Eddie Cohn has always been a master at blending personal emotion with the larger currents of societal tension, and his latest single, Stop Waving the Gun, delivers a poignant critique of the gun culture that continues to plague America. With the visceral frustration of a man driven to the edge, Cohn uses this track not only to voice his own anger but also to reflect a collective exhaustion – one that many are starting to feel in the wake of repeated school shootings, media sensationalism, and the normalization of violence in the culture at large.
From its opening bars, Stop Waving the Gun grabs our attention with a deep, dimensional bassline that anchors the song’s intensity. It’s a sound that feels purposeful and grounded, reflecting the weight of the subject matter, while simultaneously setting the stage for Cohn’s raw, emotional delivery. Throughout, Cohn’s soaring vocals take center stage, a beacon of clarity amidst the turmoil. The metaphorical prose in the lyrics builds a narrative that is at once a protest and a call for reflection. It’s the type of track that could easily fill a stadium, with its anthemic qualities that evoke the power of rock legends like Pearl Jam and U2, while still remaining undeniably Eddie Cohn in its unique mix of melody and emotional depth.
Cohn’s musical prowess is on full display here. As a multi-instrumentalist, he doesn’t just craft the song, he breathes life into it. From lead and background vocals to acoustic guitar, synths, piano, and percussion, Cohn embodies the track in a way that only someone who truly understands their own music can. The collaboration with seasoned musicians – Brett Farkas on electric guitars, Sean Hurley on bass, Jake Reed on drums, and Philip Peterson on strings – elevates the track to new heights, weaving a sonic tapestry that is both expansive and tight-knit, from the intricate guitar solos to the lush string arrangements.
The most striking aspect of Stop Waving the Gun is its emotional resonance. Cohn, who previously veered toward more eclectic genres blending pop, rock, and electronic sounds, strips down much of the artifice here in favor of organic, bare-bones rock instrumentation. There’s a palpable sense of urgency in the way the drums and bass drive the song forward, the guitars weaving in and out of the mix like a cry for help. This is not just a rock song – it is an act of defiance, a direct challenge to a culture that too often values guns over human life.
Cohn himself notes that this song was born out of frustration. In a recent interview, he reflected on how the barrage of school shootings and the endless news cycle of violence left him feeling both helpless and angry. He wrote the song in response to the emotional wall he hit while watching the aftermath of yet another senseless tragedy. “I just had enough,” he admits. And that rawness is exactly what makes the song feel so impactful. This is not a song about political correctness or muted sentimentality. It’s a song that dares to speak to the heart of the issue—the sickening repetition of violence, the failure of political leadership, and the numbness that seems to envelop a society in denial.
The song’s title, Stop Waving the Gun, serves as both an explicit plea and an existential question: When will we as a society stop glorifying violence? When will we stop using guns as symbols of power, control, and masculinity? It’s a direct challenge not just to lawmakers but to everyone who perpetuates the cycle, whether through media consumption or cultural apathy. Cohn’s use of vivid imagery – “waving the gun” – captures both the reckless abandon with which violence is paraded in public and the disconnection that allows it to continue unabated.
Yet for all of its anger, Stop Waving the Gun is not a song without hope. In fact, there’s an underlying message of empathy woven throughout the lyrics. Cohn urges a deeper understanding of human life and calls for a reconnection with the value of that life. This desire for empathy is amplified by the soaring strings, which add a haunting layer of beauty and sorrow to the song. The strings, recorded remotely by Philip Peterson in Seattle, bring a sense of distance—both emotional and geographical – reminding us that the pain Cohn is describing is not contained within the walls of his own mind, but a shared experience that affects us all.
The production of Stop Waving the Gun is equally impressive. As Cohn describes, much of the song was created remotely, with contributions from musicians across different cities. The collaborative process – helped along by technology – adds an unexpected layer of cohesion to the song, with each musician bringing their individual expertise to the table. The song feels stitched together from multiple threads, like a tapestry that couldn’t exist without each individual thread being in its right place. This sense of unity reflects the message Cohn is conveying: that while we are divided by politics, culture, and ideology, we all share a collective responsibility to demand better from the systems that shape our world.
In terms of sound, Cohn’s voice, deep and emotional, calls to mind Eddie Vedder’s guttural, impassioned delivery, while the track’s soaring anthemic quality recalls the stadium-ready energy of U2’s Bono. There’s also a subtle nod to Tom Petty’s timeless rock sensibilities, where melody and storytelling intertwine seamlessly. But while these influences are undeniably present, Stop Waving the Gun is uniquely Cohn – an artist at the height of his creative power.
At its core, Stop Waving the Gun is a protest song, a reflection on the brokenness of American culture, and a call for empathy. As Cohn himself reflects, “I have to believe and trust that the world and the people in my life, lead with the heart and lead with love.” It’s a timely anthem that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the weight of a world that feels increasingly out of control.
In the end, this song isn’t just a cry for change – it’s a declaration. Eddie Cohn has staked his claim as an artist willing to tackle the tough issues, using his music not just as a platform for expression, but as a tool for change. Stop Waving the Gun is more than a song; it’s a mission statement. And if we’re lucky, it might just inspire us all to stop waving the gun, and start listening, instead. We have added the opus to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Eddie’s wider discography.