Bruce Cockburn cover: Spirits

This is an unreleased song of Cockburn's, which I heard on a bootleg from 1975. Cockburn plays it accompanied only by a drum (bodhran). I made up the guitar part just prior to recording this. No idea whether the key/ meter is correct as I lost my recording of the song years ago (if anyone has it please share!). Guitar is tuned down a tone I think, and in drop D. Lovely lyrics ("you glitter in a sad way, like a broken dragonfly") & it's a shame he never recorded this...Lyrics from cockburnproject dot net.

Spirits of the past
You are near me
You look like a pine forest
silhouetted with silver fog

Spirits of this age
You are near me
You glitter in a sad way
Like a broken dragonfly

In dreams I seem to wander
Across a cold and smoking world
Fleeting beauties quickly smothered
In the ash of passing ages

Strong as the good things are
They're so often shattered
In the hardened hearts of men and lost

Holy Spirit free those who love you
You're longing and you're near us
I have felt your wings beating like a heart

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cockburn

[gmtnosa00]

Sweet man. Bootleg from 75? Do you know where I can find this bootleg or bootlegs from that era?

[TorontoLarrivee]

@gmtnosa00 You could ask around on the cockburn-live group at yahoo. Or search some of the torrent sites. My copies were lost with the obsolescence of cassettes.

[scott93004]

Beautiful, TL. We've never met, but I feel your a friend. Your videos gzve me the courage to tackle "train in the rain" and several other gems that are now among my favorite songs in my humble repetiore. Thanks for sharing your talent, and inspiration.

[brucefetter]

this is REALLY nice. thanks! and thanks for all the posts.

[blitzko]

Nicely done TL!

[rangoon03]

Superb,.. its a song i havn't heard of Bruce's which is unusual for me, as i thought i had them all. So your right i think when you say he should have released it as it is really special,... lyrics are beautiful. Thank you for letting us hear it.

[halterman666]

Beautiful. You truly are an extraordinary musician.

[imusbcraz]

Nicely done...beautiful song.