Bruce Cockburn, Going Beyond Words

For three decades, Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn has spoken out on issues from the environment to human rights. "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" took aim at Guatemala's military for attacking refugees in Mexico. "If a Tree Falls" underscored the plight of endangered forests.

Enlarge this image

Bruce Cockburn's new CD is instrumental, but he also sings his version of the Christmas story in a visit with Liane Hansen. hide caption

toggle caption

Bruce Cockburn's new CD is instrumental, but he also sings his version of the Christmas story in a visit with Liane Hansen.

But Cockburn's new CD focues on his extraordinary talents as a guitarist and composer, rather than his political views. Speechless: The Instrumental Bruce Cockburn, includes cuts culled from previous albums, as well as three newly recorded tunes.

Cockburn tells Liane Hansen how the recording came to be, and where his music is headed next.