[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Bruce Cockburn — Night Train
Album: Charity of Night
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2052









Released: 1997
Length: 6:05
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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 have made

Night Train...
Night Train...

Ice cube in a dark drink shines like starlight
The moon is floating somewhere out at sea
On an island in the blur of noise and color
Alcatraz, St. Alina, Patmos and the Chateau D'if

Night Train...
Night Train...

And everyone's an island edged with sand
A temporary refuge where somebody else can stand
Till the sea that binds us like the forced tie 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 though it goes against the grain
And the ultimate forgetfulness of violence
Sweeps the landscape like a 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...
Night Train...

And in the absence of a vision there are nightmares
And in the absence of compassion there is cancer
Whose banner waves over palaces and mean streets
And the rhythm of the night train is a mantra
Comments (247)add comment
 cc_rider wrote:'
I thought you were making $hit up, but in fact you're right. No more clickety-clack. 

Stuff you learn on RP...
c.


"clickety clack, clickety clack, the wheels are sayin' to the railroad track 'well if you go you can't come back" 
 robert_uk wrote:

...is that killer bass line from Billy Cobham's "Stratus"?



Believe it's a fretless standup. 
 nickferrante858 wrote:

That bass line is sick!


Sick indeed, in a good way of course.  
Bass player is Rob Wasserman, who I must confess I am not familiar with. Looks like he's won a few fans with this offering.
I'm getting big Warren Zevon vibes from this guy.  I really like it, thanks for introducing it, RP!!  AAA-uuuuuuuuuuu!
...is that killer bass line from Billy Cobham's "Stratus"?
There is only one night train... and Coleman Francis is the conductor.
 
 cc_rider wrote:
I thought you were making $hit up, but in fact you're right. No more clickety-clack. 

Stuff you learn on RP...
c.




🤣🤣🤣
fretless acoustic bass guitar... or god? hmmmm
Very cool bass work in this, but the guitars are weak.
Great song! Great artist!. 35 or so albums filled with moments like this song. 
The instrumental break at the end is really worth the wait...love it.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
. . . and in the absence of a vision there are nightmares
and in the absence of compassion there is cancer . . .




this song moves me in so many ways... 
 tonyinnj wrote:
 

Along with Mad Dog 20-20 (Mogen David), Ripple, Irish Rose, and dozens of others...
Night Train is a brand of "fortified wine". Think: Welch's grape juice with a heavy 
dose of Everclear...Otherwise known as "bum wine"...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.

Familiar with all of those, thanks to a misspent youth in OneHorseTown, SC.  

You forgot Boone's Farm.  It came in two flavors ... although I don't remember either.  
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

it was a great loss to civilization when rail lines switched to diagonal breather switches instead of parallel ones.


Hello?  Is that Sheldon Cooper?
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

it was a great loss to civilization when rail lines switched to diagonal breather switches instead of parallel ones.




Good one!
 Queue wrote:

I'm going to have to seek out some more Rob Wasserman, that's some amazing bass work!



8 --> 9 for that fabulous bass playing!
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

it was a great loss to civilization when rail lines switched to diagonal breather switches instead of parallel ones.

I thought you were making $hit up, but in fact you're right. No more clickety-clack. 

Stuff you learn on RP...
c.

I'm going to have to seek out some more Rob Wasserman, that's some amazing bass work!
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

it was a great loss to civilization when rail lines switched to diagonal breather switches instead of parallel ones.




I'll take your word on that.
it was a great loss to civilization when rail lines switched to diagonal breather switches instead of parallel ones.
I think that's the late Rob Wasserman on double bass.
there aren't enough Juno's to award this guy
L.A Woman
One of my favorite Bruce Cockburn tunes... get up and dance! Love the sound of a night train too
That bass line is sick!
That is a chugger. Love it
KILLER!
 Michael_Dean wrote:
Anyone can die here, they do it every day
It doesn't take much effort, though it goes against the grain
And the ultimate forgetfulness of violence
Sweeps the landscape like a 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...
Night Train...

Along with Mad Dog 20-20 (Mogen David), Ripple, Irish Rose, and dozens of others...
Night Train is a brand of "fortified wine". Think: Welch's grape juice with a heavy 
dose of Everclear...Otherwise known as "bum wine"...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Sprezzatura.
 Brammer wrote:
I need 11 for this song. That base line...
 
