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Subject: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 30 Apr 04 - 08:02 PM Good news! Rhino Records has re-released Bruce Cockburn's 1984 masterpiece "Stealing Fire" on CD (along with other titles of his). The album represents a culmination of Cockburn's transformation from a dreamy, quasi-Christian poet/songwriter to a full-blown musical activist and protest singer, and contains what is likely his biggest hit, "If I Had A Rocket Launcher". In 1983, Cockburn made his first trip to Central America as part of a fact-finding mission for OXFAM. A visit to a refugee camp in South Mexico which had just been bombed by the CIA-backed Guatemalan army was a major eye-opener for the singer. He also visited Nicaragua, which at the time was struggling to get its fledgling socialist democracy off the ground in the face of US-sponsored Contras (read: paramilitary killers). The experience led to several powerful songs like "Nicaragua" and "Dust and Diesel", as well as "They Call it Democracy" which appeared on the later album "World of Wonders". In addition to Cockburn's impassioned songwriting, which brims with anguish and outrage at the injustices and human rights violations, and with love and admiration for struggle of the people of Central America, "Stealing Fire" is full of gorgeously played and produced music from his ace touring band of the era. There are also a couple of bonus tracks, "Yanqui Go Home" and "Call It The Sundance", that were recorded at the original sessions but left off the LP because of space (time) limitations. This is a brilliant album, easily one of his best and most heartfelt. I will post lyrics for several songs in this thread; they are from this site, which also includes Bruce's comments on the songs. Cheers, Michael |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NICARAGUA (Bruce Cockburn) From: michaelr Date: 30 Apr 04 - 08:04 PM Nicaragua (Bruce Cockburn) Breakfast woodsmoke on the breeze On the cliff the U.S. Embassy Frowns out over Managua like Dracula's tower. The kid who guards Fonseca's tomb Cradles a beat-up submachine gun At age fifteen he's a veteran of four years of war Proud to pay his dues He knows who turns the screws Baby face and old man's eyes Blue lagoon and flowering trees Bullet-packed masaya streets Full of the ghosts of the heroes of Monimbo Women of the town laundry Work and gossip and laugh at me They don't believe I'll ever send them the pictures I took. For every scar on a wall There's a hole in someone's heart Where a loved one's memory lives In the flash of this moment You're the best of what we are Don't let them stop you now Nicaragua Sandino in his tom mix hat Gazes from billboards and coins "Sandino vive en la lucha por la paz" Sandino of the shining dream Who stood up to the U.S. marines Now Washington panics at U2 shots of "Cuban-style" latrines In the flash of this moment You're the best of what we are Don't let them stop you now Nicaragua |
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Subject: Lyr Add: IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER (B Cockburn) From: michaelr Date: 30 Apr 04 - 08:06 PM IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER (Bruce Cockburn) Here comes the helicopter -- second time today Everybody scatters and hopes it goes away How many kids they've murdered only God can say If I had a rocket launcher If I had a rocket launcher If I had a rocket launcher I'd make somebody pay I don't believe in guarded borders and I don't believe in hate I don't believe in generals or their stinking torture states And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate If I had a rocket launcher [3x] I would retaliate On the Rio Lacantun, one hundred thousand wait To fall down from starvation or some less humane fate Cry for Guatemala, with a corpse in every gate If I had a rocket launcher [3x] I would not hesitate I want to raise every voice -- at least I've got to try Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes. Situation desperate, echoes of the victims' cry If I had a rocket launcher [3x] Some son of a bitch would die |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CALL IT DEMOCRACY (Bruce Cockburn) From: michaelr Date: 30 Apr 04 - 08:08 PM Call It Democracy (Bruce Cockburn) Padded with power here they come International loan sharks backed by the guns Of market hungry military profiteers Whose word is a swamp and whose brow is smeared With the blood of the poor Who rob life of its quality Who render rage a necessity By turning countries into labour camps Modern slavers in drag as champions of freedom Sinister cynical instrument Who makes the gun into a sacrament The only response to the deification Of tyranny by so-called "developed" nations' Idolatry of ideology North South East West Kill the best and buy the rest It's just spend a buck to make a buck You don't really give a flying fuck About the people in misery IMF dirty MF Takes away everything it can get Always making certain that there's one thing left Keep them on the hook with insupportable debt See the paid-off local bottom feeders Passing themselves off as leaders Kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows And it's open for business like a cheap bordello And they call it democracy And they call it democracy And they call it democracy And they call it democracy See the loaded eyes of the children too Trying to make the best of it the way kids do One day you're going to rise from your habitual feast To find yourself staring down the throat of the beast They call the revolution IMF dirty MF Takes away everything it can get Always making certain that there's one thing left Keep them on the hook with insupportable debt |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: Backstage Manager(inactive) Date: 30 Apr 04 - 10:30 PM Good news! Rhino Records has re-released Bruce Cockburn's 1984 masterpiece "Stealing Fire" on CD (along with other titles of his). That would be True North Records in Canada and Rounder Records in the U.S. Rhino ain't got nothing to do with it. