Pacing The Cage

[@pattimartin7250]

Aren't we better for this man singing to us? Counting him as my blessing.

[@brettservice640]

Couldn't agree more!

[@michaellaurette4589]

Darn Frenchies always make me smile & cry.💔❤️

[@paulearle5361]

I’m in my 60th year. The love affair began for me at age 13. I never found anything that touched me deeper than Bruce. Amen, truly a blessing…

[@christopherhill1652]

This song brings me to tears, it has a poignancy and grace that is powerful and evocative.

[@nicholasshaw7508]

The quality of our dreams are both a reflection of our thoughts and actions as well as a foreshadowing of the fate of our souls in the next life...A nightly, temporary karma that beckons us to change - for the good - so as to avoid a more permanent karma... 
 Complexity(🌎)+Beauty(🌷) =Intent(❤️) 
 The Figure 8 Analogy: 
 An analogy on life, death, the dream-state and the symbolism intertwined within the human experience... 
 We human beings are not moving in the - abstract - motion of a straight line towards death (for instance, the numerical straight line of say 1-89), rather we are moving in the motion of a figure 8...The Figure 8 is a natural repeating pattern that is divided into two halves and is thus the perfect symbol to represent the human life cycle and our two primary states of existence that we are continuously moving in and out of -the awake state and the dream-state. 
 When we awake from sleep, we come full circle to when we fall back asleep (represented by the bottom half of the figure 8), and when we go into the dream-state, we come full circle to when we awake from the dream-state (represented by the top half of the figure 8). Upon death, the figure 8 of life untwines, but it is not the body untwining from the mind that this analogy represents. It's two states of mind untwining to form a larger state of mind...(8->0)...Because the awake state is really a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "consciously" intertwined, and the dream-state is also a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "subconsciously" intertwined. Therefore; upon death, these two states "of mind" untwine to form a larger state of mind...A state that has all the potentialities of the dream world (flying, telepathy, psychokinesis, etc) combined with all the actualities of the awake world(nature, form, bonds, etc). This I refer to as the "transitional analogy." 
 While conceiving this analogy I realized life and death must be perceived - from one point of view - as seperate entities(the transitional analogy(8-0), but must also be perceived - from another point of view - as inseparable entities(the symbolic analogy), both of which are ultimately linked by the dream state. 
 The symbolic analogy consists of the untwined figure 8 of life/the 'circle of death' - abstractly -overlapping the 'circle of life'/the earth, with the overlappment representing the dream-state (like the common area in a venn diagram) which implies that the dream-state is just as much a part of life as is of death - by which semi-explains precognitive dreams, prodromal dreams, "visitations" by deceased relatives, etc, for the dream-state has a foothold in the afterlife - and is based on the premise that "while our body sleeps, our dream-state symbolically represents the state that awaits upon our body's ultimate rest. 
 In other words, while we are lying down and -sleeping/dreaming, this natural process symbolizes where we go when we're ultimately lying down/dead -to a place "like" our dream-state...A state "of mind", with our body's physical bonds eternally engrained and intertwined. 
 👁~8~👁

[@Succubus2Angel]

Well said, friend, very very well said. Poignancy and grace that moves us and shakes us to our cores....

[@michaellaurette4589]

Christopher Hill & we forward in this generation Triumphantly! ;)

[@brettservice640]

Me too. Every time.

[@cyndia6278]

This is a beautiful story song. It is a tribute to my father who died two years ago. Unhappy, struggeling to find himself, to find love inside himself. Always pacing the cage = His life was his water purification business and that is all he could give. So when he got old he found himself PACING THE CAGE. Thank you for this song Bruce.

[@michaellaurette4589]

Cyndi A kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGLFd6VoiLyDZ6s somewhere...

[@marktrachtenberg1282]

What an absolutely magnificent song that is.

[@kevinmcnamara2082]

So many years later and every word hits home more as I go further.

[@DigbyOdel-et3xx]

A most wonderful song of the so many Bruce Cockburn has produced. This man is a icon in the music world and his music will be enjoyed in all its ways for generations to come.

