Bruce Cockburn The Charity of Night 1.Night Train 2.Get Up Jonah 3.Pacing the Cage 4.Mistress of Storms 5.The Whole Night Sky 6.The Coming Rains 7.Birmingham Shadows 8.The Mines of Mozambique 9.Live on My Mind 10.The Charity of Night 11.Strange Waters PRODUCED BY BRUCE COCKBURN & COLIN LINDEN Recorded & Mixed By John Whynot Additional Recording By Colin Linden Recorded at Reaction Studios, Toronto with additional recording at The Plant, Sausalito Bob Weir's studio, and Electro Magnetic Sound by Pinhead Recorders Transfers at Manta/Eastern Sound Rentals courtesy Casa Wroxton Studio Mixed at Kingsway, New Orleans Assisted by Ormond Jobin, Tom Heron, Tom Paddock, Michael McGuinn, Jo Rossi and especially Ethan Allen. Mastered By Stephen Marcussen At Precision Mastering Assisted By Ron Boustead Jacket Illustrations and Album Design by William Sienkiewicz Photo by Malcolm Burn Layout assistance by Karin Doherty All songs written by Bruce Cockburn All songs © 1996 Golden Mountain Music Corp. (BMI) All rights reserved. Used by permission. Traductions: Jane Macaulay, Marcel Moussette Direction: The Finkelstein Management Company Ltd. 151 John Street, Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2T2 Telephone: (416) 596 8696 Fax: (416) 596 6861 NIGHT TRAIN NOT A KNIFE-THROW FROM HERE YOU CAN HEAR THE NIGHT TRAIN PASSING 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'VE MADE NIGHT TRAIN ICE CUBE IN A DARK DRINK SHINES LIKE STARLIGHT THE MOON IS FLOATING SOMEWHERE OUT AT SEA I'M AN ISLAND IN THE BLUR OF NOISE AND COLOUR ALCATRAZ, ST. HELENA, PATMOS AND THE CHATEAU D'IF NIGHT TRAIN EVERYONE'S AN ISLAND EDGED WITH SAND A TEMPORARY REFUGE WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE CAN STAND TILL THE SEA THAT BINDS US LIKE THE FORCED TIDE OF A BLOOD OATH WILL WEAR IT DOWN -- DISSOLVE IT -- RECOMBINE IT ANYONE CAN DIE HERE -- THEY DO IT EVERY DAY IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH EFFORT THO IT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN AND THE ULTIMATE FORGETFULNESS OF VIOLENCE SWEEPS THE LANDSCAPE LIKE THE HEADLIGHT OF A TRAIN NIGHT TRAIN ICE CUBE IN A DARK DRINK SHINES LIKE STARLIGHT 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 A VISION THERE ARE NIGHTMARES AND IN THE ABSENCE OF COMPASSION THERE IS CANCER WHOSE BANNER FLIES OVER PALACES AND MEAN STREETS AND THE RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT TRAIN IS A MANTRA.... HALTON HILLS 6/2/96 Drums, Percussion: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Backup Vocals: Jonatha Brooke & Patty Larkin (Harmony Verse 4) Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn GET UP JONAH (I WOKE UP THINKING ABOUT TURKISH DRUMMERS IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG-- I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT TURKISH DRUMMERS-- BUT IT MADE ME THINK OF GERMANY AND THE GUY WHO SOLD ME CIGARETTES WHO'D BEEN IN THE AFGHAN SECRET POLICE WHO MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT IT'S HARD TO LIVE THEN I WAS REMINDED OF THE PROPRIETOR OF A VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT IN QUEBEC WHO USED TO BE HEAD OF THE SECRET POLICE IN DA NANG-- AND IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I WAS