Now into the year of 1987; Peart's expertise in lyrical writing continued to expand and ultimately, become more intelligent. One thing that you'll notice is the lack of actual chorus with the late 80's tunes.
'Time Stand Still'
From the album: 'Hold Your Fire' - 1987
A Key Line:
I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
Chorus:
(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
Thoughts:
Time Stands Still is relatively upsetting song. As the song title and lyrics would suggest, it's about time slipping away with one's lack of control over it; and perhaps, the lack of appreciation you had for a certain event at that particular moment (but now, happen to appreciate it more than ever).
'Lock and Key'
From the album: 'Hold Your Fire' - 1987
A Key Line:
Plenty of people will kill you
For some fanatical cause
Chorus:
I don't want to face the killer instinct
Face it in you or me
So we keep it under lock and key
Thoughts:
This song's message is pretty clear in displaying the fact that we all have a bad side, but naturally, never want to see it.
'Mission'
From the album: 'Hold Your Fire' - 1987
A Key Line:
We each pay a fabulous price
For our visions of paradise
But a spirit with a vision is a dream
With a mission
Chorus - there isn't one..
Thoughts:
Admittedly, 'Mission' is a song about achieving goals and of course, the struggles to accomplish them.
'Turn the Page'
From the album: 'Hold Your Fire' - 1987
A Key Line:
We disengage, we turn the page
Racing down the river running fast
Every day we're standing in a wind tunnel
Chorus - there isn't one..
Thoughts:
Meaning of this particular song? I dunno actually. Evolution, perhaps routine. God knows..
'The Pass'
From the album: 'Presto' - 1989
A Key Line:
And now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Can't face life on a razor's edge
Nothing's what you thought it would be
Chorus - there isn't one
Thoughts:
No speculation here. This song is about a teenager who was an alcoholic (most likely brought on by his alienation at school) and then with no one there to help him find the path of 'good'; decides to commit suicide.
'Scars'
From the album: 'Presto' - 1989
A Key Line:
I've heard the lions hunting
In the Serengeti night
I get this feeling...
Chorus:
Scars of pleasure
Scars of pain
Thoughts:
Hearing the actual song (rather than just reading the lyrics) gives you a better impression of what the lyrics are talking about. With various mentions of Africa and an African inspired drum beat, I have no doubts that it's about...ding..ding..Africa!
'Available Light'
From the album: 'Presto' - 1989
Thoughts:
Like 'Turn the Page', AL leaves me lost. My speculation is that it's about a soul of a deceased individual floating through the earth; searching for the perfect place. Could be entirely wrong though! :D
More great lyrics on the 23rd!
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Lyrical Greats (pt.1)
Well, hello there. As is rather obvious, I haven't had much time to update my Blog as of late.
Rather than wasting any more time - let's get to the point. As per usual, I've been listening to Rush and in particular, their most recent album, 'Snakes & Arrows'. Aside from being musically brilliant, it is most certainly lyrically brilliant. In fact, I'd say that the S&A lyrics are easily on par with my other favourite Rush album(lyrically), 'Hold Your Fire'. Such is an accomplishment, especially considering the latter was distributed to High Schools around Montreal thanks to it's meaningful and stylistic poetry-like writing.
Having said that, I thought I'd be interesting to take a look at some of Rush's best lyrics.
The Writer:
For those unaware, Rush's primary lyricist is their drummer, Neil Peart and he is the original writer of these fantastic lyrics. Mind you, band vocalist Geddy Lee has also been known from time to time to add or change lyrical input. So.. special thanks to the both of them!
Before we go on, one must make note that Peart's lyrics can be interpreted many different ways. These are my personal interpretations!
-- Chronologically ordered --
'Something For Nothing'
From the album: '2112' - 1976
A Key Line:
What you do is your own glory
Chorus:
You don't get something for nothing
You can't have freedom for free
You won't get wise
With the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be
Thoughts:
'Something For Nothing' is the typical Rush song of the late 70's. Especially as Neil had a fascination with reading Ann Ryann books (which very much focused on the Russia's Communism).
