Musician, and poet Bruce Cockburn is known to you. Most likely, he is on the periphery of your awareness or perhaps known to you for his mainstream radio hit, “Wondering Where the Lions Are”. Mr. Cockburn is a favorite musician among other established singer-songwriter artists for his guitar mastery and politically aware lyricism. You will find many notable artists (Patty Griffin, Jonatha Brooke) in vocal supporting roles on quite a few of his recent recordings. Some find his political songs pedantic and somewhat soph·o·mor·ic. I find his voice most resonant when he focuses on the individual narrative within a larger socio-economic, geopolitical context.
Night Train, a lesser-known song, is one of my favorite BC tracks. This may have something to do with the prominent, percussive, snakeline Rob Wasserman bass-thumping standin for the Night Train, perfect for the beginning of a long road trip. Yet there is something viscerally furtive in the lyric. Decide for yourself. The studio version is the second of these two videos.
That’s the sound somebody makes when they’re getting away
Leaving next week’s hanging jury far behind them
Prisoner only of the choices they have made
Night Train…
The moon is floating somewhere out at sea
On an island in the blur of noise and color
Alcatraz, St. Alina, Patmos and the Chateau D’if
Night Train…
A temporary refuge where somebody else can stand
Till the sea that binds us like the forced tie of a blood oath
Will wear it down, dissolve it, recombine it
It doesn’t take much effort though it goes against the grain
And the ultimate forgetfulness of violence
Sweeps the landscape like a headlight of a train
Starlight shines like glass shards in dark hair
And the mind’s eye tumbles out along the steel track
Fixing every shadow with its stare
Night Train…
And in the absence of compassion, there is cancer
Whose banner waves over palaces and mean streets
And the rhythm of the night train is a mantra
Bruce Cockburn – Night Train
Music in this video
Provided to YouTube by Independent Digital Licensing Agency Inc Night Train · Bruce Cockburn Anything Anytime Anywhere ℗ 2001 High Romance Music Inc. Marketed & distributed by True North Records. Released on: 2002-01-15 Composer: Bruce Cockburn Lyricist: Bruce Cockburn Music Publisher: Golden Mountain Music Corp. (SOCAN)
Bruce Cockburn – Night Train 1080p
Music in this video
Song
Pacing The Cage
Artist
Bruce Cockburn
Licensed to YouTube by
[Merlin] IDLA Distribution (on behalf of High Romance Music Inc.); Audiam (Publishing), BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., CMRRA, PEDL, and 2 Music Rights Societies
Bruce Cockburn: Pacing The Cage
Bruce Cockburn performs his timeless classic, Pacing The Cage. Filmed during a solo tour through the eastern US.
Bruce Cockburn – Pacing The Cage – 9/4/2021 – Paste Studio Napa – Napa Valley CA
Bruce Cockburn – Pacing The Cage Recorded Live – Paste Studio Napa – Napa Valley CA More Bruce Cockburn: https://www.pastemagazine.com/search?…
Bruce Cockburn Live. The Last Night Of The World