[@AnotherAmy]

I've been a Bruce Cockburn fan for thirty years, but somehow I missed this song. Now it's my favorite. Thank you.

[@Succubus2Angel]

Amy, my parents from the day I was born fed me to beautiful songs like this and David Gilmore's "On the Turning Away"...to have missed one moving song isn't a crime...it's wonderful you found it and found that it synchronises with your mind, body, and soul. I couldn't be happier I found a sister in a beautifully soul moving song such as this.

[@michaelclark8395]

“I’ve proven who I am so many times, the magnet strip’s worn thin.” Ain’t that the truth.

[@GlenGatin]

RIP Rob Wasserman. Listen to his bass solo at the 3:00 mark. Graceful notes of hope and redemption in an otherwise ominous Bruce Cockburn genius classic.

[@matthewzarris9177]

Thanks Glen...thought that was Michael Manring, and hadn't researched who it was...great solo that adds several layers of depth to an already deep song.

[@BenedictHarris]

Or CORNY AS HELL >_

[@michaellaurette4589]

Glen Gatin & we forward in this generation Triumphantly :)

[@iamremmie]

My guitar teacher Henry showed me this song, it's so beautiful, god his rendition made me cry

[@sonjalindstrom6501]

This man has been my hero for 30 + years...Grateful

[@brianl890]

Bruce Cockburn is a Canadian hero. He speaks of good and introspective things and is a poet with amazing guitar technique,

[@robforbes5814]

I find myself returning to this song. Has to be one of the most beautifully written songs ever!

[@cyndia6278]

THIS IS MY FATHER. HE DIED IN 2005. HE WAS A WRESTLES MAN. HE WAS ALWAYS RUNNING FROM HIMSELF. HE DAILY WAS PACING THE CAGE. I MISS HIM.

[@nicholasshaw7508]

The quality of our dreams are both a reflection of our thoughts and actions as well as a foreshadowing of the fate of our souls in the next life...A nightly, temporary karma that beckons us to change - for the good - so as to avoid a more permanent karma... 
 Complexity(🌎)+Beauty(🌷) =Intent(❤️) 
 The Figure 8 Analogy: 
 An analogy on life, death, the dream-state and the symbolism intertwined within the human experience... 
 We human beings are not moving in the - abstract - motion of a straight line towards death (for instance, the numerical straight line of say 1-89), rather we are moving in the motion of a figure 8...The Figure 8 is a natural repeating pattern that is divided into two halves and is thus the perfect symbol to represent the human life cycle and our two primary states of existence that we are continuously moving in and out of -the awake state and the dream-state. 
 When we awake from sleep, we come full circle to when we fall back asleep (represented by the bottom half of the figure 8), and when we go into the dream-state, we come full circle to when we awake from the dream-state (represented by the top half of the figure 8). Upon death, the figure 8 of life untwines, but it is not the body untwining from the mind that this analogy represents. It's two states of mind untwining to form a larger state of mind...(8->0)...Because the awake state is really a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "consciously" intertwined, and the dream-state is also a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "subconsciously" intertwined. Therefore; upon death, these two states "of mind" untwine to form a larger state of mind...A state that has all the potentialities of the dream world (flying, telepathy, psychokinesis, etc) combined with all the actualities of the awake world(nature, form, bonds, etc). This I refer to as the "transitional analogy." 
 While conceiving this analogy I realized life and death must be perceived - from one point of view - as seperate entities(the transitional analogy(8-0), but must also be perceived - from another point of view - as inseparable entities(the symbolic analogy), both of which are ultimately linked by the dream state. 
 The symbolic analogy consists of the untwined figure 8 of life/the 'circle of death' - abstractly -overlapping the 'circle of life'/the earth, with the overlappment representing the dream-state (like the common area in a venn diagram) which implies that the dream-state is just as much a part of life as is of death - by which semi-explains precognitive dreams, prodromal dreams, "visitations" by deceased relatives, etc, for the dream-state has a foothold in the afterlife - and is based on the premise that "while our body sleeps, our dream-state symbolically represents the state that awaits upon our body's ultimate rest. 
 In other words, while we are lying down and -sleeping/dreaming, this natural process symbolizes where we go when we're ultimately lying down/dead -to a place "like" our dream-state...A state "of mind", with our body's physical bonds eternally engrained and intertwined. 
 👁~8~👁