'The Spirit of Radio'
From the album: 'Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line:
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
Chorus:
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free
Thoughts:
The SPOR has a wonderful message. Music is magical and the lyrics in this particular song are stringed together like a masterpiece.
'Entre Nous'
From the album: Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line
Each of us a world apart
Chorus:
Just between us
I think it's time for us to recognize
The differences we sometimes fear to show
Just between us
I think it's time for us to realize
The spaces in between
Leave room for you and I to grow
Thoughts:
A song about clearly about a relationships.
'Freewill'
From the album: 'Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line:
You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate
Chorus:
You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill
Thoughts:
'Freewill' is very much akin to 'Snakes & Arrows', 'Faithless'. It's about choosing religion and how you're religion, might be not to choose one.
'Tom Sawyer'
From the album: 'Moving Pictures' - 1981
A Key Line:
No his mind is not for rent to any god or government
Chorus:
The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide
Thoughts:
A song about alienation and social impact on the youth.
'Limelight'
From the album: 'Moving Pictures' - 1981
A Key Line:
One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact
Chorus:
Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme
Thoughts:
This is what I believe to be what Neil felt were the negatives about the band's success.
More tomorrow!
Rather than wasting any more time - let's get to the point. As per usual, I've been listening to Rush and in particular, their most recent album, 'Snakes & Arrows'. Aside from being musically brilliant, it is most certainly lyrically brilliant. In fact, I'd say that the S&A lyrics are easily on par with my other favourite Rush album(lyrically), 'Hold Your Fire'. Such is an accomplishment, especially considering the latter was distributed to High Schools around Montreal thanks to it's meaningful and stylistic poetry-like writing.
Having said that, I thought I'd be interesting to take a look at some of Rush's best lyrics.
The Writer:
For those unaware, Rush's primary lyricist is their drummer, Neil Peart and he is the original writer of these fantastic lyrics. Mind you, band vocalist Geddy Lee has also been known from time to time to add or change lyrical input. So.. special thanks to the both of them!
Before we go on, one must make note that Peart's lyrics can be interpreted many different ways. These are my personal interpretations!
-- Chronologically ordered --
'Something For Nothing'
From the album: '2112' - 1976
A Key Line:
What you do is your own glory
Chorus:
You don't get something for nothing
You can't have freedom for free
You won't get wise
With the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be
Thoughts:
'Something For Nothing' is the typical Rush song of the late 70's. Especially as Neil had a fascination with reading Ann Ryann books (which very much focused on the Russia's Communism).
'The Spirit of Radio'
From the album: 'Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line:
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
Chorus:
Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free
Thoughts:
The SPOR has a wonderful message. Music is magical and the lyrics in this particular song are stringed together like a masterpiece.
'Entre Nous'
From the album: Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line
Each of us a world apart
Chorus:
Just between us
I think it's time for us to recognize
The differences we sometimes fear to show
Just between us
I think it's time for us to realize
The spaces in between
Leave room for you and I to grow
Thoughts:
A song about clearly about a relationships.
'Freewill'
From the album: 'Permanent Waves' - 1980
A Key Line:
You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate
Chorus:
You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill
Thoughts:
'Freewill' is very much akin to 'Snakes & Arrows', 'Faithless'. It's about choosing religion and how you're religion, might be not to choose one.
'Tom Sawyer'
From the album: 'Moving Pictures' - 1981
A Key Line:
No his mind is not for rent to any god or government
Chorus:
The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide
Thoughts:
A song about alienation and social impact on the youth.
'Limelight'
From the album: 'Moving Pictures' - 1981
A Key Line:
One must put up barriers to keep oneself intact
Chorus:
Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme
Thoughts:
This is what I believe to be what Neil felt were the negatives about the band's success.
More tomorrow!
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