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.
Power
Tom Cochrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See a silhouette
Crowd looks hungry
Because he ain't jumped yet
Man up on the tower
Looks big up there
He's got something extra
People do some strange things
When they're all together
They wouldn't even dream of
By themselves
Come on, come on, come on
Turn it on
Turn it on, come on
Power, power
Is he turning on us
Is he turning
You can't see his eyes now
Bet that they're burning
Are we among them
There's strength in their numbers
Can't even hear us
There's to many others
What's he keep saying
They're not even listening
Is he a poor man
Why don't we listen
People do some strange things
It's invisible
You can't even touch it
If I was a wise man
I'd have spoke up
If I was a brave man
I'd surely said something
Now I can't even sleep on it
Cause it's all used up
All used up
The lyrics of the song "Power" by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider tell the story of a man standing on a building, and a crowd that has gathered beneath him to watch him. The man seems to have something extra about him, and there is confusion as to whether he is turning on the people or not. The lyrics also highlight the power of group mentality, where people can behave in strange ways when they are in large groups, and how it can be difficult for individuals to stand up and make their voices heard.
The opening lyrics of "Power" paint a vivid picture of the scene, with the silhouette of the man against the building and the crowd waiting for something to happen. The lyrics create a sense of tension and anticipation as the man is poised to do something. The lyrics then focus on the man on the tower, who seems to have something extra about him. This could be a reference to the power he holds, or perhaps some other quality that sets him apart from others.
The lyrics suggest that people behave differently when they are in groups, and that sometimes they do things they wouldn't dream of doing on their own. The chorus of the song calls for power to be turned on, but it's not clear what this power represents. The lyrics suggest that the man on the tower may be turning on the people, and there is confusion and fear as to what is happening. The final lyrics suggest that the power has been used up, and there is a sense of resignation that there is nothing left to do.
Line by Line Meaning
Look up on the building
Direct your eyes towards the top of the building
See a silhouette
Notice the dark shape of a person up there
Crowd looks hungry
The spectators are eager and excited
Because he ain't jumped yet
They are waiting for the person on the top to jump
Man up on the tower
A male person is on the top of the tower
Looks big up there
He appears to be large and important from below
He's got something extra
He possesses an additional quality or advantage
I wonder if he's scared
I question if he is frightened or nervous
People do some strange things
Human beings can behave in peculiar ways
When they're all together
Especially when they are in a group
They wouldn't even dream of
Actions they would not consider when alone
By themselves
When solitary
Come on, come on, come on
A plea to increase intensity or enthusiasm
Turn it on
Activate and energize it
Turn it on, come on
An enthusiastic appeal to activate it
Power, power
Referring to the energy and strength of the collective group
Is he turning on us
Is the person on the top of the tower changing his attitude towards us?
Is he turning
Is he changing his behavior or attitude in some way?
You can't see his eyes now
His eyes are not visible to us at this time
Bet that they're burning
It's likely that he is feeling intense emotions
Are we among them
Are we part of the group of spectators?
There's strength in their numbers
The group's power and might increase as the number of people in it increases
Can't even hear us
He is unaware or indifferent to our presence and comments.
There's to many others
The crowd is too large to get his attention
What's he keep saying
What is he repeatedly uttering?
They're not even listening
The crowd is ignoring him or not paying attention
Is he a poor man
Does he have little or no wealth?
Why don't we listen
Why are we not paying attention?
It's invisible
It can't be seen by the human eye
You can't even touch it
It is intangible and can't be felt or touched
If I was a wise man
A hypothetical expression if one was knowledgeable
I'd have spoke up
I would have expressed my opinion openly
If I was a brave man
If one had courage according to the hypothetical situation
I'd surely said something
I would have uttered something with confidence
Now I can't even sleep on it
I cannot stop thinking about it now
Cause it's all used up
The chance or opportunity to act is lost or nonexistent now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Thomas William Cochrane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind