24 November 1997 - [He first said the song was written in the Canary Islands], then he mentioned old men with big knives drinking strange brews under palm trees, being mistaken for a German ("the Canaries are to Germans what Miami is to Quebecois") and the fascinating topography. As far as the song goes, it turns out that when he was there (Trouble with Normal era, eh?) Morocco and Spain (the Canaries are Spanish) were involved in a heated fishing dispute. One day he was hanging out in a sleepy port town and these boats appear on the horizon. You know the song. They were real naval vessels and for a while there he figured anything might happen." - from a post to the Humans list, 24 November 1997 by David in Michigan, reporting Bruce's words before performing the song in concert.
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This page is part of The Cockburn Project, a unique website that exists to document the work of Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Bruce Cockburn. The Project archives self-commentary by Cockburn on his songs and music, and supplements this core part of the website with news, tour dates, and other current information.
