Melting Pot Melting? Spring 1997

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Bruce Cockburn

The Charity of Night

(True North/Rykodisk, 1997)

"Sometimes the best map will not guide you/you can't see what's 'round the bend."

BruceCockburn is on a journey. Twenty-seven years and twenty-three albums ago, who would have thought that the young neopagan acoustic folk singer from Canada would undergo a conversion to the Christian faith (represented by the album Salt, Sun, and Time, 1974), or that he would claim the influence of Charles Williams and C. S. Lewis in his work (Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws, 1979)? Who would have thought that his faith would then be severely tested—and deepened—by his experience of a marriage

breakdown (the pain of which is vividly portrayed on the album Humans, 1980) in tandem with his exposure to the suffering of people in a variety of Third World countries, casualties of war and of oppressive political regimes (represented by albums like The Trouble With Normal, 1983; Stealing fire, 1984; and World of Wonders, 1985)? Through these experiences, Cockburn came not only to highlight such new themes as justice and suffering in his lyrics, but also to experiment with new musical idioms, blending influences from reggae, blues, jazz, and rock (among many others) with his original folk style.

While no one could have predicted the path his life or music has taken, there are many Christians who have been profoundly grateful to God for Bruce Cockburn. His blend of a deep love for God with a passion for shalom, articulated with great intelligence, honesty, and—not least—musical

and lyrical brilliance, has brought Cockburn a loyal following (both among Christians and other fellow travellers) over the years. In this, Cockburn has been something of a model, giving voice to many ...

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