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Bruce Cockburn — Creation Dream
Album: Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2438









Released: 1979
Length: 3:53
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Centred on silence
Counting on nothing
I saw you standing on the sea
And everything was
Dark except for
Sparks the wind struck from your hair
Sparks that turned to
Wings around you
Angel voices mixed with seabird cries
Fields of motion
Surging outward
Questions that contain their own replies...

You were dancing
I saw you dancing
Throwing your arms toward the sky
Fingers opening
Like flares
Stars were shooting everywhere
Lines of power
Bursting outward
Along the channels of your song
Mercury waves flashed
Under your feet
Shots of silver in the shell-pink dawn...
Comments (214)add comment
 Milano wrote:

Regarding the cover/artist:
Norval Morrisseau
CM (March 14, 1932 – December 4, 2007), also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Aboriginal Canadian artist. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential struggles, and his deep spirituality and mysticism. His style is characterized by thick black outlines and bright colors. He founded the Woodlands School of Canadian art and was a prominent member of the “Indian Group of Seven”.


 LeftShoe wrote:

What an amazing mix by the way, my headphones are SINGING!!!!


A beautifully produced album. I used to love to crank up the vinyl and get my JBL L100s thumping!

What an amazing mix by the way, my headphones are SINGING!!!!
Wiki pic always make me think it's David Letterman! Sorry in advance if you can't stop seeing it now ;)
 Devaplan wrote:


I beg to disagree. Your wife actually wants you to answer her question, you choose to avoid doing so to avoid


Millions of husbands would disagree with you there! Some questions from wives should be politely ignored. "Does my bum look big in this" and "What are you thinking" are classic examples.

Love how the xylophone player gets a chance to rock out on this one (as much as a xylophone player can be said to "rock out," at least)

As I said under another BC song. RP seems to be playing a lot of Bruce Cockburn lately. And that’s fine with me.  
 MildGeorge wrote:



I beg to disagree. Anything your wife asks when you come home late is a rhetorical question.


I beg to disagree. Your wife actually wants you to answer her question, you choose to avoid doing so to avoid
No idea why but I didn't know this guy.  Better late than never.

Thanks William.
❤️
 Devaplan wrote:


Rhetorical questions are those that are not intended to elicit a reply, just to throw an idea out there and leave it hanging. For example "What came first, the chicken, or the egg" ?



I beg to disagree. Anything your wife asks when you come home late is a rhetorical question.
 skyguy wrote:

Are questions that contain their own reply rhetorical questions?



Rhetorical questions are those that are not intended to elicit a reply, just to throw an idea out there and leave it hanging. For example "What came first, the chicken, or the egg" ?
This song makes me happy. That's all I gotta say about that...
 The_Enemy wrote:

We would have cultural wars in Canada too if we weren't so darn polite.

Fast forward 15 years.  Canada now has them.  So much for politeness....
Are questions that contain their own reply rhetorical questions?
There's something about those guitar licks I can immediately pin down as late 1970s.  Probably some of the same acoustic light rock groove as Jefferson Starship's "Count On Me" and Heart's "Dog And Butterfly".
Horrible!
Easily one of my favorite tracks by Cockburn.  The guitar work on this album is incredible.
 stevesaw wrote:

Something tells me he is really good in concert.


Even though he can't play all his songs anymore, he still has a most excellent show, and his guitar work is still phenomenal. Saw him in June 2023. It was magical when the row or two in the theater center started singing backup vocals during Where The Lions Are,  
 Steely_D wrote:

A buddy, who's also friends with Margo Timmons and Steve Forbert and has spent decades in the music industry, recently told me that he had a chance to meet Cockburn, and told him how much he loved Circles in the Stream.
Bruce cut him off, dismissively, and said he wasn't that guy any more. A real disappointing "don't meet your heroes" thing.



wow. i totally feel that way about "meeting your heroes." i don't want my view of them (their talent, etc.) to be sullied by them having a bad day when i meet them, or whatever. i had the opportunity to meet chris cornell and kim thayil (sp?). i literally ran right into them at a festival back in the early 90s. i just stared and said "excuse me," then moved away before speaking or hearing them speak. i was afraid i'd be crushed if they were jerks. 

