I Will Choose Free Will.....

[POTGNE]

Anyone here like RUSH? I'm an oldster...Not really, I'm 33 (still under that old age discussed in a pervious thread of 35)....but I love 70's Rock, and RUSH is still awesome! Their shows are incredible. In honor of them, their 30th anniversary, and any DU rockers that might be out there, I present to you:

Free Will
RUSH - Lyrics by Neil Peart "Permanent Waves" Copyright 1980 Mercury/Polygram

There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
"The stars aren't aligned -
Or the gods are malign"
Blame is better to give than receive.

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 Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand,
The cards were stacked against them - they weren't born in Lotus-Land.

All preordained-
A prisoner in chains-
A victim of venomous fate.
Kicked in the face,
You can't pray for a place
In Heaven's unearthly estate.

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 Free Will.

Each of us-
A cell of awareness-
Imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Rush rocks! I love Rush.

Listened to Exit...Stage left many times last week.

Also just recently got their CD of cover tunes. Great stuff!

And the live from Rio DVD - just saw that a few months ago. Awesome!

My first Rush album I bought when it came out was Hemispheres - long time fan!

[intheflow]

2. Best Rush tune: The Trees.

Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(and they’re quite convinced they’re right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can’t help their feelings
If they like the way they’re made
And they wonder why the maples
Can’t be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream `oppression!`
And the oaks, just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
’the oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light’
Now there’s no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Axe,
And saw ...


:headbang:

[Krupskaya]

9. Gotta love Canadian rockers singin about Union...

We use this as a lullaby for our kids...we're weird like that, but they love it.

[intheflow]

10. I went to a Stones concert when I was 8 months pregnant.

When he was born, that was the only music that could lull my son to sleep. So not at all wierd that your kids go to sleep to listening to Rush.

The Good Rush, not the evil, bad Rush (Limbaugh).

[frogbison]

3. Rush!

51 - introduced to Rush by son, 26. Enjoyed their last two tours immensely. Favorite songs are Closer To The Heart and, especially, Bravado.

If we burn our wings, flying too close to the sun,
If the moment of glory is over before it's begun,
....
victory denied
a summit too lofty
a river a little too wide

when the dust has cleared,
..............
we will pay the price
but still not count the cost...

Do not have the lyrics in front of me. Great song. Great band!

[POTGNE]

5. A Farewell to Kings.....

Kind of reminds me of Bush's America:

"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
Can't we find the minds that made us strong?
Can't we learn to feel what's 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
Can't we raise our eyes and make a start?
Can't we find the minds to lead us
Closer to the heart?

[POTGNE]

6. The of course there's Witch Hunt, which is eerily reminiscent of

America today as well.....

"Witch Hunt"

The night is black
Without a moon
The air is thick and still
The vigilantes gather on
The lonely torch lit hill

Features distorted in the flickering light
The faces are twisted and grotesque
Silent and stern in the sweltering night
The mob moves like demons possessed
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
In our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness too dangerous
In our theaters and bookstore shelves
That those who know what's 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...


Neil Peart's a visionary, and he's also one hell of a man. Lost his daughter, Selena in a car accident at age 19 in 1997 and then his wife, Jackie died 10 months later of cancer. He took a two year motorcycle journey through North and Central America and wrote a book about it. Then in 2002 Rush got back down to business and put out the album, Vapor Trails and did their first tour in almost 5 years, which is what the Rush In Rio DVD was recorded from. I have it here and watch it often.

[POTGNE]

4. I've seen the 10 times in concert...LOL!

They're awesome. The only person/group I've ever seen in concert that had as much energy in their audience as Rush is Tom Petty. He's just so damned cool, you gotta love him. I've seen Yes, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult, Nazerath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Bad Company, The Eagles, The Alan Parson's Project, Nils Loftgren, Collective Soul, The Black Crowes w/ Jimmy Page, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, The Goo Goo Dolls, and countless others I can't recall right now....it's too late. LOL! Anyway, Rush has been by far, the very best concert experience I've ever had. I haven't seen them 10 times for huthin....Ha! Ha! By far the best newer band I've seen is 3 Doors Down, they're awesome, and their singer is very passionate. I'll definitely be seeing them again.

[Swamp Rat]

7. Used to play that song years ago

Alex Lifeson taught me a lot, though he doesn't know it. :D

[POTGNE]

8. Alex is undoubtedly

the most under-rated guitarist in Rock. JMO!

[NamVetsWeeLass]

11. Sorry, Geddy Lee sounds like he has his Testicles caught in a

Vice.... Although their content is very pagan, I can't get past the man's voice... I will say this though, Neil Purt is possibly the Greatest Drummer ever.

[SixStrings]

12. Rush rocks...

Listen to some fo their live stuff - they are incredible musicians. They have absolutley mastered their instruments. Listen to the drums on 2112 - never heard anything come close to that...Far and away my fave band of all time...

[City of Mills]

14. Love Rush, hate Geddy

Shame, really.

[AllegroRondo]

13. Musically WAYYY ahead of their time

No other band can touch their level of proficiency. They were doing odd-time stuff back in the 70's before anyone else even knew what it was (except maybe Frank Zappa - another genius)

And live, they can reproduce even the most complex studio sound and make it look easy. I couldn't believe the first time I saw Geddy play bass, keyboard, and sing all at the same time - and in different rythms. Wow.

Favorite song? I still like "Marathon"

"More than just a dotted line, more than just a dash"

[realisticphish]

15. Long Live Neil Pert! eom

[SaintLouisBlues]

16. I had a string of seeing them 13 times in a row back in the 70's

and 80's, including three consecutive nights at the old Kiel Auditorium.

[new2004voterWV]

17. I've seen them 2 times in concert.

My husband is a total Rush freak! He got me into them when we were dating in the 80's. They are completely incredible live! Hmm.. I don't think I could claim a favorite song of thiers. I just LOVE The Trees, and Closer to the Heart. But I also always enjoyed Tom Sawyer, Fly by Night, Hand over Fist, Lakeside Park, Manhattan Project, Nobody's Hero, & The Fountain of Lamneth (and especially Panacea in the 3rd part.) Hmm.. I just got out his Rush Complete book from ages ago, and I really can't say there is a difinitive favorite there. (But ya know, Geddy's voice had to grow on me.. I was not always a fan!) But Neil, he can drum!!

I think I want to listen to some Rush now.

[Emops]

18. Rush is God's favorite band.

And mine. I've seen them five times in concert, and even drove to Toronto to see them play for a half hour at the SARS benefit concert last year. I'm 21, and when you're a 21 year old Rush freak, that doesn't get you a lot of friends.

When I saw them this summer, they played a really obscure song called "Between the Wheels," which I think was their subtle protest against the war. Here's the lyrics:

Between The Wheels

To live between a rock and a hard place
In between time
Cruising in prime time
Soaking up the cathode rays

To live between the wars in our time
Living in real time
Holding the good time
Holding onto yesterdays…

You know how that rabbit feels
Going under your spinning wheels
Bright images flashing by
Like windshields towards a fly
Frozen in the fatal climb
But the wheels of time
Just pass you by

Wheels can take you around
Wheels can cut you down
We can go from boom to bust
From dreams to a bowl of dust
We can fall from rocket’s red glare
Down to “brother, can you spare-“
Another war, another wasteland
And another lost generation

It slips between your hands like water
This living in real time
A dizzying lifetime
Reeling by on celluloid

Struck between the eyes
By the big-time world
Walking uneasy streets
Hiding beneath the sheets
Got to try and fill the void…