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Bruce Cockburn — Let The Bad Air Out
Album: Breakfast in New Orleans Dinner in Timbuktu
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1086









Released: 1999
Length: 5:36
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Judge said to the hooker, "Can you come out to play?
I've been condemning people all day long, that's how I get paid
My dreams are full of criminals frolicking about
Open up the window, let the bad air out!"


Strangled by confusion, my mind is in decay
Can't picture tomorrow, can't remember yesterday
Send out for the Black & Decker and the psychiatric couch
Open up the window, let the bad air out


Traitors in high places take my money, tell me lies
Take a walk past Parliament, it smells like something died
They ask for trust, but somehow I've got serious doubts
Open up the window, let the bad air out


Too much monkey business, like Mr. Berry said
Drugs and oil and money, don't mean nothing when you're dead
At the risk of being subversive, nothing left to do but shout
"Open up the window, let the bad air out!"
Comments (103)add comment
Have been a Bruce Cockburn fan since his first few albums but I never realized what a GREAT guitarist he was until I saw him live in Burlington Vt! See him live if you can!
Why do we ignore our neighbors in the US? I would never have enjoyed Bruce's art but for RP. And he's next door.
Bruce is great
Truth to power
Society is like a stew
If you don’t stir it
The scum will rise to the top
 tinypriest wrote:

It's actually "Cockburn". But thanks for throwing yourself on the grenade anyway 


pronouced   Co-burn     fyi
 EdEastridge wrote:


Gotta be careful with puns like that or there'll be hell toupee. 



 nutrod42 wrote:


I think I know why. His songs aren't very good.


You're right, his songs aren't very good, they are excellent! I'm glad we could clear that up.
Generally......good god!
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Let the bad hair out.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuQtC8YVYAURdxt.jpg


Gotta be careful with puns like that or there'll be hell toupee. 
Not my favorite Cockburn but hey, he's Canadian so that should count for something! Eh?
 sandymac2010 wrote:
boober wrote:
   He's got a funny last name.
    Ouch!

It's Coburn, silly.  Now, about your name?
 
It's actually "Cockburn". But thanks for throwing yourself on the grenade anyway 
 xkolibuul wrote:


Evidence-free hypothesis.
 
Yup....most folks who've made it as far as Cockburn are "good" enough to have a solid cadre of fans buying their music and keeping them going. All the more so with someone as long lived (in the profession) as he has been. He may not be to your personal taste, but ragging on him as not good is just your opinion, man. ;) 
 nutrod42 wrote:


I think I know why. His songs aren't very good.
 

Evidence-free hypothesis.
 ChardRemains wrote:
Don't know why, but really cannot dig Bruce Cockburn. At all.
 

I think I know why. His songs aren't very good.
Let the bad hair out.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuQtC8YVYAURdxt.jpg
 On_The_Beach wrote:

In 2 days we'll know if we'll have to tolerate 4 years of his verbal farts.
Eek.

 
      Donald Trump Is Literally A Talking Head In This ‘Once In A Lifetime’ Mashup


 On_The_Beach wrote:

In 2 days we'll know if we'll have to tolerate 4 years of his verbal farts.
Eek.

 
"Tolerate"???
Abhor.
Grew up listening to Bruce Cockburn — so many good songs. I like this transition from Ray LaMontagne. Thank you, RP.
Bruce really brings out the Canadian comments.
 sieversfam wrote:
Let the "Bad Song Go.." This sounds like he's mailing it in..

 

On the signing, yeah.  But the producer and sound engineer where busy.



 hayduke2 wrote:
"PHEEEEUUUUUUUUUUP!!!"  woopsy, pardon me
 
In 2 days we'll know if we'll have to tolerate 4 years of his verbal farts.
Eek.


"PHEEEEUUUUUUUUUUP!!!"  woopsy, pardon me
 sieversfam wrote:
Let the "Bad Song Go.." This sounds like he's mailing it in..



 
I like this... The mail arrived right on time !!
not my cup of tea, but WAY better than its ratings might suggest.
(strummed around the campfire on Blazing Saddles...)
Check out Nothing But A Burning Light by the same artist and produced by T-Bone.

 
 ThePoose wrote:
Bruce hails from the village of Cumberland, Ontario, now a suburb of Canada's capital, Ottawa, which is where I live. He has been picking, writing and singing since the late 1960s. A friend of mine who is an amazing guitar picker and teacher himself said he used to play with a group that included Bruce. My friend said, ''Bruce was always the best guitar player.'' Check out Bruce's early folkie stuff on True North records. I love Goin' to the Country.
 
Here's a wild guess. Is your friend Vince Halfhide? Played with Heaven's Radio and bunch of local bands. 
 boober wrote:
He's got a funny last name.
Ouch!
 

It's Coburn, silly.  Now, about your name?
Let the "Bad Song Go.." This sounds like he's mailing it in..


 boober wrote:
He's got a funny last name.
Ouch!
 
SUCH an intelligent, original, well-considered comment. {#Doh}


He's got a funny last name.
Ouch!
Damn fine album
That's what I call a cold shot there, BG...{#Lol}
No bad air on Radio Paradise.
 dogturd21 wrote:
I play this sometimes on my boat when we anchor out for parties....it always gets the bikinies dancing !
 
And just who exactly parties with people named Dogturd?  I don't care, really, I'm just kinda curious.

Canadian legend. Remember seeing Bruce in his earliest of days, playing a show solo at the Univ. of Western Ontario, London, ON, 1974. This scraggly, gangly, hairy kid saunters out on stage before about 3 000 of us. Totally engrossed in his performance then. Totally admire his work all these years later. Thanks for keeping Bruce current on RP, Bill.
 
I just saw Bruce live at the www.classictheatre.net, wow what an amazing show!  Let the Bad Air out is sooo much better live, but then so are most songs!
Saw Bruce in NYC at the Bottom Line in around this time. His band then included Colin Linden with whom I think he shares writing credits on this song. Bruce said the inspiration for this song was sitting in the car with the band after a long night. Open up the window and let the bad air out." Serious musician with a sense of humour.
Just heard this for the first time... I put it up along with Bullet Hole in Peggy's Wall, one of my all time favorite Cockburn song.
Thanks again Bill, for turning me onto another gem.
 kaybee wrote:
Thanks, Bill for playing more lesser known Bruce Cockburn songs.
 
{#Yes}

This is not for me. Not liking it. At all.
This is new for me....liking it {#Bounce}
Thanks, Bill for playing more lesser known Bruce Cockburn songs.
Anytime I'm engrossed in my work and gradually realize that I'm tapping my feet or boppin' in my chair, that automatically rates at least a 7.  Reserving the option to upgrade in the future.
I haven't heard this in years and years.  Thanks RP!
Go Bruce go!
Sounds like Bruce was eating baked beans again. Great tune, btw!
fuh2 wrote:
Cockburn has a new instrumental album out called "Speechless" I heard.
Yes, and though I am biased (I love BC), I think his guitar work on the new CD is very, very impressive.
ObsidianInfinity wrote:
this is one of my favorite cds of all time...but this is one of the worst songs on the cd! please, listen to the whole thing and decide for yourself.
My thoughts exactly!
ThePoose wrote:
And as for his surname, local boy (near Ottawa, capital of Canada) Bruce has long insisted on it being pronounced CO-BURN, despite the spelling.


And who could blame him?  I'm sure I would insist too, if I had that name.