anyway, bill must really, really love bruce because he's played in heavy, heavy rotation. at LEAST once a day. it's too much for me. i get that he is talented, it's just not for me. it'd be nice if he could be put on pause for a while...
After all these years, I have to bump it to a 9. The melody is beautiful, the music excellent and the lyric paints such a beautiful picture in my mind.
A buddy, who's also friends with Margo Timmons and Steve Forbert and has spent decades in the music industry, recently told me that he had a chance to meet Cockburn, and told him how much he loved Circles in the Stream.
Bruce cut him off, dismissively, and said he wasn't that guy any more. A real disappointing "don't meet your heroes" thing.
Not enough Bruce Cockburn.  Think i need to broaden my BC collection.  Thanks RP.
This one song has made my bass-playing nipples hard for year!
 martinc wrote:

Anyone who plays Bruce Cockburn appreciates music. Bruce was born here in Ottawa and lived here for much of his early days. When I was 16 I snuck into a local coffee house to watch him play. He was good then and then his musicianship flourished and his poetry evolved to try to capture the human condition. I have lost track of the number of times I have seen his show whether solo or with his bands. I am glad his is still getting "airplay" somewhere and alternative venues like RP still let others hear his stuff. Explore his discography I don't think you will be disappointed. But you know I am Canadian, eh. 



really great info I'm jealous you've seen him play! I've been a huge fan since college in the late 80s when everyone was listening to metalhead music. Discovered on NPR 90.1 DFW, TX!
Ooh that transition from BNL's Lovers In A Dangerous Time 
 stevesaw wrote:

Something tells me he is really good in concert.




yep!
 kwacka wrote:

Mid-75s please.

Guess my age.



More Gordie Lightfoot ... guess mine. 
Huge Bruce Cockburn fan here from the Great White North....(take off, eh!).  Used to put this album on every Saturday morning while I cleaned the kitchen and made brunch for the fam...Puts me at Peace in my Heart! Thank you, Bruce <3
 davideuv wrote:

I didn't know him and i like so much, but since I hear RP I know much more more musicians and music than I know italian radio. I'm sorry for my english, but i'm studying only 3 years and not so often. I'm a self - taught. Good Music for everyone!


You're English is better than many native speakers!!

Italian and Portuguese are both languages I feel I understand and really want to learn to speak. Keep studying to both of us!

and I'm still a fan of Bruce and this tune in particular. Love the kick drum and overall vibe on this one.

Long Live RP and all the RP listeners, English speaking or otherwise!!
 martinc wrote:

Anyone who plays Bruce Cockburn appreciates music. Bruce was born here in Ottawa and lived here for much of his early days. When I was 16 I snuck into a local coffee house to watch him play. He was good then and then his musicianship flourished and his poetry evolved to try to capture the human condition. I have lost track of the number of times I have seen his show whether solo or with his bands. I am glad his is still getting "airplay" somewhere and alternative venues like RP still let others hear his stuff. Explore his discography I don't think you will be disappointed. But you know I am Canadian, eh. 



I didn't know him and i like so much, but since I hear RP I know much more more musicians and music than I know italian radio. I'm sorry for my english, but i'm studying only 3 years and not so often. I'm a self - taught. Good Music for everyone!
Bruce Cockburn is my favourite mystic
"This is the part you have to sing .... you HAVE to sing."
B. Cockburn
 kwacka wrote:

Mid-75s please.

Guess my age.

60 + - 2 years, probably minus
This is an amazing song from an amazing time... He wasn't widely known by me until my neighbor and I, David Hopewell, a groovy guy from Jersey, in 1983. heard him sing on KBCO (cool and fairly independent at the time), "If I had a rocket launcher.../ some son of a bitch would DIE!" and though many stations would not air him after that, my admiration of him has only increased over the years. Thanks, RP for doing him justice with fair and frequent play. He's a treasure!
 xkolibuul wrote:

Has aged far better than most other late 70s things.


Mid-75s please.