A 'Night Train' indeed!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Bruce is a kick-ass guitar player.
 
Amen!  

;NR=1&feature=fvwp
Night Train
Bruce Cockburn: Acoustic and Electric Guitar and Vocal
Gary Craig: Drums, Percussion
Rob Wasserman: Bass         RIP
Jonatha Brooke and Patty Larkin: Vocals
Lyrics are good, but the rambling bass is fab-oh-lah!  As always, Mr. Cockburn's iconic voice slides perfectly into his aural environment.
Love Bruce a Canadian Icon...just like the Tragically Hip...great tunes! Thanx Bill for playing music that touches us dearly.
I need 11 for this song. That base line...
 ImaOldman wrote:
I Saw Bruce at Guitar Town Fest at Copper Mountain a few years ago. I had been a fan for a while but never really appreciated what a monster guitar player he is until then. Awesome!
 
Bruce is a kick-ass guitar player.
I Saw Bruce at Guitar Town Fest at Copper Mountain a few years ago. I had been a fan for a while but never really appreciated what a monster guitar player he is until then. Awesome!
 dolfan wrote:
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 have made

These lines alone make this a 10 for me. 

"Anyone can die here, they do it every day
It doesn't take much effort, though it goes against the grain "

does it for me.


 wgsu_1978 wrote:
I'll take Cockburn over the insufferable Leonard Cohen any day. But I still haven't heard one of my favorite Canadians, Murray McLauchlan, on RP. How about "Honky Red"?
 
Agreed. Maybe Down at the Henry Moore or the locally overplayed Farmer's Song. Still like them all.
Enjoyable as always
No need to press PSD here.   As a matter of fact, I have never pressed PSD ever, ever, ever.
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
..... But I still haven't heard one of my favorite Canadians, Murray McLauchlan, on RP. How about "Honky Red"?
 
I know it.  Suggest it!  Upload it (if requested).

Any folks from the Ottawa area remember Sneezy Waters? 
 Typesbad wrote:
Love the meandering bass on this.
 
Has an almost Jaco feel.
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 have made

These lines alone make this a 10 for me.  
Love the meandering bass on this.
 westslope wrote:
Bruce at his electric best.

 

Amen to that! 


Bruce at his electric best.
Anyone can die here, they do it every day
It doesn't take much effort, though it goes against the grain
And the ultimate forgetfulness of violence
Sweeps the landscape like a 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...
Night Train...

Jonatha Brooke on background "ahhhs" -


In total HEAVEN right now.  His best, if you ask me!  {#Bananapiano}  The lyrics, ALL of it—simply off the charts superb!
 
Hard to beat the atmosphere that the chugging bass, rattling percussion, and that screaming ring of iron in the guitar create on this — !
I'll take Cockburn over the insufferable Leonard Cohen any day. But I still haven't heard one of my favorite Canadians, Murray McLauchlan, on RP. How about "Honky Red"?

 darrio wrote:
How about adding Steve Winwood's Night Train?
 
Agreed.
 
 


 msymmes wrote:
Nice tune.  But it sounds like it's being played through an 8K audio codec.

 

 

Nice tune.  But it sounds like it's being played through an 8K audio codec.

 
Cool tune from one of Bruce's best CDs.
Good tune for a Jack Reacher movie.
 Stingray wrote:

Hey Bruce, my beloved Cockburns!

Bill likes Mr. Cockburns - I do not!

(Amazing statement - is it not?)



 
Enjoy your weenie roast …. 
desoredenada wild being guitar {#Bananajam}
 Cynaera wrote:
I love this song - it's so mesmerizing...

 
So were you, dear. So were you...
How about adding Steve Winwood's Night Train?
 

Hey Bruce, my beloved Cockburns!

Bill likes Mr. Cockburns - I do not!

(Amazing statement - is it not?)


That is some wild cover art...
This is bliss.{#Hug}
Pairs nicely with Desert Train by Kimmie Rhodes.
It's all about that great bass line.
Am I the only one that thought his opening line was "the sound someone makes when their getting laid"?
 ninorth49 wrote:
Hi there. Back Supporting the best music radio site there ever was. Love this song. Do not even like Cockburn that much but this one is beautiful. I like music that changes my opinions. And Bill the hippest DJ ever does that. Huge music lover and I have no way of keeping up with the continued playlists that this man produces. I bow an unworthy disciple in front of your skill.

