Extraordinary! Though I've seen him a couple of times live, I am always in awe at the dexterity and tenderness of his guitar playing.
That's one of my favourite songs of all time because for me it articulates that desperate, impotent anger that we often feel when injustice is perpetrated by forces far stronger than us.
When we were tackling Psalm 137 in an evening service, i used this song as example of how God's people might put into the words the fury they feel at what's happening in our world today.
It wasn't very popular, a number of people objecting to the term 'son of a bitch' being used in church!
We don't handle raw emotion very well in our churches. I think this song expresses it. But it does so in a tightly composed riff, a very precisely played guitar part and carefully and thoughtfully constructed lyric. It's raw emotion filtered through a mind trained to think God's thoughts after him.
Brian Walsh probably has some pretty articulate things to say about Cockburn and this song because he's a bug fan.
That is such a helpful comment. Thanks so much. It helped me clarify my own reaction to the song.
Robin
Anonymous said…
Hi Robin,
As a huge Cockburn fan (I own 19 of his albums) I do have a bit of insight into this song.
But it is always better to know what the artist himself thinks, so here is a link to everything he has ever been known to have said publicly about the song.
And now for an unhelpful comment ... did I ever tell you about the time when I didn't meet Bruce Cockburn in the back room at Ring Music, just off Spadina, back in 1984? He was, in fact, clutching a hot-off-the-press (vinyl in those days) copy of Stealing Fire (the album that "If I had a rocket launcher" first appeared on) in his hands.
@ "closed minded Bob" - read the comments Bruce himself made about the song (see URL above). Bruce is ANYTHING but a violent person, nor does he promote violent responses.
Some "Christian" types are so quick to jump down someone's throat on outward appearances or snap judgements.
Get past your Biblical catch phrases and look more deeply at the human condition!
Comments
That's one of my favourite songs of all time because for me it articulates that desperate, impotent anger that we often feel when injustice is perpetrated by forces far stronger than us.
When we were tackling Psalm 137 in an evening service, i used this song as example of how God's people might put into the words the fury they feel at what's happening in our world today.
It wasn't very popular, a number of people objecting to the term 'son of a bitch' being used in church!
We don't handle raw emotion very well in our churches. I think this song expresses it. But it does so in a tightly composed riff, a very precisely played guitar part and carefully and thoughtfully constructed lyric. It's raw emotion filtered through a mind trained to think God's thoughts after him.
Brian Walsh probably has some pretty articulate things to say about Cockburn and this song because he's a bug fan.
That is such a helpful comment. Thanks so much. It helped me clarify my own reaction to the song.
Robin
As a huge Cockburn fan (I own 19 of his albums) I do have a bit of insight into this song.
But it is always better to know what the artist himself thinks, so here is a link to everything he has ever been known to have said publicly about the song.
http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/iiharl.html
By the way, couple of other lesser known things about Cockburn. God is said to be particularly fond of him in the book, "The Shack."
Bono of U2 fame, credits Bruce Cockburn as being a sort of Pastor figure to him. (Very loose paraphrase).
Michael Bell
No?
Where's a pint when you need one?!
Next time! ;)
you are a king-dude! You saw the great BC! I'm sure he'd have stopped for a chat if he'd seen you.
Robin
we need more nonviolence responses, not more rocket launchers
Some "Christian" types are so quick to jump down someone's throat on outward appearances or snap judgements.
Get past your Biblical catch phrases and look more deeply at the human condition!