Friday Nite Retro - Bruce Cockburn

Bruce Cockburn (pronounced /ˈkoʊbɚn/; phonetically: "co-burn"), was born in Ottawa, Canada on May 27, 1945 and spent his early years on a farm outside Pembroke, Ontario. He has stated in interviews that his first guitar was one he found in his grandmother's attic, which he then adorned with golden stars and used to play along to radio hits.

Cockburn had been popular in Canada for years, he didn't make a splash here until 1979, with the release of the album Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. Wondering Where the Lions Are, the first single from that album, reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in June 1980, and earned Cockburn an appearance on NBC's hit TV show Saturday Night Live.

Wondering Where the Lions Are


Lovers in a Dangerous Time has been covered by The Barenaked Ladies and Dan Fogelberg.

Lovers in a Dangerous Time


Throughout the 80s Cockburn's songwriting became first more urban, later more global, and then, ultimately and most famously, more politicized: he became heavily involved with progressive causes. His growing political concerns were first hinted at in two astonishing but little-known discs, Humans and The Trouble with Normal. As far as casual radio listeners were concerned, however, these concerns only became evident in 1984, with Cockburn's second radio hit, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" from the Stealing Fire album. He had written the song a year earlier, after visiting Guatemalan refugee camps in Mexico that were attacked before and after his visit by Guatemalan military helicopters.

If I Had a Rocket Launcher


Cockburn's political activism continues to the present. He's traveled to many countries to played benefits concerts as well as writing songs on a variety of political subjects ranging from the International Monetary Fund to land mines. His internationalist bent is reflected in the many world music influences found in his music.

Last Night of the World



Drop by and visit Cockburn's official website here.