Lovers in a Dangerous Time

Bruce Cockburn

Don't the hours grow shorter as the days go by
You never get to stop and open your eyes
One day you're waiting for the sky to fall
The next you're dazzled by the beauty of it all

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

These fragile bodies of touch and taste
This vibrant skin, this hair like lace
Spirits open to the thrust of grace
Never a breath you can afford to waste

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Sometimes you're made to feel as if your love's a crime
But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight

When you're lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
And we're lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time



Lyrics submitted by radical347

Lovers in a Dangerous Time song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment
    Such a beautiful song. From the sound and lyrics of the whole album, it conjured up the scenes in war-torn South America. Actually I just looked at Wikipedia of the album “Stealing Fire” and the song is based on Bruce’s trip to Central America so I was not too far off. If nothing else, this song is gold with the great lines such as: “These fragile bodies of touch and taste this vibrant skin, this hair like lace Spirits open to the thrust of grace Never a breath you can afford to waste” ..and of course “got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight"
    focus007on May 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    What a brilliant and beautiful song. As much as I love the Barenaked Ladies version, this is so much more tuneful and heart-thumping The Barenaked Ladies version is most definitely more fun though. They are both superb. As for the meaning - I believe Bruce wrote it while looking at the bigger picture. With the World in War, the AIDS epidemic and people losing control of their emotions - it was most certainly dangerous to be lovers in such a time. "But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight. Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight". Finishing my paragraph quite well. ;]
    AHiFion July 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    AHiFI, You may also wish to seek out the Oysterband version of this song. You may not like it or maybe you might. Great song anyway.
    Scolopaxon December 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Wonderful song!
    Derefon November 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is just my opinion and I may be wrong, but I think this song is about getting laid. I think Bruce went down to Central America and met someone-maybe a foreign journalist or an aid worker, I don't know, but I think the combination of the love affair and the war and genocide inspired the song (and perhaps Sahara Gold and Making Contact). The lyric 'Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight' is just about doin' it until the sun comes up, and 'Sometimes you're made to feel as if your love's a crime' is the guilt he feels about indulging in carnal desires while people around him are suffering.
    lukecunninghamon March 15, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!