Word Of Wisdom From RUSH

[TheWatcher]

The BAND, Silly, not the Pigman.

I'm not sure I would say Neal Peart is a Prophet, but when you consider this was written in 1977 and you read it now, you really do have to wonder.....

A Farewell To Kings

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance

Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise

The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Cant we find
The minds that made us strong?
Cant we learn
To feel whats right and what's wrong?

What's Wrong?

Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise

Cant we raise our eyes
And make a start?
Cant we find the minds
To lead us closer to the heart?

Rush- A Farewell To Kings 1977

[Syrinx]

1. lots of wisdom from Rush

Closer To The Heart

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality
Closer to the heart

The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
Forge their creativity
Closer to the heart

Philosophers and ploughmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart

You can be the captain
I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart

[TheWatcher]

2. ABSOLUTELY. And let us not forget this one

It most definitely translates today......

The Weapon

We've got nothing to fear...but fear itself?
Not pain, not failure, not fatal tragedy?
Not the faulty units in this mad machinery?
Not the broken contacts in emotional chemistry?

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom's will be done

And the things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us...

He's not afraid of your judgment
He knows of horrors worse than your Hell
He's a little bit afraid of dying
But he's a lot more afraid of your lying

And the things that he fears are a weapon to be held against him...

Can any part of life be larger than life?
Even love must be limited by time
And those who push us down that they might climb
Is any killer worth more than his crime?

Like a steely blade in a silken sheath
We don't see what they're made of
They shout about love, but when push comes to shove
They live for the things they're afraid of

And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them...

[Syrinx]

3. ... and about tolerance and acceptance

I knew he was different, in his sexuality
I went to his parties, as a straight minority
It never seemed a threat to my masculinity
He only introduced me to a wider reality

As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that he was gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart
But he's nobody's ---

Hero --- saves a drowning child
Cures a wasting disease
Hero --- lands the crippled airplane
Solves great mysteries

Hero --- not the handsome actor
Who plays a hero's role
Hero --- not the glamor girl
Who'd love to sell her soul
If anybody's buying
NOBODY'S HERO

I didn't know the girl, but I knew her family
All their lives were shattered
in a nightmare of brutality
They try to carry on, try to bear the agony
Try to hold some faith
in the goodness of humanity

As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that she was gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart
But she's nobody's ---

Hero --- the voice of reason
Against the howling mob
Hero --- the pride of purpose
In the unrewarding job

Hero --- not the champion player
Who plays the perfect game
Not the glamor boy
Who loves to sell his name
Everybody's buying
NOBODY'S HERO

As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that you were gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart

Hero

[TheWatcher]

4. That one still brings tears to my eyes

I saw them perform that LIVE in 94. It was one of the most beautifully chilling things I ever saw.

One more for tonight.....

And this one REALLY resonates into the times we live in now

Witch Hunt

The night is black, without a moon.
The air is thick and still.
The vigilantes gather on
The lonely torchlit hill.

Features distorted in the flickering light,
Faces are twisted and grotesque.
Silent and stern in the sweltering night,
The mob moves like demons possesed.
Quiet in conscience, calm in their right,
Confident their ways are best.

The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will.
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat and burn and kill.

They say there are strangers who threaten us,
Our immigrants and infidels.
They say there is strangeness to danger us
In our theatres and bookstore shelves,
That those who know whats best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves.

Quick to judge,
Quick to anger,
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear walk hand in hand.

[Syrinx]

5. yes!

I guess I'm done tonight, because that was going to be my "topper." :)

I've seen the band about a half dozen times I guess. The first was in Birmingham in 1982. The most recent was in Nashville in 2004. Every show was great! I love Rush. The band, not the pigman, silly! ;)

[TheWatcher]

6. I have seen them five times myself.

Three times in Nashville, twice in Texas. They actually got better every time I saw them. Last time for me was Test For Echo in Nashville, and I really don't think I ever saw a better show than that one, other than U2 in 1987.

They truly are the most underappreciated Musical Group of all time. You would be hard pressed to EVER find a band that truly put their finger on the pulse of things. The lyrics to many of their songs are so haunting and relevant, that even though they were written over 30 years ago, they manage to maintain MORE relevance in future periods than they did at the time they were written.

Truly forever ahead of their time. :)

[Syrinx]

7. agreed!

They really should be in the rock and roll hall of fame. I think they get short shrift because they don't have a lot of songs about sex.

Good Night! :hi:

[TheWatcher]

8. You are absolutely correct about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

The SHOULD be there, and it is a mystery to me why they have been slighted. perhaps it is because they
tell the Truth too close to home, and speak too much Truth To Power.

Or perhaps it is because They Choose Freewill. :)

And we just can't have that can we, since they already gave that token nod to U2. It makes me ill, but perhaps one day the little Trio From Canada That Could, Did, And Continues To Do, will get their due.

Have a Good Night My Friend. :) It is very good to meet a fellow Rush fan. Perhaps if this thread survives the Dawn others will chime in as well. :hi:

[Davros]

11. A newer song from their latest studio album "Peaceable Kingdom"

Peacable Kingdom

A wave toward the clearing the sky

All this time we're talking and sharing our rational view
A billion other voices are spreading other news
All this time we're living and trying to understand
Why a billion other choices are making their demands

Talk of a peaceable kingdom
Talk of a time without fear
The ones we wish would listen
Are never going to hear

Justice against the hanged man
Knight of Wands against the hour
Swords against the kingdom
Time against the tower

All this time we're shuffling and laying out all our cards
While a billion other dealers are slipping past our guards
All this time we're hoping and praying we all might learn
While a billion other teachers are teaching them how to burn

Dream of a peaceable kingdom
Dream of a time without war
The ones we wish would hear us
Have heard it all before

A wave toward the clearing sky
A wave toward the clearing sky

The hermit against the lovers
Or the devil against the fool
Swords against the kingdom
The wheel against the rules

All this time we're burning like bonfires in the dark
A billion other blazes are shooting off their sparks
Every spark a drifting ember of desire
To fall upon the earth and spark another fire

A homeward angel on the fly
A wave toward the clearing sky

[Nomad559]

9. RUSH: AOL Music

AOL Music
http://music.aol.com/archive/main


Tom Sawyer
http://us.video.aol.com/video.full.adp?pls=music.archive.5323.All.sort&start=1&startid=1452519

Time Stands Still
http://us.video.aol.com/video.full.adp?pls=music.archive.5323.All.sort&start=2&startid=1452518

Rush :Exclusive Interview
http://us.video.aol.com/audio.full.adp?pmmsid=1103321

:)

[Mythsaje]

10. Love Rush...

Hell, one of the things that originally caught me about my wife is that she too is a Rush fan.

I like smart women.