lgageharleya
I’ve always loved RUSH, they were 3 guys who put forth as awesome a sound live as recorded. Geddy Lee played keyboard with his feet, while simultaneously playing bass guitar and lead vocalist. Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were arguably the best in their instruments of all time.
But mainly, their lyrics were always so much more complex than anyone else’s. They caught almost all the LOTR kids, plus the Thomas Covenant’s, the Piers Anthony’s, etc. Epic fantasy lovers were hooked. Anyway, the majority of their songs are laden with meaning applicable to today. 2112 is….well, you can read it for yourselves if you wish….
Rush Lyrics
Play “2112”
on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)
“2112”
‘I lie awake, staring out at the bleakness of Megadon. City and sky become one, merging
into a single plane, a vast sea of unbroken grey. The Twin Moons, just two pale orbs as
they trace their way across the steely sky. I used to think I had a pretty good life here,
just plugging into my machine for the day, then watching Templevision or reading a Temple
Paper in the evening.
‘My friend Jon always said it was nicer here than under the atmospheric domes of the Outer
Planets. We have had peace since 2062, when the surviving planets were banded together under
the Red Star of the Solar Federation. The less fortunate gave us a few new moons.
I believed what I was told. I thought it was a good life, I thought I was happy. Then I found
something that changed it all…’
[I. Overture]
And the meek shall inherit the earth…
[II. Temples of Syrinx]
…’The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the heart of every Federation city. I
have always been awed by them, to think that every single facet of every life is regulated
and directed from within! Our books, our music, our work and play are all looked after by
the benevolent wisdom of the priests…’
We’ve taken care of everything
The words you read, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It’s one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
Look around at this world we’ve made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice, contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand
We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
[III. Discovery]
‘…Behind my beloved waterfall, in the little room that was hidden beneath the cave, I
found it. I brushed away the dust of the years, and picked it up, holding it reverently in
my hands. I had no idea what it might be, but it was beautiful…’
‘…I learned to lay my fingers across the wires, and to turn the keys to make them sound
differently. As I struck the wires with my other hand, I produced my first harmonious sounds
and soon my own music! How different it could be from the music of the Temples! I can’t wait
to tell the priests about it!…’
What can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It’s got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?
See how it sings like a sad heart
And joyously screams out its pain
Sounds that build high like a mountain
Or notes that fall gently like rain
I can’t wait to share this new wonder
The people will all see its light
Let them all make their own music
The Priests praise my name on this night
[IV. Presentation]
‘…In the sudden silence as I finished playing, I looked up to a circle of grim,
expressionless faces. Father Brown rose to his feet, and his somnolent voice echoed
throughout the silent Temple Hall…’
‘…Instead of the grateful joy that I expected, they were words of quiet rejection!
Instead of praise, sullen dismissal. I watched in shock and horror as Father Brown ground
my precious instrument to splinters beneath his feet…’
I know it’s most unusual
To come before you so
But I’ve found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There’s something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Yes, we know, it’s nothing new
It’s just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
The world is doing fine
Another toy that helped destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn’t fit the plan
I can’t believe you’re saying
These things just can’t be true
Our world could use this beauty
Just think what we might do
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There’s something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Don’t annoy us further!
We have our work to do
Just think about the average
What use have they for you?
Another toy that helped destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn’t fit the Plan!
[V. Oracle: The Dream]
‘…I guess it was a dream, but even now it all seems so vivid to me. Clearly yet I see
the beckoning hand of the oracle as he stood at the summit of the staircase…’
‘…I see still the incredible beauty of the sculptured cities and the pure spirit of man
revealed in the lives and works of this world. I was overwhelmed by both wonder and
understanding as I saw a completely different way to life, a way that had been crushed
by the Federation long ago. I saw now how meaningless life had become with the loss of
all these things…’
I wandered home through the silent streets
And fell into a fitful sleep
Escape to realms beyond the night
Dream can’t you show me the light?
I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days
I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes
They left our planets long ago
The elder race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home to tear the Temples down…
Home to change!
[VI. Soliloquy]
‘…I have not left this cave for days now, it has become my last refuge in my total
despair. I have only the music of the waterfall to comfort me now. I can no longer live
under the control of the Federation, but there is no other place to go. My last hope is
that with my death I may pass into the world of my dream, and know peace at last.’
The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams…
Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen!
I don’t think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
My spirits are low in the depths of despair
My lifeblood…
…Spills over…
[VII. The Grand Finale]
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
We have assumed contro
My brother used to listen to this album incessantly. Even at 10 years old I could sense the lamenting despair at the sudden recognition that he has no freedom and is being totally controlled
My older brother and I did, too. They have always been my favorite band. I’ve been reading through their lyrics and nearly every song seems like they were seeing us now back then. Maybe it was the same back then and i was just too young to see it?
I still feel an underlying consistency of heart and message through them. They knew too much, but there is a true call away from all that. They even speak of the performers and how they must establish buffers for themselves from the industry, and they speak often of the truth.
