If there ever was a singer/artist who could say what I needed to say (or not say), it is Bruce Cockburn (pronounced Co’burn). For those who have never heard of Bruce Cockburn, the gist is he has put out around 30 albums over 40 years; he is to Canada what Dylan and Springsteen are to America.
Bruce’s experiences of faith, spirituality, Jesus and living an authentic life following one’s heart are rich, textured patches that sewn together make for a disquieting yet comfortable Soulpatch Quilt; one where God is love and truth can bite you in the arse as much as it can coddle you in comfort.
That being said, the lyrics from his song, “Pacing the Cage” speak well to where I feel these days. The song can be heard at the following link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN2uMVYwmqc – and the lyrics followed down below.
“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 live 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 every one 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.
soulpatch.net 