 

KFAT forever....{#Dance}
Hi there. Back Supporting the best music radio site there ever was. Love this song. Do not even like Cockburn that much but this one is beautiful. I like music that changes my opinions. And Bill the hippest DJ ever does that. Huge music lover and I have no way of keeping up with the continued playlists that this man produces. I bow an unworthy disciple in front of your skill.
By far the best of this set of train songs.  
 msymmes wrote:
Dated?  Sure. Maybe. But still growing on me.
 

 
Note to self...   Might have to bump this to an EIGHT.
 
BRUUUUUUUCE! {#Biggrin}

 notfadeaway wrote:
get to see him live, if you can.....fantastic guitar player!
 
I've seen him a couple times. Many years ago. Would like to see him now.
Dated?  Sure. Maybe. But still growing on me.
 
get to see him live, if you can.....fantastic guitar player!
It got me dancing.
Normally cannot tolerate his voice, but the songwriting on this album, along with the guitar and the bass are astounding. Almost all the songs on this album, if you listen and follow the craft of his mind, paint fully realized scenarios. This one and his instrumental album, aptly named Speechless, are my favs.
This does ever so little for me...in such a non abrasive way.
Nice to hear at 12:12 am on a Sunday night.  (Well really Monday morning.)
Love Bruce Cockburn!  He has the capacity to sing the soundtrack of my life.. but this song is not my fav.
Hey. I like this.  Never heard it before and I am born and raised in Toronto and still living nearby :)

Well, that's what happens when you listen to new wave and classic rock for too many years.

I'll give this a 7 right away. 
 bushrat wrote:


I'm sorry, but as a Canadian I feel the absolute opposite and have never understood why people like what he produces.

And though he apparently has legions of fans, its a resounding 1 from me.

For old school Canadian music I'll take Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot any day of the week. 
 
Bruce is a contemporary with these guys. Murray Mclaughlin is another that was in the "folk scene" in Toronto at this time. 
While it's a commercial hit, I like the guts it took to write and record "rocket launcher" and I love his song about the IMF.  Bruce is political when it's easier to be shy about such things.  Thus, he rightfully takes his place with other Canadian singer-songwriters who've challenged us with their work.
CanCon!

{#Roflol}
Not my favorite Bruce tune.  And... he is brilliant.
 bushrat wrote:


I'm sorry, but as a Canadian I feel the absolute opposite and have never understood why people like what he produces.

And though he apparently has legions of fans, its a resounding 1 from me.

For old school Canadian music I'll take Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot any day of the week. 
 
What about Neil, Alex and Geddy? The best drummer in the world, an outstanding guitarist, and a great bass player and all around musician (maybe not the best vocalist....){#Cowboy}
 Hannio wrote:


Yes, a man that Canada, and therefore the world, can be proud of.
 

I'm sorry, but as a Canadian I feel the absolute opposite and have never understood why people like what he produces.

And though he apparently has legions of fans, its a resounding 1 from me.

For old school Canadian music I'll take Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot any day of the week. 
Feel like I am on a road trip, driving at night at the speed of darkness, racing to the dawn.
He probably comes from a long line of chicken roasters.

 
Hannio wrote:



I can think of one good reason to pronounce it the way he does.  I would, too.
 

 KaiT wrote:
Oh Bruce. What a musician/ songwriter/ Canadian you are. 
 

Yes, a man that Canada, and therefore the world, can be proud of.
 fredriley wrote:

There's no good reason, just the perversity of English which regularly mangles pronunciations.  


I can think of one good reason to pronounce it the way he does.  I would, too.
Oh Bruce. What a musician/ songwriter/ Canadian you are. 

What a great album this is!


My favorite Bruce album.
Thanks, Bill! It's twilight in Toronto and I can feel that Night Train a-comin'!
More Bruce please, Bill!!!
 pixel-pusher wrote:

In all cultures, pronunciations blur and morph over centuries. In literate cultures, spellings tend to persist unchanged, even as the pronunciations evolve. I would add "Worcestershire" ("Wooster") to that fascinating list. :-)

Did not know that about Cockburn = "Coburn". Makes me curious how James Coburn got that spelling. Ellis Island, perhaps?
 