Damn fine!
I play this sometimes on my boat when we anchor out for parties....it always gets the bikinies dancing !
oh no, not good even for a bar band, wth is this? comon...
ThePoose wrote:
Bruce hails from the village of Cumberland, Ontario, now a suburb of Canada's capital, Ottawa, which is where I live. He has been picking, writing and singing since the late 1960s. A friend of mine who is an amazing guitar picker and teacher himself said he used to play with a group that included Bruce. My friend said, ''Bruce was always the best guitar player.'' Check out Bruce's early folkie stuff on True North records. I love Goin' to the Country.
Bruce is an amazing guitar player (not so much under-rated as unknown). It's worth seeing him live just to hear him play the guitar.
I had never heard of this guy until I started listening to RP. His music is good, but his voice is irritating. I hate when that happens!
At the risk of being subversive, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Cockburn.
Is that Fozzy Bear doing backup vocals at the end?
Just saw Bruce in Santa Fe last weekend! Excellent show but not his best. Saw him at the Denver Botanic Gardens in August and that show was one of his finer ones! He didn't play this one either time but played plenty of old and new both times, as he does so well at mixing them up when he plays. Be sure to listen for THE END OF ALL RIVERS, an instrumental piece he wrote last year (2005) for his Speechless album of instrumental "oldies". END OF ALL RIVERS is one of the finest tunes he has ever written, IMHO...his use of overlays boggles the mind. In August, he told the crowd that ROCKETLAUNCHER was on hold but he played it at Santa Fe and he has improved the piece greatly with his use of the overlay method! Stunning!
If you're interested, give this one a listen with headphones on. He uses some cool stereo effects, and when he gets to the line "Let the bad air out", you can hear him doing both the low voice and the screaming. The sheer intensity of the screamed part makes the hair on my neck stand up! He sure puts his all into his songs. P.S. My 2nd favorite album cover ever.
And as for his surname, local boy (near Ottawa, capital of Canada) Bruce has long insisted on it being pronounced CO-BURN, despite the spelling.
Bruce hails from the village of Cumberland, Ontario, now a suburb of Canada's capital, Ottawa, which is where I live. He has been picking, writing and singing since the late 1960s. A friend of mine who is an amazing guitar picker and teacher himself said he used to play with a group that included Bruce. My friend said, ''Bruce was always the best guitar player.'' Check out Bruce's early folkie stuff on True North records. I love Goin' to the Country.
bmeador wrote:
ok, is this guy's name really Bruce "Cockburn?" Geneaology can be so cruel sometimes.... Glad to see this poor kid channeled and turned into a great artist!
yeah, but..um..good thing it's not pronounced phonetically eh? in fact it's pronounced Coburn
Yeah. At the risk of being subversive, nothing left to do but shout open up the window, let the bad air out. Sarah
definetly sounds like mark knop. but it aint bad to sound like him either
ok, is this guy's name really Bruce "Cockburn?" Geneaology can be so cruel sometimes.... Glad to see this poor kid channeled and turned into a great artist!
I really liked this one, i'll have to check out more of this guy.
This reminds me of some of Mark Knopfler's stuff.
Not one of his better songs. Try "Night Train"(click here) for one of his best recent tunes.
Greetings, Definitely one of the best Bruce Cockburn has done. I wish RP also played "Look How Far" from it, which I think is my favorite; though depending on my state of mind, other songs are certainly right up there, too. Neil
Cockburn has a new instrumental album out called "Speechless" I heard.
bmeador wrote:
My wife always fusses so when i let my bad air out!
puppykicker wrote:
I immediately thought this was Dylan (Jakob or Bob).
Nothing personal, but if you don't recognize Bruce Cockburn, you need to expand your listening a bit. Stick around here, you'll hear plenty. Likeable tune from Mr. CO-BURN.
this is one of my favorite cds of all time...but this is one of the worst songs on the cd! please, listen to the whole thing and decide for yourself.
I immediately thought this was Dylan (Jakob or Bob).
WakeUpWorld wrote:
This is one of the best cd's I own, from start to finish it's a gem.
Maybe so, but it doesn't include Heather Nova's brilliant rendition of "Gloomy Sunday." I wish RP would play it again right now.
This is one of the best cd's I own, from start to finish it's a gem.
My wife always fusses so when i let my bad air out!
ongaku wrote:
Good album .... his guitar work on "Blueberry Hill" is impressive.
LOVE use me while you can FROM THIS disc...
Good album .... his guitar work on "Blueberry Hill" is impressive.
Don't know why, but really cannot dig Bruce Cockburn. At all.
JCJ wrote:
word has it he wrote this song after eating a healthy plate of rice and beans in New Orleans
Hah! Love Bruce's stuff and know it all by heart. This guy's problem is that his voice doesn't hold up to his lyricism or guitarmanship. So some of his best songs are more like slam poetry recitals with awesome accompaniment. Sometimes the effect is incredible, like in the live version of Stolen Land or his very first attempt: Hoop Dancer. This one is okay, and now thanks to JCJ I've got a permanent image in my mind of the bad air he's talking about. Anyone know where to get a flatulent emoticon?
sans wrote:
Please play Use Me While You Can from this same album... I love these new millenium 9 minute power anthems like Jane's Addictions' Three Days, Grateful Dead's Terrapin Station and Bruce Cokburns Use Me While You Can. They're the closest rock gets to classical orchestration and, when done correctly, they're like novels while the rest of the album is short stories.
Hi sans. I uploaded Use Me While You Can a couple of years ago and it was rejected.
What a brilliant sequence with the last 3 songs, never EVER thought I would hear something this good on radio. Are there any academy awards out there for Deejays so that I can nominate Mr. Goldsmith?
Hannio wrote:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Or at least a god-shaped hole.
Please play Use Me While You Can from this same album... I love these new millenium 9 minute power anthems like Jane's Addictions' Three Days, Grateful Dead's Terrapin Station and Bruce Cokburns Use Me While You Can. They're the closest rock gets to classical orchestration and, when done correctly, they're like novels while the rest of the album is short stories.
Sounds like a slowed down version of "Blood Makes Noise".
It was going well, but the ending ruined it for me. I think all the musicians got bored and decided to start playing different songs.
Maybe it's not his best work, but anything with Bruce scores highly with me.
This guy deserves 10/10 just to ease the pain of a burning cock.
Love the trombone at the end!
Originally Posted by philarktos: Nice metaphor. Unfortunately, in the apparent absence of an omniscient, omnipotent and interested diety, it's not that easy. And yet any heartfelt aspiration for the bennefit of others has it's value.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Nice metaphor. Unfortunately, in the apparent absence of an omniscient, omnipotent and interested diety, it\'s not that easy. And yet any heartfelt aspiration for the bennefit of others has it\'s value.
Forgive me.. Thought this was Dylans kid... Dig the groove .. the musicianship is very cool.. melodies are simply cool.. wait vocals at the end... eh... still cool ... thanks for the introduction RP...
this sounds a lot like mark knofler; industrial disease i think
oh yes, for those days driving in your vehicle with other people and you have to open the window and let the bad air out.
Originally Posted by JCJ: word has it he wrote this song after eating a healthy plate of rice and beans in New Orleans
need a rimshot with that no respect, no respect
Originally Posted by Jacek: a great merging of form and content
The cadence in the lyrics and the arraingement are masterful
Yawn. Alternately dull and precious, as usual for this guy.
I actually find this song with it\'s simplistic lyrics to be a breath of fresh air for Bruce. So much of his work is incredibly intense (and that\'s why I think he is one of the best songwriters around). This is a nice change of pace for him.
word has it he wrote this song after eating a healthy plate of rice and beans in New Orleans