Bruce Cockburn: Closer To The Light

Today’s spiritual Sunday selection comes from the pen and the guitar of Canadian Bruce Cockburn. Cockburn, who embraced Christianity in the 1970s from his former belief of agnosticism, often subtly links theological messages into his music.

Some will immediately see the connection, while others are trapped in the mystery of his imagery. “Closer to the Light” is one of those songs that is not overtly Christian in its lyrical content; however, its spiritual message is there just the same.

The song was one of many written in tribute to the late Mark Heard following his August 1992 passing. The song is obviously about the loss of someone who now has slipped into the darkness of death but is closer to the light. Subtle, but it is understandable as well.

Closer to the Light

There you go
Swimming deeper into mystery
Here I remain
Only seeing where you used to be
Stared at the ceiling
'Til my ears filled up with tears
Never got to know you
Suddenly you're out of here

Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into night
Another step deeper into darkness
Closer to the light

Walked outside
Summer moon was nearly down
Mist on the fields
Holy stillness all around
Death's no stranger
No stranger than the life I've seen
Still I cry
Still I begged to get you back again

Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into night
Another step deeper into darkness
Closer to the light