THINKING ALL THIS STUFF TO KEEP FROM THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE... ISN'T THAT JUST WHAT SECRET POLICE ARE ALL ABOUT ???) SOMEBODY STANDS IN A WINDOW WATCHES THE RIVER ROLL TRAINS RUMBLE IN THE FOREGROUND WITH THE WEIGHT OF APPROACHING DAWN FLAMES FROM THE REFINERY RISE BROKEN, RED AND RIVETING AND THE HIGH VAULT OF HEAVEN LOOKS FAR AWAY AND COLD THERE'S HOWLING IN THE FACTORY YARD THERE'S POUNDING IN MY HEAD I'M SWOLLEN UP WITH UNSHED TEARS BLOATED LIKE THE DEAD........ BLOOD AND ASHES-- TIME BURNING ON THE SKYLINE DARK AGAINST THE STARS A SOLITARY HORSEMAN-- WAITING LASHED TO THE WHEEL WHIPPING INTO THE STORM GET UP JONAH IT'S YOUR TIME TO BE BORN HALTON HILLS 10/10/95 Drums: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Vibes: Gary Burton Backup Vocals: Ani DiFranco & Jonatha Brooke Resophonic & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn PACING THE CAGE SUNSET IS AN ANGEL WEEPING HOLDING OUT A BLOODY SWORD NO MATTER HOW I SQUINT I CANNOT MAKE OUT WHAT IT'S POINTING TOWARD SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE LIVED TOO LONG DAYS DRIP SLOWLY ON THE PAGE YOU CATCH YOURSELF PACING THE CAGE I'VE PROVEN WHO I AM SO MANY TIMES THE MAGNETIC STRIP'S WORN THIN AND EACH TIME I WAS SOMEONE ELSE AND EVERYONE WAS TAKEN IN POWERS CHATTER IN HIGH PLACES STIR UP EDDIES IN THE DUST OF RAGE SET ME TO PACING THE CAGE I NEVER KNEW WHAT YOU ALL WANTED SO I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING ALL THAT I COULD PILLAGE ALL THE SPELLS THAT I COULD SING IT'S AS IF THE THING WERE WRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AGE SOONER OR LATER YOU'LL WIND UP PACING THE CAGE SOMETIMES THE BEST MAP WILL NOT GUIDE YOU YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT'S ROUND THE BEND SOMETIMES THE ROAD LEADS THROUGH DARK PLACES SOMETIMES THE DARKNESS IS YOUR FRIEND TODAY THESE EYES SCAN BLEACHED-OUT LAND FOR THE COMING OF THE OUTBOUND STAGE PACING THE CAGE PACING THE CAGE PHILADELPHIA 24/6/95 Bass: Rob Wasserman Keyboards: Janice Powers Acoustic Guitar & Vocal: Bruce Cockburn MISTRESS OF STORMS Vibes: Gary Burton Acoustic Guitar: Bruce Cockburn THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS I MADE IT TOO HARD EVERY PLACE THEY TOUCHED ME IS A LACERATION NOW SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND KNOCKS YOU OFF YOUR FEET AND LOOK -- SEE MY TEARS -- THEY FILL THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY DERAILED AND DESPERATE HOW DID I GET HERE ? HANGING FROM THIS HIGH WIRE BY THE TATTERS OF MY FAITH SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND KNOCKS YOU OFF YOUR FEET AND LOOK -- SEE MY TEARS -- THEY FILL THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY SOMETIMES A WIND COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND KNOCKS YOU SIDEWAYS AND LOOK -- SEE MY TEARS -- THEY FILL THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY COLOGNE 27/6/94 Drums, Percussion: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Mandolin: Colin Linden Accordion: Joe Macerollo Low, Wiggly Keyboard: Janice Powers Slide Guitar: Bonnie Raitt Harmony: Bob Weir Acoustic Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn THE COMING RAINS ALL DAY THE MOUNTAINS ROSE