[@MikNES521]

@@nicholasshaw7508how beautifully said. I hope you don’t mind I keep this for future reference

[@MsBee777]

Sunset is an angel weeping Holding out a bloody sword No matter how I squint I cannot Make out what it's pointing toward Sometimes you feel like you live too long Days drip slowly on the page You catch yourself Pacing the cage I've proven who I am so many times The magnetic strip's worn thin And each time I was someone else And every one was taken in Powers chatter in high places Stir up eddies in the dust of rage Set me to pacing the cage I never knew what you all wanted So I gave you everything All that I could pillage All the spells that I could sing It's as if the thing were written In the constitution of the age Sooner or later you'll wind up Pacing the cage Sometimes the best map will not guide you You can't see what's round the bend Sometimes the road leads through dark places Sometimes the darkness is your friend Today these eyes scan bleached-out land For the coming of the outbound stage Pacing the cage Pacing the cage

[@joecoolmccall]

great song-one of my all time favorites- one I've loved for a number of years...it's folks like Bruce Cockburn that make me stay away from alot of mainstream music..

[@LetItBeSummer-1]

Such a beautiful beautiful song. Tonight it’s hitting me hard. The world is such a mess now, so much bleakness around. So much I need to do before I pass. But it make me think about what needs to get done in my own life, before it’s too late. 🌺💗🌸 🌅

[@Shackamaxon]

Pacing The Cage invokes such vivid imagery. That's what I like about it. It paints stirring pictures in the mind. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Shackamaxon]

Pacing The Cage conjures up such vivid imagery. It touches the depths of your imagination. Bruce has written some thought provoking lyrics here. I especially like the notion of proving who you are so many times the magnetic strip is worn thin and the image of a map that will not guide you because the road leads to dark places. Simply brilliant.

[@ericbryant1944]

Its about Death.. Cockburns major audience is over 60.

[@ericbryant1944]

Im 62 ,,he is older than me and I remember following him thru Parks in Alta-Vista and Down Town Ottawa just to listen to his Guitar.

[@dovepaige]

This song defines so much of my life

[@mystysaint]

This song really is just so good..

[@thecolonel2044]

I consider this one of his best.

[@mertozelmusic]

Such a soulful singing and an amazing song...

[@jd_ska]

I love this song. I saw Bruce in Sheffield, England and he played this song. Simply amazing.

[@trfesok]

Covered by Jimmy Buffett. I put both versions in my Buffett playlist. Thanks for the upload!

[@melmccall4850]

love this song ❤

[@nicholasshaw7508]

🎶❤🎶

[@ORIGINALJURISDICTION]

hi again,quivering is very good.i like your words.i once struggled to try and be 'me',then i accepted the fact that i live in the centre of the universe...infinity in all directions from my awareness.all who are aware are at the centre of infinity...QUIVERING!!WOW! thanks for getting back to me.

[@stefs001]

I listen to this for about 20 years now Never get tired of it, and it all keeps making sense. Master poet, master musician, master guitar player.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

Have loved Bruce's music since "Dragon's Jaws" ('79), but don't know how I somehow missed this gem.

[@gsjbaldwin]

I'm new to Bruce Cockburn's work. So far this is my favorite of the YT selections. Really fine in every respect - musically and lyrically. The guitar work is also subtle and nicely voiced. I look forward to hearing more of his work. Just learned about him from an interview with him in Acoustic Guitar.

[@SteveLiebig]

I found your video about 10 or 12 years ago. It was a demanding time for me. This gave me much comfort. Thank you.