Guess my age.
 Lyndont wrote:
One of my favourite Bruce Cockburn albums. In fact the first one I heard at Naim Audio‘s stand at a hi-fi show in Germany. I have been a fan ever since and try to see him every time he comes to England, which is not often enough.
 
Bruce is worth seeing anywhere he plays. Hope he keeps doing it once there are any shows again. And hope he plays in or around San Francisco soon, where he and I (two Canadians from Ottawa) now live!
 Phlegmaticman wrote:
I thought this was David Byrne.
 
Can't say that I hear DB in BC. They could hardly be more different to my ears...
 R7-12 wrote:
Been listening to this for 30 + years and it's still near the top of my list of favorites. Great guitar work, melody, and lyric.
 
Has aged far better than most other late 70s things.

 ImaOldman wrote:
I saw Bruce at the Guitar Town festival in Copper Mtn, CO a couple of years ago, the dude is a monster guitar player live.
 
from one oldman to another, grinning like the Cheshire Cat!  I'm from texas, don't hate...lol, I did get to see the Dead w/ Warren Haynes 3 of the 5 shows at Red Rocks in 07 I believe!  Fukingroovin' man! Beautiful!  I am grateful for RP fore turning me on to Elephant Revival!  Love to see them too!
Something tells me he is really good in concert.
Needs more xylophone
I thought this was David Byrne at first.
 lizardking wrote:

What do you prefer to this?  I could look and see what you've rated highly and lowly if I were so inclined.  I guess I'm not.  So don't answer if you don't want to. 

I will say I do like this, has sort of a George Benson "Breezin'" vibe to it, esp. at the end. 

Peace, drugs, love, RnR, whatever, in whatever order.

*Edit* Having heard this track now several times (or at least 2 really good times, one bumping in my truck and once with good headphones on) I had to bump my original 7 rating to an 8, with another bump to 9 possible.  Bruce is da man!


 
Somewhere along the line I in fact did up my 8 to a 9....Long Live RP!!
Only 7 to me
One of my favourite Bruce Cockburn albums. In fact the first one I heard at Naim Audio‘s stand at a hi-fi show in Germany. I have been a fan ever since and try to see him every time he comes to England, which is not often enough.
I saw Bruce at the Guitar Town festival in Copper Mtn, CO a couple of years ago, the dude is a monster guitar player live.
 gmichaelt wrote:
Way ahead of his time, what with that album cover being among the finest examples of cultural appropriation ever to surface... /sarc

 
Regarding the cover/artist:
Norval Morrisseau
CM (March 14, 1932 – December 4, 2007), also known as Copper Thunderbird, was an Aboriginal Canadian artist. Known as the "Picasso of the North", Morrisseau created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between native Canadian and European traditions, his existential struggles, and his deep spirituality and mysticism. His style is characterized by thick black outlines and bright colors. He founded the Woodlands School of Canadian art and was a prominent member of the “Indian Group of Seven”.
 ubuntourist wrote:
Interesting segue from Joni Mitchell to this. I can imagine her covering this or him covering her stuff...

 
Bill's segues are art.

Here is a link to an Ideas (a Canadian Broadcasting Company show) episode, (#7 in an award-winning series called "The Wire"), which discusses the impact of electricity on music. In this episode, the discussion includes quite a strong argument that many DJ's are artists. Bill is certainly one such!

Thank you, Radio Paradise!
Very underrated vocalist and songwriter imho
wonderful.
Interesting segue from Joni Mitchell to this. I can imagine her covering this or him covering her stuff...
Way ahead of his time, what with that album cover being among the finest examples of cultural appropriation ever to surface... /sarc
 lily34 wrote:
he's the worst?

 
What do you prefer to this?  I could look and see what you've rated highly and lowly if I were so inclined.  I guess I'm not.  So don't answer if you don't want to. 

I will say I do like this, has sort of a George Benson "Breezin'" vibe to it, esp. at the end. 

Long Live RP!!

*Edit* Having heard this track now several timesI had to bump my original 7 rating to an 8, with another bump to 9 possible.  Bruce is da man!


 lily34 wrote:
he's the worst?

 
Not at all.
Bruce is god-like, in my opinion.  This album was and will always remain a superb piece of work.
he's the worst?
off my favorite bruce cockburn album,no doubt about it.
Ah, yes, time for a CanCon bone. Or two. Strung together.