BEHIND A VEIL OF SMOKE FROM BURNING FIELDS AND ROAD DUST DYEING BLACK SKIN BRONZE AND THE ROAD ROLLING LIKE A ROUGH SEA IT'S QUIET NOW JUST CRICKETS AND A DOG FIGHT SOME- WHERE IN THE FAR AWAY IN MY HEART I HOLD YOUR PHOTOGRAPH AND THE THOUGHT OF YOU COMES ON LIKE THE FEEL OF THE COMING RAINS HOT BREEZE RAN ITS FINGERS THROUGH THE LONG GRASS OF A THATCHED ROOF EAVE THEY STUCK ME IN THE ONLY CHAIR THEY HAD WHILE THEY COOKED CASSAVA AND A LUCKLESS HEN THEY ASKED FOR ONE WELL THREE LANTERNS AND 200 LITreS OF FUEL AND I SAID "WHO ME?" AND THE TIME FOR PLANTING'S COMING SOON AND THE THOUGHT OF YOU COMES ON LIKE THE FEEL OF THE COMING RAINS IN THE TOWN NEON FLICKERS IN THE RUINS SEVEN CROWS SWOOP PAST THE LUSCIOUS MOON IF I HAD WINGS LIKE THOSE THERE'D BE NO WAITING I'D COME PANTING TO YOUR DOOR AND SLIDE LIKE SMOKE INTO YOUR ROOM ALL DAY THE MOUNTAINS ROSE BEHIND A VEIL OF SMOKE FROM BURNING FIELDS AND ROAD DUST DYeING BLACK SKIN BRONZE AND THE ROAD ROLLING LIKE A ROUGH SEA IT'S QUIET NOW JUST CRICKETS AND A DOG FIGHT SOME- WHERE IN THE FAR AWAY IN MY HEART I HOLD YOUR PHOTOGRAPH AND THE THOUGHT OF YOU COMES ON LIKE THE FEEL OF THE COMING RAINS AND THE TIME FOR PLANTING'S COMING SOON AND THE THOUGHT OF YOU COMES ON LIKE THE FEEL OF THE COMING RAINS QUELIMANE 11/9/95 Drums, Tambourine: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Vibes: Gary Burton Harmonies: Maria Muldaur, Jonatha Brooke & Patty Larkin Dobro & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn BIRMINGHAM SHADOWS BIRMINGHAM JUST BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN SPARSE STREETLAMPS GLOW IN HOT HALFMOON HAZE SHADOWS SHORTEN INTO LITTLE BLACK POOLS THEN ELONGATE BEHIND WE WALK, TALK SOME, LAUGH SOME WORKED HARD, NOW WIRED AND HANGING OUT I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ALL ABOUT (CURIOUS TOO WHAT THAT DARK SHAPE IN THE HARD SHINY CRUISER MIGHT DO) AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GIVING OUT OF YOUR OWN CURIOSITY AND TENSE ENERGY-- TATTOO ON CHEST LIKE THE KEY TO THE PUZZLE OF YOUR PUMPING HEART WEARING YOUR SHADOWS ALL OVER YOUR SLEEVE WEARING THE ROLE OF THE YOUNG UPSTART BIRMINGHAM SHADOWS FALL YOU SHOW A LITTLE-- I LET SOMETHING SHOW TOO IT 'S NOW OR NOT AT ALL OUT ON THE ROAD IT'S ALWAYS INSTANT GET-TO-KNOW-YOU UNDER VELVET TREES TOWERING LIKE THE SIDES OF A WELL BEFORE THE EMPTY TOO BRIGHT OFFICE BLOCKS (WHICH WE ARE ADMONISHED NOT TO ENTER) POLICEMAN STUDIES US FINDS US CONFUSING MORE AMUSING THAN THREAT MOVES ON BEMUSED... PAVEMENT SPIRALS DOWN AHEAD LIKE THE FOSSIL OF A GIANT SHELL ALONG THE KINGDOM'S MIDNIGHT MARCHES I WEAR MY SHADOWS WHERE THEY'RE HARDER TO SEE BUT THEY FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE-- I GUESS THAT SHOULD TELL ME I'M TRAVELLING TOWARD LIGHT I GUESS SOMETHING YOU SANG MADE ME REMEMBER THAT I GUESS I'M SAYING THANKS FOR THAT... BIRMINGHAM SHADOWS FALL ' ETC... HEAD FULL OF HORRORS HEART FULL OF NIGHT AT HOME IN THE DARKNESS BUT HUNGRY FOR DAWN I CAN ONLY REMEMBER SCENES, NEVER THE STORIES I LIVE THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT IS IT'S EASY TO FORGIVE CAN'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THIS WE'RE NOMADS FOLLOW OUR OWN SONGLINES- - WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD