Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba to Violet and Tuck Cochrane, a bush pilot. The family relocated to Etobicoke, Ontario in the West Deane Park area when Tom was four years old. He purchased his first guitar at age 11 by selling a toy train set. He attended Martingrove Collegiate Institute in the 1960's. In the early 1970s, he was performing in coffee houses across Canada. He eventually made his way to Los Angeles where he found a job writing theme music for My Pleasure is My Business, a Xaviera Hollander movie. Unable to find steady income from music, Cochrane returned to Toronto where he drove a taxi cab and later took a job on a Caribbean cruise liner to help pay the bills. Cochrane went back to Los Angeles in 1976, trying to sell his songs to publishers but without success, and returned to Toronto in 1977. Cochrane walked into the El Mocambo club one night in Toronto and came across a band of locals calling themselves Red Rider. After an audition, they agreed to Cochrane joining the band as lead singer and songwriter, a decision that would change their musical careers.
After the Red Rider era, Cochrane set off on his soloist path again. In 1990, Cochrane took his family to West Africa where he helped to raise awareness and money for the World Vision famine relief organization. That experience shaped his next album Mad Mad World which contained the internationally acclaimed hit single "Life is a Highway".
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
In 1995, he released Ragged Ass Road and followed that with a Canadian tour in 1996. The tour resulted in Songs of a Circling Spirit, a live CD and multi-media package of previously released material.
In June 1999, Cochrane was involved in a light plane crash in Montreal, after his plane's engine stalled just after take-off. Fortunately, no one was injured.
At the 2003 Juno Awards, Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The special award ceremony took place April 5, 2003 at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. According to the Life Is a Highway Songfacts, his other honors include seven Juno Awards, being an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Air Force, and having been inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame. They take their rock stars seriously in Canada.
In December 2003 he was one of the musical guests on a CBC special called, Rick Mercer's Christmas in Kabul.
He currently lives with his family in Oakville, Ontario.
On July 2, 2005, Cochrane took part in the Live 8 concert series.
Cochrane's new album "No Stranger" recorded in rural Ontario was released in October 2006.
"Life Is A Highway" was re-made in 2006 by the country band Rascal Flatts for the motion picture "Cars" and became a successful country single.
Deep Breath
Tom Cochrane Lyrics
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Give you all you need
If I had it all to give
And I'd protect you when you fall
If only that was all that you need
But I need to tell you more
Keep you from the dangers in the dark
Don't you know let it go
Take a deep breath
That's what I said
Take a deep breath
And you know that you're beautiful
And that's the truth
Have I told you that much lately
When the voices get in your head
You worry about all that's said
Then you give it all again and again
Then you wonder why you're misunderstood
When you give it all sometimes I wish you would
Hold a little back, don't let them at you
Take a deep breath
That's what I said
Take a deep breath
Then you lay awake and wonder how it is
You can't take apart everything you did
You know it's true, I'm here with you
Take a deep breath
That's what I said
Take a deep breath
It's not life or death
Take a deep breath
In Tom Cochrane's song "Deep Breath", the lyrics reveal the deeper meaning of the importance of self-love and self-care. The songwriter describes how much he wants to give his loved one everything they need and deserve, but sometimes that’s not enough. The person he is singing to is a giver and tends to worry about what is said about them. They need to learn how to let go and take care of themselves. The line “Let you know how beautiful you are, keep you from the dangers in the dark” exemplifies the songwriter’s desire to protect his loved one from harm, but also to ensure they know their worth. The phrase, “when the voices get in your head,” suggests that the person he is singing to may be experiencing some internal struggles or self-doubt. The songwriter advises them to take a deep breath, to step back from the situations, connect with themselves, and understand that it’s not life or death.
The song can be interpreted to address the idea of self-love and taking care of one's mental health. It highlights the importance of taking a break and reminding oneself that it is okay to take care of yourself. The repetition of the phrase “Take a deep breath” throughout the song accentuates the significance of stopping and taking time for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Give you everything you deserve
I want to give you everything that you are worthy of.
Give you all you need
I want to provide you with everything that you require.
If I had it all to give
If I had everything in this world, I would give it all to you.
And I'd protect you when you fall
I will be there for you and protect you whenever you slip or fall.
If only that was all that you need
However, I understand that you need more than just my protection.
But I need to tell you more
I need to express more of my feelings to you.
Let you know how beautiful you are
You are such a beautiful person and I want you to know it.
Keep you from the dangers in the dark
I want to prevent you from the dangers in the world.
Don't you know let it go
It is important to let go of things that are weighing you down.
Take a deep breath
Take a moment to pause and gather your strength.
That's what I said
I am reminding you to take a deep breath.
And you know that you're beautiful
You already know that you are a beautiful person.
And that's the truth
And I am telling you this because it is the truth.
Have I told you that much lately
I want to make sure that you know how amazing you are and that I appreciate you.
When the voices get in your head
When you start to overthink things or get anxious.
You worry about all that's said
You worry about what people are saying or thinking about you.
Then you give it all again and again
Even though you worry, you still give everything your all.
Then you wonder why you're misunderstood
Sometimes you might feel like people do not understand you.
When you give it all sometimes I wish you would
I want you to be careful and not give too much of yourself away.
Hold a little back, don't let them at you
It is important to protect yourself and not allow people to take advantage of you.
It's not life or death
Remember, everything is not a life or death situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Thomas William Cochrane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind