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Bruce Cockburn — The End of All Rivers
Album: Speechless
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2516









Released: 2005
Length: 5:46
Plays (last 30 days): 2
(Instrumental)
Comments (218)add comment
Lovely song
8
 Edweirdo wrote:

This is the sort of aimless noodling that musicians do when they buy a new delay pedal (or start using the delay plug-ins in their DAW), but to my ears it has no place in a playlist.


I'm assuming you've never seen Bruce LIVE and in concert noodling away.  He might occasionally sing a song too.

SUPERB TUNE!
I wonder what the etymology of his last name is
Been a long while since I've heard this in rotation, thanks RP for reprising. Always loved the vibe on this. 
lunch lost 
I have a friend here in our little village who is a pretty decent guitar player.  He always comments that Bruce Cockburn is a terrific guitarist.  

Truth.
 itsme_bygolly wrote:



Relax. It's only music.


Fair point.  Memo to self - stop making negative comments about music that I don't care for.  Just because I don't like it doesn't make it bad, just music I don't like.
 Edweirdo wrote:

This is the sort of aimless noodling that musicians do when they buy a new delay pedal (or start using the delay plug-ins in their DAW), but to my ears it has no place in a playlist.




Relax. It's only music.
This is the sort of aimless noodling that musicians do when they buy a new delay pedal (or start using the delay plug-ins in their DAW), but to my ears it has no place in a playlist.
Saw him at the Narrows in Fall River, MA, in March. Just WOW! Awesome show.
Great album...saw him at the Ark in Ann Arbor w/older son...stunning. 
Bruce - as well rounded a musician can be… love him
Got tix for his show tomorrow night at the Boulder Theater. 
A highlight of his Hillside Festival appearance in 1998
Man I love how Bruce tickles the strings. If you ever need to lower my blood pressure play anything off this album or by Michael Hedges. 
 ReMarcKO wrote:

I really like this, but humbly posit that Durutti Column pioneered this style from 1978.  Not to say that there weren't others, but they are the artists that I have always associated with this sound.



Grateful Dead played something extremely reminiscent of this, from around 1969 or so, probably even earlier. Check out live versions of  The Other One.
What a wonderful piece this is!
 tayltree wrote:

Hearing this tune live is completely stunning.  Bruce is a complete artist, thoughtful caring, smart and an all around good Human! I have been following his music for 30 plus years and seen him live numerous times. It is such a joy to hear whatever he is working on, especially musically.



Yes, he is a good human. I've seen him three times - twice in concert and once, in April 1990, on the New York State Parkway in upstate NY. It was pouring rain and he was helping a guy boost his old dead battery truck at a gas station. Truly a good person. 
I really like this, but humbly posit that Durutti Column pioneered this style from 1978.  Not to say that there weren't others, but they are the artists that I have always associated with this sound.
I cannot "10" this song enough. I will always turn it up for the beautiful sound and talent. Thanks, Bruce! (And Bill!)
there is reasoning behind this 
 tayltree wrote:
Hearing this tune live is completely stunning.  Bruce is a complete artist, thoughtful caring, smart and an all around good Human! I have been following his music for 30 plus years and seen him live numerous times. It is such a joy to hear whatever he is working on, especially musically.
 

Look after the king of R n R please 
This is really, really nice. 
can't believe i've never heard this.

10
Magical mystical Bruce lost in Canadian woods under the starry sky.
This really sounds like Michael Hedges
So much '10' for this song. Love this guy!
Wow. Just perfect.
Hearing this tune live is completely stunning.  Bruce is a complete artist, thoughtful caring, smart and an all around good Human! I have been following his music for 30 plus years and seen him live numerous times. It is such a joy to hear whatever he is working on, especially musically.
don't normally go for his music but this is superb 
Wow. 10/10. What a revelation what music can be (after 4 Hours listening to our annoyng office radio station)
Recently I've been guitar shopping and am still in love with a guitar I cannot afford... I found some unique features that the luthier Linda Manzur developed. She's made a number of instruments for BC. 
http://cockburnproject.net/formusicians/gear.html
https://manzer.com/
https://manzer.com/artists/the-bruce-cockburn-page/
Outstanding.  Like any art, not for everyone, but love him or not you have to respect this work.  Man, you can just about smell these notes.
What a beautiful song this is. I am speechless.
I watched a recent interview where he said he doesn't like to play chords.
so beautiful..
 njswede wrote:
"Check out this new tape echo I got! I wonder what it can do?" 
 

"Nice work! I'm simply captivated by it!!!"
"Check out this new tape echo I got! I wonder what it can do?" 
Just so amazing.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Corn liquor; the end of all livers.
 

Like....
Saw him do this live at the base of Copper Mountain, it was loud and awesome! Incredible guitar player.
Stops me in my tracks, every single time.
Corn liquor; the end of all livers.
Very nice stuff!
That's the track that made me buy the CD. It makes me stop what i'm doing. Takes me to a happy place.
I read his biography - he is a really good person.
I increase my rating from 7 to   8 - Most Excellent 
So beautiful. It takes me, sweeps me.