STRIKE BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN? BUT IF I FALL DOWN AND DIE WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE I GIVE YOU THIS: YOU'LL HAVE LOST A FRIEND. BIRMINGHAM SHADOWS FALL, ETC... HALTON HILLS 8/7/95 Drums: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Vibes: Gary Burton Resophonic Guitar, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn THE MINES OF MOZAMBIQUE THERE'S A BROAD RIVER WINDING THROUGH THIS AFRICAN LOWLAND THE MOON IS HELD UP ORANGE AND BIG SEE IT RAISE ITS HANDS AND THE LAST FERRY'S PULLING OUT WITH NO PLACE LEFT TO STAND FOR THE MINES OF MOZAMBIQUE THERE'S A WEALTH OF AMPUTATION WAITING IN THE GROUND BUT NO ONE CAN REMEMBER WHERE THEY PUT IT DOWN IF YOU'RE THE CHILD WHO FINDS IT THERE YOU WILL RISE UPON THE SOUND OF THE MINES OF MOZAMBIQUE SOME MEN ROB THE PASSERSBY FOR A BIT OF CASH TO SPEND SOME MEN ROB WHOLE COUNTRIES DRY AND STILL GET CALLED THEIR FRIEND AND UNDER THE FEEDING FRENZY THERE'S A WOUND THAT WILL NOT MEND IN THE MINES OF MOZAMBIQUE NIGHT, LIKE PEACE, IS A STATE OF SUSPENSION TOMORROW THE HEAT WILL RISE AND MIST WILL HIDE THE MARSHY FIELDS THE MANGO AND THE CASHEW TREES WHICH ONLY NOW THEY'RE CLEARING BRUSH FROM UNDER RUSTED HUSKS OF BLOWN-UP TRUCKS LINE THE ROADWAY NORTH OF TOWN LIKE PASSING THROUGH A SCULPTURE GALLERY WAR IS THE ARTIST BUT HE'S SLEEPING NOW AND SOMEBODY WILL BE PEDDLING VIALS OF PENICILLIN STOLEN OUT OF ALL THE MEDICAL KITS SENT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND IN A BARE WORKSHOP THEY'LL BE MOLDING PLASTIC INTO LITTLE PROSTHETIC LIMBS FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS ARTIST AND FOR THOSE WHO FARM THE SOIL THAT RECEIVED HIS BITTER SEED... THE ALL-NIGHT STRAGGLERS STAGGER HOME COCKS BEGIN TO CROW AND SINGING BIRDS ARE STARTING UP TELLING WHAT THEY KNOW AND AFTER AWHILE THE SUN WILL COME AND WE'LL SEE WHAT IT WILL SHOW OF THE MINES OF MOZAMBIQUE QUELIMANE 11/9/95 Drums, Percussion: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Mongolian Keyboard Thing: Janice Powers Backup Vocals and arrangement: Jonatha Brooke Resophonic & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn LIVE ON MY MIND SEE YOU STANDING IN THE DOOR AGAINST THE DARK FIREFLIES AROUND YOU LIKE A CROWN OF SPARKS YOU BLOW ME A KISS THAT BLURS MY VISION BLURS THE HUMAN CONDITION YOU'RE THE OCEAN RINGING IN MY BRAIN YOU ARE MY ISLAND RIPE WITH CANE CATCH THE SCENT OF STRANGE FLOWERS WHEN YOU PASS FLUID MOTION LIKE THE WIND IN GRASS IT'S YOUR EYES I WANT TO SEE LOOKING INTO MINE GOT YOU LIVE ON MY MIND ALL THE TIME LIGHT ME LIKE INCENSE IN THE NIGHT LIGHT ME LIKE A CANDLE BURNING BRIGHT LIGHT ME LIKE A SEARCHLIGHT IN THE SKY TIME MEANS NOTHING WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES IT'S YOUR EYES I WANT TO SEE LOOKING INTO MINE GOT YOU LIVE ON MY MIND ALL THE TIME MAUI ?