[@Penhappy101]

Thank you for this piece, & the gorgeous photos. I love this song...we went to see Bruce Cockburn to celebrate our 2nd anniversary--at the Orillia Opera House, ON. that goes back more than 2 decades now. He did an amazing performance--& in that setting it felt like we were honoured guests in his castles great room. I appreciate the wholesomeness of his work--& the message.

[@jmrivera5390]

Brilliant.

[@WeazelJaguar]

Hey! I watched that sunset last night! Thanks for posting, beautiful!

[@ORIGINALJURISDICTION]

this is wonderful to hear again.i think we all relate to it AND to each other through it. and please don't shade your own light anymore,ok? i am happy to see these pictures.they are beautiful.all the world is trying to be beautiful for us and you have opened a window on your place ON THE WORLD. thankyou! PEACE!

[@scottmyers4453]

First time I heard this I was waiting for a ferry to Deer Island New Brunswick, sun was just coming up. I will never forget that moment, it was on CBC...Canada Day....

[@gothicseed]

Poignantly beautiful.

[@Postscript624]

Wow, beautiful lyrics.

[@cadredeux1047]

This song always reminds of Rilke’s Panther, especially now as many of our elderly are dying alone in Nursing Holmes His vision, from the constantly passing bars, has grown so weary that it cannot hold anything else. It seems to him there are a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world. As he paces in cramped circles, over and over, the movement of his powerful soft strides is like a ritual dance around a center in which a mighty will stands paralyzed. Only at times, the curtain of the pupils lifts, quietly - . An image enters in, rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles, plunges into the heart and is gone.

[@lorrihoolan1995]

I can relate, kids grown ,2nd husband in rehab and gone for good, retired and not in good health, WAY pacing MY cage

[@WeazelJaguar]

Stay strong!

[@recyclerking1]

my good god I love Cockburns songs .

[@cocochanelleke]

Thanks for posting SaintFu, means a lot to me. Wonderful video, too.

[@terryfriend16]

Such a great song...

[@cocochanelleke]

This song never ceases to amaze and educate me. Love fom rainy NL Saint Fu 5 etc,

[@Gordon59]

The lyrics in this song are so beautiful. Bruce and Gordon my favs

[@timjimws5610]

bret hart wrestling with shadows..brought me here

[@Borisss953]

some girl sings the song though but cant find her

[@curtiskleebaum7105]

Colin Cripps sings it in wrestling with shadows

[@EddieLamMusic]

Boy, I never knew there'd be a time where WWE and Bruce Cockburn's music would collide...now there IS that time which is at the said documentary!

[@mrmaynard]

@@Borisss953 - It's Addi McDaniel

[@byronlemky8889]

Dang, what an awesome song!

[@beverlyhayshouston2770]

My son stole my C.D. What a compliment!

[@dankemetick4492]

I so love this song and this guy!

[@geodave227]

Bruce has got to be the best lyricist ever (sorry Bob Dylan). I think this is the song they'll play at his funeral.

[@cocochanelleke]

@grasshopperjunction this one hurts many people for their own reasons, all over the human globe

[@davidjohnston7638]

Can't believe I've missed him! AWESOME!

[@jcb30rock]

@mabehaemlyca my dad used to love this song, now that he's gone i listen to it daily, its one of my favorites well written well sung

[@stephenmorgan4552]

Heard this sung at a coffee shop on open mic night recently. Really love this tune. NICE!

[@cocochanelleke]

BC is so ever brilliant. Thanks again for posting.

[@OceanSwimmer]

Thanks SaintFu! I wanted to hear some Bruce Cockburn this evening and checked KZbin to find out if anyone had posted his work. Now I can share it. Much appreciated.

[@melonbandit]

Respect for that man... i can listen to it all day long . nice voice +1 great guitar +1 nice backgrounds +1 really relaxing + 1 and thanks for posting this song +1 makes 5 STARS !

[@videonut28]

Excellent song! Thank you for posting!

[@trfesok]

Covered by Jimmy Buffett. So, I put both versions in my Buffett playlist. Thanks for the upload!

[@beverlyhayshouston2770]

I think about being human and pacing the cage. Our spirits encased behind this rib cage.

[@LaurieIngalls]

your photographic imagery makes a perfect compliment to this 'masterpiece'...Thank You!

[@PERI59]

this one is beyond like..one of the best. thankyou for posting this

[@guyesentals9406]

he borrowed my guitar in sholm late 80s for the consert still got it signed

[@DefundTheFringes]

Good, except for the jerky repositioning of similar images. A slow zoom-in on the sun would have been more effective.

[@DonStabler]

sweet angel on earth, sweet angel in heaven

[@pamelaarmstrong9531]

lovely

[@OceanSwimmer]

Ya, I suppose that's for sure. Wide range of interests....if you were analysing the list. I live in SoCal, my fiance and I hunt in &out of the water, and I just finished several books about Africa. Mom of 3 grown kids, surgical nurse for 29 years. Typical, probably.

[@JoeGancher]

What a beautiful , beautiful song. I've always liked Bruce from his first album. I appreciate his outspokenness on political issues but much prefer this neutral, apolitical approach to writing.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

While their voices could hardly be less similar, this searching song puts me in mind of one of Bob Dylan's very best, "Every Grain of Sand".

[@cocochanelleke]

Thanks dear, feel flattered and known; still have to look up the word "eclectic" though. Keep well, Best wishes from the NL, keep well, Coco

[@SilentJayMusic]

lmao, Yooooo I was trying to find that particular version afer watching Brett's Wrestling with Shadows like a couple of years ago.

[@cocochanelleke]

thanks, will search again. night-night from Holland where the rain is pouring strongly now - have to walk the dogs still - a luxurious problem as opposed to war, isn't it.

[@dexstewart2450]

Well, that's my funeral song sorted...

[@melonbandit]

actually the profile age isnt right , im 17 for 8 days now. But you've also made my day with ur comment ,so that makes two of us ! Glad to hear im not the only one who simply can enjoy moments like being around nature and having great music. Anyways , keep posting great stuff man ! Joep

[@ericbryant1944]

Im 62 this song is Cockburn at his best ..his ability to express his youth was overtaken by greedy producers for a while ..now he is back.

[@TheAccelerated]

@cocochanelleke Really a great song that I found at your channel. Thx and sweet lemons for you!

[@robertdeniro19]

Wrestling with Shadows brought me here

[@HughRofWood]

@JoeGancher Rob Wasserman according to liner notes is playing a custom 6 string Steinberger double bass

[@stephenmorgan4552]

I guess you have to be like a really great scotch to appreciate this music!

[@LedLawless]

St. Kitts is a lovely cage to have to pace.

[@JohnCena20234]

God bless you all

[@2uconner]

gotta learn this

[@DWSimmy]

I have to re-learn this on guitar... I keep kicking myself for forgetting

[@yasinkoluk879]

vay anasını kaç yıldır dinlemiyordum parçayı şimdi tadı çok ayrı geldi

[@yasinkoluk879]

Yıllar sonra yine denk geldim, hiç eskimemiş hala aynı tat.

[@cocochanelleke]

@DragansAerie Thanks for your suggestion, but I still don't get it - and what with Zeitgeist - da sehe ich überhaupt keinen Zusammenhang. But life is for learning. Keep well, Coco

[@TarzanHedgepeth]

Nice.

[@moonlitme]

the song is 'mango' from 'breakfast in new orleans, dinner in timbuktu'

[@cocochanelleke]

@DragansAerie Thanks for your suggestion; aber ich verstehe den Zusammenhang nicht, wirklich nicht; vonwegen Zeitgeist etc. Liebe Grüsse, Coco

[@cocochanelleke]

CrazySaint - keep well, too. ;) I often miss everything and everyone - quite not enlightened, I know....

[@OceanSwimmer]

Thank You! It is a very stressful job, but I love my work. Oh, and I mis-spoke; I meant I just finished reading a series of books (meaning I've been studying the history of the European-colonial-era of Africa.) I didn't mean to sound like an author. Ooops. Anyway, I appreciate the sentiment. Have a Merry Christmas :)

[@cocochanelleke]

@ reliablebow .... sweet? Please explain.

[@nicholasshaw7508]

The quality of our dreams are both a reflection of our thoughts and actions as well as a foreshadowing of the fate of our souls in the next life...A nightly, temporary karma that beckons us to change - for the good - so as to avoid a more permanent karma... 
 Complexity(🌎)+Beauty(🌷) =Intent(❤️) 
 The Figure 8 Analogy: 
 An analogy on life, death, the dream-state and the symbolism intertwined within the human experience... 
 We human beings are not moving in the - abstract - motion of a straight line towards death (for instance, the numerical straight line of say 1-89), rather we are moving in the motion of a figure 8...The Figure 8 is a natural repeating pattern that is divided into two halves and is thus the perfect symbol to represent the human life cycle and our two primary states of existence that we are continuously moving in and out of -the awake state and the dream-state. 
 When we awake from sleep, we come full circle to when we fall back asleep (represented by the bottom half of the figure 8), and when we go into the dream-state, we come full circle to when we awake from the dream-state (represented by the top half of the figure 8). Upon death, the figure 8 of life untwines, but it is not the body untwining from the mind that this analogy represents. It's two states of mind untwining to form a larger state of mind...(8->0)...Because the awake state is really a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "consciously" intertwined, and the dream-state is also a state -of mind, with our body's physical reality "subconsciously" intertwined. Therefore; upon death, these two states "of mind" untwine to form a larger state of mind...A state that has all the potentialities of the dream world (flying, telepathy, psychokinesis, etc) combined with all the actualities of the awake world(nature, form, bonds, etc). This I refer to as the "transitional analogy." 
 While conceiving this analogy I realized life and death must be perceived - from one point of view - as seperate entities(the transitional analogy(8-0), but must also be perceived - from another point of view - as inseparable entities(the symbolic analogy), both of which are ultimately linked by the dream state. 
 The symbolic analogy consists of the untwined figure 8 of life/the 'circle of death' - abstractly -overlapping the 'circle of life'/the earth, with the overlappment representing the dream-state (like the common area in a venn diagram) which implies that the dream-state is just as much a part of life as is of death - by which semi-explains precognitive dreams, prodromal dreams, "visitations" by deceased relatives, etc, for the dream-state has a foothold in the afterlife - and is based on the premise that "while our body sleeps, our dream-state symbolically represents the state that awaits upon our body's ultimate rest. 
 In other words, while we are lying down and -sleeping/dreaming, this natural process symbolizes where we go when we're ultimately lying down/dead -to a place "like" our dream-state...A state "of mind", with our body's physical bonds eternally engrained and intertwined. 
 👁~8~👁

[@chloizzle]

I prefer Paper Rival's version, but this is gorgeous too. :)

[@cocochanelleke]

Thanks Bret, but I'm afraid I didn't get your explanation, please send me another clue. And I certainly hope that meanwhile you help the elderly across the street, .......................... before I get my magic carpet from the cleaner's ;)

[@suuzzee5]

Beautifully done!! Thanks to cocochanelleke for the share.

[@cocochanelleke]

@TheAccelerated SaintFu put this on YT - not me. I had a look at your YT channel and gladly accept your invitation. Bis später denn und gut's Nächtle, Coco

[@doctorfeinstone6524]

Wow, so Jimmy buffett's version was a cover

[@patrickn8355]

Sometimes you feel like you've lived too long....

[@jshelledy1]

That's heavy.

[@lizlawley6680]

That feeling can hit you at any age. 26, 46, 72...

[@cocochanelleke]

I couldn't find a version by her on YT just now. Could you tell me where to look? Thanks.

[@cocochanelleke]

@derekcassady "wtf" doesn't fit in Cockburn's lyrics - perhaps that is why?

[@cocochanelleke]

@SaintFu Same here dear, keep well!

[@MrEddySpain]

why is not the version of tara maclean? i can't find it anywhere..