Edit: Still sweeps me. 
 passsion8 wrote:
I think Bruce's words are great, but his voice can sometimes leave me wanting more of his guitar. This is that album. All vocal-less songs. Really amazing album to have on in the background on repeat.
 

You put into words what I was just thinking. This is darn good...
Finding this kind of annoying this morning; it's like the longest intro into...nothing.
 BlueHeronDruid wrote:
I want to rate this 11.

 
Me too.
{#Meditate}
Ethereal{#Meditate}
Thats an easy 8 for ol' Cockburn. Wait for it... LOL! Cockburn!
As did Bert Weedon in the 60's, with a reel to reel loop no less.
https://wallup.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/167954-river-trees-forest-clouds-hill-UK-green-water-landscape-748x477.jpg
perfect music!  perfect for making art, or banging a hammer or caressing the smooth skin of a lover...enjoyable sounds  : )
All you gotta do is close your eyes and drift away... 
I want to rate this 11.
 Hannio wrote:
This is what they always play when I'm at REI looking at the carabiners.

 
Muzak for climbers.  Hard not to like. 
This is what they always play when I'm at REI looking at the carabiners.
Oh my.  The layered guitars rushing and tripping over each other sound just like a river.

FWIW, I spend a lot of time on flowing water.  
What an absolutely beautiful guitar intro!
I think Bruce's words are great, but his voice can sometimes leave me wanting more of his guitar. This is that album. All vocal-less songs. Really amazing album to have on in the background on repeat.
 zerosomething wrote:
 it reminds me of an instrumental version of the round sung in the middle of The Prophet's Song
 
He uses a lot of echo like Brian May. This also reminds me of his solo in Brighton Rock live in the late 70's and early 80's. To this day, one of my favorites by them. The Prophet's Song was awesome as well.
Most excellent!
Ausgezeichnet!
 A real journey {#Meditate}!
 jgriffin56 wrote:
Take a listen to Funkadelic's Maggot Brain and tell me there is not a similar vibe going.  Really nice spacey guitar takes me to a nice place.  Thanks RP
 
There must be hundreds of instrumental, guitar songs that use a long delay like that and get that "spacey" sound but I hear what you mean.  It may be the first time anyone has ever compared Funkadelic to Bruce Cockburn though.
This amazes me.
Bruce Cockburn does down tempo ambient with an acoustic guitar.

Introspective he has done, this is different.  Sweet. 
What an amazing talent...he really evokes the flow of a river like the Amazon.  Gorgeous.
 spudboy wrote:
The bus came by and I got on.....

 
I believe that JG had some sort of influence on BC. The very first time I heard this the Garcia feel was evident. The music never stops...
 martinc wrote:
Whole album is great. It will leave you speechless. Bruce usual opens his concerts with an instrumental to get his fingers going and to get those in the crowds who are only familiar with Wonder where the lions to realize there are going to see a whole lot more!

 
So glad I had the chance to see BC live a couple times years ago.
A perfect interlude to Russia on ice
 mgkiwi wrote:
Hmmmm, looking out the window on a cold, rainy day wishing I was somewhere else kind of music!!
 What a beautiful image. A treasured sensation...the slight settling of sameness foreshadowing the whisper of the road. It's a call I always answer, but knowing that from which I will flee is the delicious pressure before the sneeze.
NICE NOODLING.......{#Guitarist}   ( digi-dat & all )
 zerosomething wrote:
This is a Queen melody/song but what one?
  it reminds me of an instrumental version of the round sung in the middle of The Prophet's Song
This is a Queen melody/song but what one?
 martinc wrote:
Whole album is great. It will leave you speechless. Bruce usual opens his concerts with an instrumental to get his fingers going and to get those in the crowds who are only familiar with Wonder where the lions to realize there are going to see a whole lot more!

 
I have seen Bruce live many times and my favourite part of every show is the acoustic guitar instrumentals.
Fantastic!
Hmmmm, looking out the window on a cold, rainy day wishing I was somewhere else kind of music!!
Whole album is great. It will leave you speechless. Bruce usual opens his concerts with an instrumental to get his fingers going and to get those in the crowds who are only familiar with Wonder where the lions to realize there are going to see a whole lot more!
perfect music!  perfect for making art, or banging a hammer or caressing the smooth skin of a lover...enjoyable sounds 
Whoa - this is Bruce Cockburn?  Never would have guessed, either.  (Y'all catch the echo thingy there?  Oh never mind.)
 BBoyes wrote:
Whoa - this is Bruce Cockburn? Never would have guessed. Sounds more like an electric Michael Hedges... This is why I listen to RP: new musical discoveries.
 
I was thinking the same thing.  Michael Hedges with tape delay and reverb.
I love it.  Well done Bruce.  This is now my favorite work of yours.
When I heard the first few notes, especially those first few trills, I had a feeling it was Bruce - kind of like the intro to "Pacing the Cage". Anyhow, nicely done, Cockburn.
 spudboy wrote:
The bus came by and I got on.....
 
Sittin' behind ya. Had to go order this CD.
Whoa - this is Bruce Cockburn? Never would have guessed. Sounds more like an electric Michael Hedges... This is why I listen to RP: new musical discoveries.
The bus came by and I got on.....
BRUUUUUUCE! {#Biggrin}
 Lazarus wrote:


Well said...

miss you so much, Cynaera...

 
 
Agreed...so much
 Cynaera wrote:
I love the guitar in this... I love the mood it evokes in me. And Stingray, take a couple of deep breaths and think a bit. Absorb. Relish. Cherish. Think before you post - at least where Bruce Cockburn is concerned. His name might be the source of freshman jokes, but his music is far from juvenile.

Just sayin'....

 

Well said...

miss you so much, Cynaera...

 
 jgriffin56 wrote:
Take a listen to Funkadelic's Maggot Brain and tell me there is not a similar vibe going.  Really nice spacey guitar takes me to a nice place.  Thanks RP
 
I somehow doubt that George Clinton told Cockburn to play like he found out his mother just died.
 vanmas wrote:
Some guitar man with a delay effect...
Can't enjoy this... too easy.
 
I like the man, but repetitive delayed guitar gets old fast no matter who's playing.  At best, it's tiresome.  At worst, it's guitar wanking.
Take a listen to Funkadelic's Maggot Brain and tell me there is not a similar vibe going.  Really nice spacey guitar takes me to a nice place.  Thanks RP
..this song bounces my ears around..in a great way..

..thank you, Canada!..
Just bought it on iTunes - Love it, love it, love it!  Thanks RP for playing it!
Some guitar man with a delay effect...
Can't enjoy this... too easy.
It's like the echo of the last note wraps itself around the next note... mmhmm...
Nice set altogether.
When he was young, John Martyn used the same effects in live gigs. It was mesmerizing.
 christopherwoods wrote:


I view his use of delay and verb as a second musical instrument in its own right - which he just happens to 'play' with a guitar. The music is made through a combination of him understanding how his acoustic guitar produces sound, and how the echo and delay affects the dry sound and creates something different out the other side. For me it's similar to the Beatles using tape loops and manually slowing the reel with a finger in realtime to achieve some cazy effects.
 
{#Yes}
I heard Bruce Cockburn play this at a club in Carrboro a few years ago. Mesmerizing performance that motivated me to buy the CD. Nice to hear it on RP.
 Antigone wrote:

The entire cd is excellent! Highly recommended.

 
And again.
Sounds like Bruce has heard a few versions of the dead's "the other one" - sure a lot of similar sound in there!
Reminds me of Tim Reynolds. Great aura
So spacey...and that's a good thing.
I'll just let this play all night and see what happens  {#Smile}
 Stratocaster wrote:
Very nice - reminds me of a band I listened to back in the 90s called 'Wind Machine'.
 
Thanks!  Added Wind Machine to my spotify play lists (about 8 songs available), will give them a listen tonight.

Very nice - reminds me of a band I listened to back in the 90s called 'Wind Machine'.
Saw Bruce last year at the Clarke Theatre - what a show! He performed this track also - it was awesome to see it and hear it done live!
Gotta Love The Cockburn!
Perfect song for hearing while in a hammock in the shade, sipping a vodka tonic on a warm and breezy day...
 Poacher wrote:

I'd rather listen to John any day. . . (rest in peace)

But I feel the same as you about Bruce Cockburn and have even bought a couple of cd's. But this just leaves me cold, turn off the echo and there is little there. Bruce is an obviously gifted musician and poet. . . but this. . . . makes. . . . . . . . . . me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . snooze.. . . . . . 

 

I view his use of delay and verb as a second musical instrument in its own right - which he just happens to 'play' with a guitar. The music is made through a combination of him understanding how his acoustic guitar produces sound, and how the echo and delay affects the dry sound and creates something different out the other side. For me it's similar to the Beatles using tape loops and manually slowing the reel with a finger in realtime to achieve some cazy effects.

(I imagine Cockburn probably played through the FX, his playing style seems very much tailored to him monitoring of the wet signal as he lays down the track). I like this track very much, reminds me of Phil Keaggy's nonreligious instrumental stuff.
Didn't make me retch...best I do for anything Cockburnesque...
Brucey is playing here in his hometown, the capital of Canada, in a few weeks.
 RedGuitar wrote:

It's pronounced "Co-burn", rhymes with "slow burn."
 

And who could blame him for wanting to pronounce it that way?  Too bad we are in a written medium here, since no matter how it is pronounced, cock burn is what meets the eye on the printed page.  Yeah, infantile, I know.