sault-St-Marie, Ontario last summer with my family. We weren’t in a hurry and only listened to Canadian legends: lots of Neil Young and Cowboy Junkies. Great country. Great music. Margo has always been my favourite female vocalist. Cowboy Junkies may not be as well known today, but their recent work is at least as good as their classic albums from the late 80s and early 90s.
The things that always strikes me about the Cowboy Junkies is that they aren’t stars. They aren’t prima donnas. They are just regular people, like you and me, who happen to be passionate about making the kind of music they want to make. Not much authenticity left these days, but Cowboy Junkies have it in spades.
@blythespirit4077
@asphotographics - So true. Beautifully stated!💕
@matthewkiss4089
I agree......... and I couldn't have said it better. Just a Great band and Great people.....