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 30 Apr 04 - 11:12 PM Oops -- you're right, of course. My mistake. Great album all the same. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 01 May 04 - 08:22 AM I have 25 Bruce Cockburn CD's in my collection. (and the original LP's). I don't know why you're so stuck on this particular album at the expense of the others, Michael. "Easily one of his best"?? Bruce has created MANY masterpiece albums and songs and concerts and journeys and bands and ..... (etc.) And what's with the 'quasi-Christian', for heaven's sakes? Have you ever spoken to him in person about that? I have. Nice to see a Cockburn thread pop up, but not sure exactly what you're trying to get at. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: Backstage Manager(inactive) Date: 01 May 04 - 09:41 AM There was a superb cover story article about Bruce Cockburn in Sing Out about two years ago that gave a rather complete history of his life and music. In it, Cockburn discussed his brand of Christianity with author Mike Regenstreif. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 01 May 04 - 09:54 AM Thanks Backstage. An outstanding website about Cockburn is The Cockburn Project . To read about his spiritual journey, click on Issues and go to Spirituality/Christianity and Career: Christianity. The Cockburn Project site is enormous and comprehensive on the music and life of Bruce Cockburn. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: Backstage Manager(inactive) Date: 01 May 04 - 10:17 AM I just did a Google search and found the Sing Out article at this link. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 01 May 04 - 01:05 PM What am I trying to "get at"? I was expressing my delight at the re-release of "Stealing Fire" and recommending it to those who may not be familiar with it. And yes, I think it's his best work. On most of his other records, I like a few songs and I don't like a few. On this one I like them all. So you've been in a position to speak with BC personally. Woo-hoo! What did he say? |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 01 May 04 - 02:16 PM Well, I approve of your enthusiasm, even if I don't wholeheartedly agree with you. I'm glad you've found your 'special' BC album. I change favourites from time to time, but some I never tire of listening to..."Salt, Sun and Time" for instance. What did he say? I've met him a couple of times - we talked about music, concerts, parties, friends, travels....stuff like that. Really friendly guy. When he talks with you, he turns off the rest of the world and concentrates on the conversation. I like that. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 02 May 04 - 05:23 PM b.w. -- since you asked "have you ever spoken to him in person about that? I have." -- that being his Christianity -- I was interested in what he told you on that subject. I put the "quasi" in there because, as BC says in the article Backstage Manager linked to above, he's by no means a mainstream Christian (influenced by Buddhism, supports womens' choice etc.) Cheers, Michael |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 02 May 04 - 07:45 PM The reason I balked at the prefix "quasi" is because you were talking about his early recordings. I might be wrong, but "quasi" sounds wishy-washy to me. You said that he developed "from a dreamy, quasi-Christian poet/songwriter" and since you mean before Stealing Fire, then you must mean before 1984. The first time I talked with him was a long time ago, at an after-concert party put on by a group of university Christians, after one of his concerts. It was probably 1978 or 79, I'm not sure. I remember talking to him about Scripture references in one of his songs in particular, about what it was like to be a Christian in a travelling band, about lifestyle issues, about worship, about Christian unity with other believers....you know I'm not going to try to quote what he said about those things. That wouldn't be right. There is so much in print already. But the songs with obvious Christian symbolism or reference - All the Diamonds and Creation Dream, Dialogue with the Devil and What About the Bond? for example (there are many more) came out of a solid faith experience, something actually pretty deeply-rooted. He wasn't flitting with Christianity. It was neither a fad or a quick fix. No, Bruce isn't mainstream Christian. He never was. But he challenged so many of us to think harder, and to dig deeper inside and outside of ourselves, and to act on our beliefs in loving socially constructive ways. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 03 May 04 - 09:06 AM P.S. What is "mainstream Christian" anyway? That can mean different things to different people. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 03 May 04 - 09:20 PM Aahh -- I'm not getting into that one! ;-) |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 04 May 04 - 01:26 PM Oh, puleeeze! You asked me to expand on what I'd said, so I'd say it's your turn now, michael. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: michaelr Date: 04 May 04 - 03:21 PM OK, well the short answer would be "a member of one of the established Christian churches". But this thread is about "Stealing Fire", not religion. To me, what comes through in BC's songs is his humanism and highly developed sense of (in)justice. |
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Subject: RE: Review and Lyr Adds: Bruce Cockburn From: black walnut Date: 04 May 04 - 04:36 PM Absolutely. ~b.w. |
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