Joni Mitchell — Dreamland
Bruce Cockburn — Creation Dream


Memories come flooding back of how this whole album brightened my life at a very down time.
 willmcnaught wrote:

That is BONEHEAD  thinking {#Moon}

 
I was joking. {#Nyah}
 Schmoogsley wrote:

Bruce is from Ottawa? Hmmm, I don't like him anymore. 

 
That is BONEHEAD  thinking {#Moon}
 ThePoose wrote:
M Ottawa homey!!
 

 
Bruce is from Ottawa? Hmmm, I don't like him anymore. 
 skyguy wrote:
This is a good one to test those new speakers you just bought.....TURN IT UP

 
Boy, you're not kidding. Sure sounds good on MY stereo. 
M Ottawa homey!!
 
This is a good one to test those new speakers you just bought.....TURN IT UP
{#Hearteyes}

A Canadian treasure for over 40 years!
 Cynaera wrote:
I don't have a memory attached to this song - I just know I love it. {#Sunny}

 


This sounds like something that Donald Fagan rejected. Don't mind Bruce Cockburn, but then again I wouldn't consider myself a fan. It's miles above Steve Winwood or Traffic...but meh...
Broooce! One of his best albums.
 
Beauty, eh. 
1979? Say it ain't so!

Pleasant memories of grad skul and having this on the turntable while I read on the front porch, windows open and neighbors walking by in the student ghetto. 
 R7-12 wrote:
One of my all-time favourites along with "Hills of Morning" - both awesome!

 
{#Sunny}Yes, you just don't get it much better than his stuff from this time period. Never get tired of hearing it.
This sounds so summery -- like I should be listening to it in sight of an ocean while enjoying a cool beverage under a palm tree.
One of my all-time favourites along with "Hills of Morning" - both awesome!

This is wonderful, thanks.


 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:

What a splendid idea!

https://brucecockburn.com/tour/ 

 
I just checked this on a whim.  I don't believe it.  He was just up from the coast from here, TODAY.  Would have loved to catch the show.  Oh well, hopefully next time!


 idiot_wind wrote:
This guy needs to tour!

Richard Thompson (another very good guitar player) is touring...in the midwest!  

 
What a splendid idea!

https://brucecockburn.com/tour/ 
This guy needs to tour!

Richard Thompson (another very good guitar player) is touring...in the midwest!  
Decent album track.  All the inventive bits- good chord progression, good musicianship, good melody.  Fade was a cop-out and never a good idea for a studio song.
What an awesome groundbreaking album from a true poet, in his prime.  I've kind of moved on but BC was my #1 go-to listen in the early/mid 80's.  "I'm a loner, with a loner's point of view." 
Been listening to this for 30 + years and it's still near the top of my list of favorites. Great guitar work, melody, and lyric.
 And an old one, at that!
{#Bananapiano}rtree wrote:

 


 YES!!!
{#Bananajumprope}martinc wrote:
Stand up, salute and tip my hat to RP for playing Bruce's music. 
 


 leafmold wrote:
moved from a two to a one
 
yeah, i don't like any of his stuff.
Stand up, salute and tip my hat to RP for playing Bruce's music. 
Geez, can't believe how great Bruce is and people talk about his name.
 fredriley wrote:

Er, any "Limey" (is that term still going? It dates back to WWII) knows exactly how "Cockburn" is pronounced. However, having "cock" in your name, however it's pronounced, would certainly lead to piss-taking at school. A "cheap shot" maybe, but kids like cheap shots and will take any excuse to rip the piss out of someone. Could be worse - imagine the school life of Ed Balls...
 