Ermm..."Worcester" is pronounced "Wooster". You can leave the "shire" out...although save some of that sauce for me. In MA, a lot of people pronounce "Worcester" as "Woostah." 

The British have a lot elisions and contractions when it comes to pronunciation of town and city names. I've wondered whether that habit is a way of quickly pronouncing a long or complicated name, something that took hold over many generations of a largely stable population. 

And places like Worcester in England have been around for many generations. My parents learned on their honeymoon that towns ending in -cester, -caster and -chester were sites of Roman camps (Castra, Castrorum). The Roman suffix "-castra" got changed over the years into recognizable variations. 

The strangest pronunciation I've heard of from the UK was "Featherstone" being pronounced "Fanshawe." 
https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Fanshawe 

As for Bruce...well, even the British don't quite agree. 
https://www.forvo.com/word/cockburn/ 

Next to Neil, Bruce is my 2nd favorite Canadian musician, and like Neil one of my ultimate favorites.  I was separated and took my estranged wife to see Bruce in Eugene, OR and we ended up together again after this show.


reminds me of upstate NY and a boy who met a tragic ending saving the life of a deer. 
 sfoster66 wrote:
I know as a right-thinking Canadian I am supposed to love him, but he's just too meh for anyone still breathing I think.  And yes, I know he is a guitar genius...I've had it explained to me ad nauseum...
 
perhaps if you were a left-thinking Canadian...

Cool this is why I listen to RP, to hear shit I can't hear on the FM band... unless you live somewhere cool like Santa Cruz to have a radio station as cool as KPIG. I'll bet they don't play Adele though.
 alux wrote:
Everything off Charity of Night is sheer brilliance.  
 
Agreed, one of his best albums.

I used to love listening to "Night Train" after my night shift at work, on the way home,  years ago....seemed so fitting to be driving empty roads at 2am with this song blasting...it just fit.

I love this song - it's so mesmerizing...
 fredriley wrote:

There's no good reason, just the perversity of English which regularly mangles pronunciations. "Coburn" is a standard pronunciation of "Cockburn" in the UK. On a par with other manglings, such as Belvoir ("Beaver"), Beaulieu ("Byooley"), Cholmondely ("Chumley"), and many more. Now that I think of it, most of the mangled pronunciations look to be of upper-class person and place names... {#Stupid}
 
In all cultures, pronunciations blur and morph over centuries. In literate cultures, spellings tend to persist unchanged, even as the pronunciations evolve. I would add "Worcestershire" ("Wooster") to that fascinating list. :-)

Did not know that about Cockburn = "Coburn". Makes me curious how James Coburn got that spelling. Ellis Island, perhaps?

Not liking this one much.
 Giselle62 wrote:

Good chugging music and his lyrics are almost always thoughtful. But why is he pronounced "Coburn?" It's not like he's French or anything, eh?
 
There's no good reason, just the perversity of English which regularly mangles pronunciations. "Coburn" is a standard pronunciation of "Cockburn" in the UK. On a par with other manglings, such as Belvoir ("Beaver"), Beaulieu ("Byooley"), Cholmondely ("Chumley"), and many more. Now that I think of it, most of the mangled pronunciations look to be of upper-class person and place names... {#Stupid}
I know as a right-thinking Canadian I am supposed to love him, but he's just too meh for anyone still breathing I think.  And yes, I know he is a guitar genius...I've had it explained to me ad nauseum...
Another cool Canadian Night Train:


Ice cube in a dark drink shines like star light 
Starlight shines like glass shards in dark hair 

 Simply Beautiful.
 


it sounded like a train, that bass and snare riff
{#Angel} BlueHeronDruid wrote:

Yep. Digging on the bass....

 


 huebdoo wrote:
That bass ... that snare ... perfect
 
Yep. Digging on the bass....

That bass ... that snare ... perfect
Like the bass and drums...an easy rhythm {#Motor} {#Drummer}


A Bruce Cockburn Minute by ~cathmads
Cathie  ©2010 ~cathmads

Our area Folk Festival was honoured to have this wonderful musician perform!




Everything off Charity of Night is sheer brilliance.  

Was super Lucky and saw Bruce Cockburn in Bozeman Montana a few years ago ..................WOW in the top three shows of my lifetime, he had a smokin band with him and he can rip it up on the G string !


wow
Night Train