Martin Tidy

"Closer to the Light" by Bruce Cockburn

When the singer-songwriter, Mark Heard, died prematurely from a heart attack at the age of 40 in 1992, Bruce Cockburn was moved to write this song in tribute. The chorus captures the loss Bruce Cockburn felt surrounding the death of his friend whilst holding out the prospect of hope:

"Gone from mystery into mystery
Gone from daylight into night
Another step deeper into darkness
Closer to the light"

The picture of stepping deeper into darkness and yet closer to the light is, for me, a vivid image that describes the paradox at the heart of my faith - that the darkness of loss and doubt somehow coexists with the light of hope and love.


Music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3uq5QaQGio

Lyrics:
http://www.lyricstime.com/bruce-cockburn-closer-to-the-light-lyrics.html