"Limey" is an older slang word than WWII, Fred. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limey

Bad names? My grandparents had a really nice neighbor named Lipton, a farmer originally from Germany. Shortly after he'd immigrated to the US, he changed his name...from Lippschitz.  
 leafmold wrote:
moved from a two to a one
 
FYI: No one gives a #2 about your bathroom adventures... 
moved from a two to a one
Beautiful...
 tuttle99 wrote:
My Absolute Favourite Bruce Song!!!!! {#Bananajam}
 
It's right up there for me too!
My Absolute Favourite Bruce Song!!!!! {#Bananajam}
Everything on this is excellent
 fredriley wrote:
Er, any "Limey" (is that term still going? It dates back to WWII)

I don't know if that's still going, but It's a bit older than WWII:

https://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Limey

Limey

Pronunciation: /ˈlʌɪmi/

noun (plural Limeys)

North American & Australian informal
 a British person.
Origin:

late 19th century: from lime2 + -y1, because of the former enforced consumption of lime juice in the British navy

I think the "enforced consumption of lime juice in the British navy" may be a couple of centuries older still.
Blimey.
 fredriley wrote:

Er, any "Limey" (is that term still going? It dates back to WWII) knows exactly how "Cockburn" is pronounced. However, having "cock" in your name, however it's pronounced, would certainly lead to piss-taking at school. A "cheap shot" maybe, but kids like cheap shots and will take any excuse to rip the piss out of someone. Could be worse - imagine the school life of Ed Balls...
 
A few years back he won a prestigious Canadian music award, nationally broadcast. The lovely young woman announcing his success made the fatal mispronunciation to the delight of all present, including a very gracious Bruce. I know I had a good giggle over it. She looked just mortified when the error was realised. Poor girl.
 meinthecorner wrote:

It's not. And he did, I'm sure. It's pronounced 'Coburn', as in the actor's name, James Coburn. You're English, I see. I' m surprised that an English name such as Cockburn would suffer such a cheap shot from any Limey.
I hope you didn't have to carry "sloggydog" all the way with you through school! 
 
Er, any "Limey" (is that term still going? It dates back to WWII) knows exactly how "Cockburn" is pronounced. However, having "cock" in your name, however it's pronounced, would certainly lead to piss-taking at school. A "cheap shot" maybe, but kids like cheap shots and will take any excuse to rip the piss out of someone. Could be worse - imagine the school life of Ed Balls...
 meinthecorner wrote:

OMG - I've thought the very same thing many times!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
It's called youtube
 jktravl wrote:
I wish I could rewind RP like a DVR on direct TV so I could listen to it again.  good stuff
 
OMG - I've thought the very same thing many times!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Sloggydog wrote:
Sure hope that is a stage name and he didn't wear it all the way through school
 
It's not. And he did, I'm sure. It's pronounced 'Coburn', as in the actor's name, James Coburn. You're English, I see. I' m surprised that an English name such as Cockburn would suffer such a cheap shot from any Limey.
I hope you didn't have to carry "sloggydog" all the way with you through school! 
Sure hope that is a stage name and he didn't wear it all the way through school
 lily34 wrote:
i usually dig the guitar on his stuff, but i can't get past the vocals. i wish i could like them...but i never seem to in any of his music.
 

Wow, I'd like to know what lyrics you DO like.  IMHO he's one of the best lyricists around.  Very poignant.
i usually dig the guitar on his stuff, but i can't get past the vocals. i wish i could like them...but i never seem to in any of his music.
So your saying your taste for music is in your mouth ?  ckcotton wrote:
Cheeeeezzzzeeee Ball

 
 


Cheeeeezzzzeeee Ball

 
One on my all-time favourites! I've seen Bruce several times since the early eighties and always enjoyed his performances immensely. My wife and I last saw him in Mission BC in 2010. We managed to get backstage and ending up chatting with Bruce for about an hour and a half. Ten minutes in we felt we were talking with an old friend - he's just a regular guy who happens to be a phenomenal guitarist, song writer, poet.

During our conversation I mentioned kd lang covering One Day I Walk on her album and Bruce told the story about when they were both doing a radio program recently and sang that as a duet. kd asked him later about the verses in the song, "One day I walk in flowers, One day I walk on stones, Today I walk in hours, One day I shall be home." Apparently she didn't get it. Interesting she was unable to perceive the context. Nevertheless, I would have loved to hear them sing together.
I wish I could rewind RP like a DVR on direct TV so I could listen to it again.  good stuff


 TwinEngine wrote:
As I understand Cockburn's musical and life progression, he was interested in "Christian mysticism" when this album came out in 1979. The sensibility of Cockburn in some of these songs is a place I'd like to be, and to me the feeling has much in common with the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich, a "German Romantic" of the early 1800s who was also very much concerned with religious themes.

