You Get Bigger as You Go: Bruce Cockburn's Influence and Evolution

by M.D. Dunn, Daniel Keebler (photographer)

Bruce Cockburn has enthralled audiences with his insightful lyrics and innovative guitar playing for over half a century. Hit songs like “Wondering Where the Lions Are,” “If I Had a Rocket Launcher,” and “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” are just part of the story. In You Get Bigger as You Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution, musician and writer M.D. Dunn takes the reader on a humorous and obsessive quest to track Cockburn’s significant cultural footprint and to understand the life-enhancing power of music. Interviews with producers, musicians, activists, fans, as well as Bruce’s career-long manager, the legendary Bernie Finkelstein, and with the enigmatic Mr. Cockburn himself form the core of this critical appreciation. In these conversations, Cockburn and friends celebrate a life of music and social engagement.

You Get Bigger as You Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution is the perfect beginner’s guide to the music and the artist, and a fun addition to any fan's library. Black and white photographs from archivist Daniel Keebler span decades and show Cockburn in his natural habitat, on stage and in studio. This special ebook edition features colour thumbnail images of the studio albums.

“Dunn takes us on a fascinating journey through Cockburn’s entire career, providing erudite opinions, interesting facts, and a full understanding of what exactly makes Bruce Cockburn and his music so special and loved by such a devoted fanbase. This is a shining example of great music and culture writing.”
--Allister Thompson, musician and book editor

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2023

Reviews

[Brian Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

With encyclopedic scope and musical depth, M.D. Dunn has written an indispensable introduction to the music of Bruce Cockburn. This beautifully written book is a model of a deep listening that results in an engaged conversation between the writer and the art. In fact, the conversational tone of this book emerges out of numerous interviews that Dunn conducted with Bruce Cockburn and many of his collaborators. Dunn’s goal of writing about every album in the vast Cockburn catalogue was audacious, but he pulled it off with insightful eloquence. Whether you are a long-time Cockburn fan or brand new to this stellar artist, this book will be an indispensable guide.

[DHedenstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long-time rabid fan, there were some valuable nuggets here, such as insightful quotes from manager Bernie Finkelstein and a number of musicians and producers who have worked with Bruce. There is also an interesting section describing his guitar style. However, about 2/3 of the book is a sort of catalogue of Bruce's many albums and songs, with lots of opinions about their quality and meanings. Since I'm already familiar with Bruces's music, that part of the book was a bit of a slog for me.

[Jerome Aucoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Very informative and fun to read which is always expected of Bill Bryson.