/1/93 Drums: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Vibes: Gary Burton Keyboard: Janice Powers Harmonies: Jonatha Brooke Resophonic & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn THE CHARITY OF NIGHT BIG CITY EUROPA-- JULY OF 64-- IT'S 5 AM WEATHER BLOWING BITTER OFF THE BALTIC CAR SLOWS BESIDE HIM AS HE WALKS HUBCAP SLOW REVOLUTION JAUNDICED LOOKING POCKMARKED FACE ROUND IN WINDOW SHORT GREASY BLACK BEARD A COUPLE OF LANGUAGE STABS SETTLE ON ENGLISH "IT'S COLD-- I GIVE YOU RIDE DON'T YOU WANT TO KISS ME?" THIS GOES ON HALFWAY ACROSS THE COBBLED BRIDGE DRIVER PULLS AHEAD-- GETS OUT BY THE CONSTRUCTION FENCE AMBLES TOWARD HIM RUBBING THE BULGE IN HIS PANTS IN HIS JACKET IS THE REVOLVER THE HAND IS ALREADY IN THE POCKET FOR WARMTH AND FINGERS SLIDE EASILY AROUND WOOD GRIPS SLOW AS THAT PREDATOR'S FOOTSTEPS THE GUN COMES OUT ARM STRAIGHTENS-- SIGHT BLADE BISECTING YELLOW FOREHEAD WIND-- BLUE METAL STREETLIGHT-- FAINT TWILIGHT SHINING ON THE CORNERS OF STONES WAVE ON WAVE OF LIFE LIKE THE GREAT WIDE OCEAN'S ROLL HAUNTING HANDS OF MEMORY PLUCK SILVER STRANDS OF SOUL THE DAMAGE AND THE DYING DONE THE CLARITY OF LIGHT GENTLE BOWS AND GLASSES RAISED TO THE CHARITY OF NIGHT SLOW REVOLUTION-- 1985-- CROSSWISE IN A HAMMOCK IN THE HOT VOLCANIC HILLS IT'S 3AM THE NIGHT AFTER THE AIR RAID FROM THE RIDGE SHE WATCHED A37S, LIKE UGLY GULLS, MAKE A DOZEN SWOOPING PASSES OVER SOME LUCKLESS TOWN MAYBE TEN KLIKS BEYOND THE BORDER IN THE DISTANCE THE PACIFIC GLIMMERED SILVER NOW LASCIVIOUS LAUGHTER FLOATS ON THE DARKNESS FROM THE POLICE POST NEXT DOOR-- MALE VOICES-- AND A WOMAN'S-- LITTLE CLOUDS OF DESIRE PAINTED ROUND THE EDGES WITH RUM. IN THE MUDDY STREET A PIG SUDDENLY SCREAMS WAVE ON WAVE OF LIFE LIKE THE GREAT WIDE OCEAN'S ROLL HAUNTING HANDS OF MEMORY PLUCK SILVER STRANDS OF SOUL THE DAMAGE AND THE DYING DONE THE CLARITY OF LIGHT GENTLE BOWS AND GLASSES RAISED TO THE CHARITY OF NIGHT PACIFIC GLIMMERS SILVER MOON FULL OVER SHADOW MANSION WEST COAST-- CAN'T SAY WHEN THERE IS INCENSE AND THE HEAT DRIVEN SCENT OF FLOWERS TONGUE SLIDES OVER SOFT SKIN LOVE POUNDS IN VEINS BRAINS BUZZING BALLS OF LUST FINGERS TWINE IN WET HAIR LIMBS TWIST AND ROLL ON THE DRESSER WAX DRIPS IN SLOW MOTION DOWN THE LONG SIDE OF A BLACK CANDLE-- ECSTATIC HALO OF FLAME AND PHEROMONE-- WAVE ON WAVE OF LIFE LIKE THE GREAT WIDE OCEAN'S ROLL HAUNTING HANDS OF MEMORY PLUCK SILVER STRANDS OF SOUL THE DAMAGE AND THE DYING DONE THE CLARITY OF LIGHT GENTLE BOWS AND GLASSES RAISED TO THE CHARITY OF NIGHT SCHENECTADY, NY 29/10/94 Bass: Rob Wasserman Vibes: Gary Burton Accordion: Joe Macerollo Mandolin: Colin Linden Acoustic Guitar, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn STRANGE WATERS I'VE SEEN A HIGH CAIRN KISSED BY HOLY WIND SEEN A MIRROR POOL CUT BY GOLDEN FINS SEEN ALLEYS WHERE THEY HIDE THE TRUTH OF CITIES THE MAD WHOSE BLESSING YOU MUST ACCEPT WITHOUT PITY I'VE STOOD IN AIRPORTS' GUARDED GLASS AND CHROME WALKED RIFLED ROADS AND LANDMINED LOAM SEEN A FOREST IN FLAMES RIGHT DOWN TO THE ROAD BURNED IN LOVE TILL I SEEN MY HEART EXPLODE YOU BEEN LEADING ME BESIDE STRANGE WATERS ACROSS THE CONCRETE FIELDS OF MAN SUN RAY LIKE A CAMERA PANS SOME WILL RUN AND SOME WILL STAND EVERYTHING IS BULLSHIT BUT THE OPEN HAND OH YOU BEEN LEADING ME BESIDE STRANGE WATERS STREAMS OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT BUT WHERE IS MY PASTURELAND IN THESE DARK VALLEYS? IF I LOOSE MY GRIP WILL I TAKE FLIGHT? HALTON HILLS 7/11/95 Drums: Gary Craig Bass: Rob Wasserman Backup Vocals: Jonatha Brooke & Patty Larkin Resophonic & Electric Guitars, Vocal: Bruce Cockburn