On my Wikipedia user page (screw the "encyclopedia" :-)  I recently put together some lyrical snippets from each song on this album with Friedrich paintings that evoke similar images. For the one person that finds this interesting, here's a link to it.

This album rewards repeated listenings, but then that's true of every Cockburn album. You have to put work into his music, and many of us aren't so familiar with that (myself included).
 
{#Clap} Very well-articulated, TwinEngine.  I especially love the selection of images you used to accompany Cockburn's lyrics.  The first album I ever bought by him was "Stealing Fire."  I've never looked back since then - it's been quite a journey into the world of Bruce Cockburn's music, and well-worth every minute of it.

 skyguy wrote:
This always reminds me of ski bumming in Aspen 1981-82 one of the few tapes we had. We would sit outside or shack in Woody Creek in front of the fire tripping on shrooms and cranking this up. Right on the edge of a trailer park! Ahhh the 80's {#Devil_pimp}

 
There were a few of us doing the same thing in Sun Valley Idaho about the same time.  Good Times!
 laroue wrote:
Centred on silence
Counting on nothing
I saw you standing on the sea
And everything was
Dark except for
Sparks the wind struck from your hair
Sparks that turned to
Wings around you
Angel voices mixed with seabird cries
Fields of motion
Surging outward
Questions that contain their own replies... You were dancing
I saw you dancing
Throwing your arms toward the sky
Fingers opening
Like flares
Stars were shooting everywhere
Lines of power
Bursting outward
Along the channels of your song
Mercury waves flashed
Under your feet
Shots of silver in the shell-pink dawn...

 
Oh, geez... Thank you, laroue. I love this song, but I never gave it much thought until tonight, when I'm in the middle of a very horrible emotional conflict.  Trust Bruce Cockburn to provide the most beautiful images.  And to chase this with "Dreamland" by Joni Mitchell... I fear the images and magic might do me in for the night...

 laroue wrote:
Centred on silence
Counting on nothing
I saw you standing on the sea
And everything was
Dark except for
Sparks the wind struck from your hair
Sparks that turned to
Wings around you
Angel voices mixed with seabird cries
Fields of motion
Surging outward
Questions that contain their own replies... You were dancing
I saw you dancing
Throwing your arms toward the sky
Fingers opening
Like flares
Stars were shooting everywhere
Lines of power
Bursting outward
Along the channels of your song
Mercury waves flashed
Under your feet
Shots of silver in the shell-pink dawn...

 

I once knew and loved a woman who was like this song.  {#Heartkiss}

This is one of my goto songs for daydreaming. I love it! Such visual lyrics!
 westslope wrote:

martinc,

For historical perspective, Bruce was once booed off the stage at Le Hibou.

 
That was the local coffee shop I was referring to. I saw him at the Bottom Line in NYC. We ended up at a table by the stage. By then I was use to seeing him in much larger venues. I said to him - this is like Le Hibou. Caught his attention, I thought it was because I was from Ottawa, maybe he was worried I had brought the boo birds;-). It was another great show.. he was touring with Colin Linden in the band then
I don't have a memory attached to this song - I just know I love it. {#Sunny}
One of my fave Bruce albums. Beautifully produced, too; sounds great on good headphones.
This always reminds me of ski bumming in Aspen 1981-82 one of the few tapes we had. We would sit outside or shack in Woody Creek in front of the fire tripping on shrooms and cranking this up. Right on the edge of a trailer park! Ahhh the 80's {#Devil_pimp}

Played in Bozeman Montana a few years back ... One of the best shows I have ever seen !
Nice early track from Bruce. His current CDs show off his maturity in guitar playing and arrangements. Like the Tragically Hip, still another Canadian musician who's not gotten the attention in the US they deserve. Why, if I had a rocket launcher...
Love Bruce!

martinc,

For historical perspective, Bruce was once booed off the stage at Le Hibou.