Song of the Day, February 27: If I Had A Rocket Launcher by Bruce Cockburn

Today’s song is If I Had A Rocket Launcher by Bruce Cockburn. In 1983, the singer was sponsored by Oxfam to visit refugee camps in Central America. He took those experiences and crafted his finest album, 1984’s powerful Stealing Fire. Building on the more overt political and social commentary of his work since 1980’s amazing Humans, he crafted a stunning document of abuse of power and neglect of human decency.

Rocket Launcher is a strong statement even coming from Cockburn. Told in his stark narrative style, it reports events so dark that they push even the pacifist to ponder what a few moments of explosive vengeance might accomplish.

I don’t believe in guarded borders and I don’t believe in hate
I don’t believe in generals or their stinking torture states
And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
If I had a rocket launcher
I would retaliate

Cockburn has been clear about the emotional roots of the song: “[This] is not a call to arms; this is a cry.” The accompanying video conveys many of the images that inspired him to write the song.

The artful use of worldbeat music behind his gripping vocals —  ranging from a bark to cold, whispered menace — result in one of this fine artist’s most fully realized songs. Enjoy this powerful testament against war and violence today.