40-Year-Old Songs: Lovers in a Dangerous Time

Tweet

During 1984 I was getting more and more into the “non-commercial” music. Whether it was called “college rock” of “album rock,” I didn’t care. I just knew that it made me a lot happier than every other song by Lionel Richie. So you may not have heard this, or may not remember it because it’s not played to death on classic rock these days. With that preface, here’s today’s song turning 40 this year. Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Bruce Cockburn That’s pronounced CO-burn, the way James Coburn’s name is pronounced. He’s one of the great singer/songwriters that Canada has graciously loaned the world. and, while you may not have heard of him (his two big hits, such as they were, in the US, were this and 1980’s “Wonderin’ Where the Lions Are”), he is quite popular with other singer/songwriters. U2 referenced this song in “God Part II,” and Jimmy Buffett covered at least four of his songs (“Someone I Used to Love,” “Pacing the Cage,” “All the Ways I Want You,” and “Wonderin’ Where the Lions Are”). (Yes, that Jimmy Buffett, so I’d better not hear a “nope” from a certain Parrothead. ) This is a song about the realities of modern life (and remember, this song is 40 years old, so there’s “dangerous times” going back to Adam and Eve!), with some sage advice (“never a breath you can afford to waste,” and the U2-quoted line, “You’ve got to kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight”). Cockburn has been awarded the Order of Canada, so he is quite well-known. I just with he had more success in America, because he’s a gem. Lovers in a Dangerous Time Written by Bruce Cockburn Recorded by Bruce Cockburn From Stealing Fire, 1984 These fragile bodies of touch and taste: