Good news! Rhino Records has re-released Bruce Cockburn's 1984 masterpiece "Stealing Fire" on CD (along with other titles of his). The album represents a culmination of Cockburn's transformation from a dreamy, quasi-Christian poet/songwriter to a full-blown musical activist and protest singer, and contains what is likely his biggest hit, "If I Had A Rocket Launcher".

In 1983, Cockburn made his first trip to Central America as part of a fact-finding mission for OXFAM. A visit to a refugee camp in South Mexico which had just been bombed by the CIA-backed Guatemalan army was a major eye-opener for the singer. He also visited Nicaragua, which at the time was struggling to get its fledgling socialist democracy off the ground in the face of US-sponsored Contras (read: paramilitary killers). The experience led to several powerful songs like "Nicaragua" and "Dust and Diesel", as well as "They Call it Democracy" which appeared on the later album "World of Wonders".

In addition to Cockburn's impassioned songwriting, which brims with anguish and outrage at the injustices and human rights violations, and with love and admiration for struggle of the people of Central America, "Stealing Fire" is full of gorgeously played and produced music from his ace touring band of the era. There are also a couple of bonus tracks, "Yanqui Go Home" and "Call It The Sundance", that were recorded at the original sessions but left off the LP because of space (time) limitations.

This is a brilliant album, easily one of his best and most heartfelt. I will post lyrics for several songs in this thread; they are from this site, which also includes Bruce's comments on the songs.

Cheers,
Michael