But the insane ringmasters see their evil as the truth, so…?
Reading, though, I still get a cleaner feeling from them.
My favorite songs were Natural Science, The Trees and Freewill.
I really liked them too but later in life. They seemed to transcend the music industry creating lyrics and sounds no one else had the cahones to do. I wondered if somehow they were able to find success outside the system which is extraordinarily rare and probably impossible today. They were always a grass roots band touring relentlessly so they developed a huge following without the help of the industry it seems like. Really good live show
They always did, but they were aimed at the nerdy, so maybe that’s why they seemed so peripheral.
The whole one piece robe looking outfits they sported for a while didn’t help with the nerd thing. I heard Getty talking about how he deeply regretted that phase of their career.
Honestly those outfits are the type of thing handlers would force on bands.
But it is something we will never know for sure but it’s fun to speculate.
I never realized there was a continuing story thread through several albums
I only noticed today.
My favorite Rush album. But recently I realized that 2112 equaled 33. So, it appears Rush are part of ‘The club’
I hear you, but I’m hoping they’re more along the lines of Jordan Maxwell or William Cooper. If they’re not, they play the best game of true sympathy for the cattle than anyone else I’ve ever seen.
It’s hard to imagine they weren’t sold out but you would have to come up with more evidence than that
If you go to A-Z lyrics and look at their albums, you’ll see that after whatever that first was, they began to go through history and periods, like Tolkien. There was the prehistory and journey, the battle, the aftermath, the future (with farewell to the old ways), then a new Renaissance. Moving Pictures goes through the behind the scenes “making of”. Signals starts the heavy digitization. They are philosophic throughout.
Their last few I wasn’t as big into, so I still want to kind of see what they’re saying on those albums, but I don’t intend to do it right away or spend much time on it. I just found it interesting how they are telling a cohesive history and how closely it resembles today.
Some claim that Rush stands for ‘Rise Under Satan’s Hand’ or ‘Ruled Under Satan’s Hand’.
“…inverted crosses, 666, and the devil hands (referred to here as “El Cronado”) appear in the album art and videos for Rush, but they’re just the tip of Satan’s iceberg…On the live version of Rush’s “Anthem”: “Oh Satan you are the one who is shining…Walls of Satan, I know it is you are the one I love.”
https://pitchfork.com/features/article/6216-for-whom-hells-bells-toll/
Thank you for this. Satan has gifted many in this world. In eternity, the first will be last, and the last first.
You should look into Tool. You’ll have fun with the webs they’ve spun.
I think this may be a case where you have to consider the quote VC uses, “The world is ruled by symbols.” Meaning look at their cover art. An owl on Fly by Night. Tons of magic sigils on Clockwork Angels including the leviathan cross. A kid kicking a tantric skull on Roll the Bones. And 2112 has a big red glowing pentagram in a magic circle and introduces the Starman logo, the same pentagram with a human in front of it, which reminds me of the occult Vitruvian Man. Geddy Lee claims to be an atheist but who knows? I don’t like Rush, personally, I hate meandering prog rock and Geddy Lee’s voice is like having a dentist drill jammed in your ear. Other prog rock is highly occult, Genesis especially with The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. With influences like that and the pentagram on the album that launched them into massive success, I don’t trust them. And I don’t even know if it is really about selling out to the human elite, as a comment here says, I think it maybe really is like in Brand New Cherry Flavor. When you start to participate in the entertainment industry, I think maybe something just …shows up. And it is up to you if you keep going from that point.
I am really torn about Rush. I like the depth of their lyrics and the art in their music. But they seem to be anti God as in “Free will”, and support Fabian Socialism as in “Closer to the Heart”. They did 2112 which is a version of Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” and then a song called “Anthem” that seems to go 180 degrees the other way. I will continue to enjoy their music but won’t be influenced by some of the lyrics. They did bring out deeper subject matter whichever way you look at it.
I always thought Freewill was athiest too, but now I see it could be just scorning religion, which I agree with.
I get it, I have had to distance myself from things I liked or thought I did. We humans are in a terrible spot, led astray by things we like. I finally understand why Jesus said “Love me more than you love the world.” Satanists specialize in hiding things in plain sight. That pentagram symbol is an ancient magical sigil that represents the motion of the planet Venus, the Lightbringer, the great goddess, the female aspect of Satan. The same pattern is formed by the seeds in an apple, the instrument of the Fall, if you cut it crosswise, with the outside of the apple forming the circle around it. If someone uses that symbol, it doesn’t matter what they say it means, like using it in 2112 as the symbol of the enemy in the story. It still has an intrinsic meaning and it has powers of manifestation. A major label release transmits images and symbols to millions of people. If someone puts a honkin’ red flaming pentagram on their record cover, believe them, because that is a Satanic symbol and that is what they are projecting into the world. They might be saying one thing but they are showing you another.
Haha! Yes, his voice is definitely distinctive.
I think it carried a hurt, angry, inquisitive energy I resonated with. I could feel the emotions in his voice and mine often felt that extreme. When he sang quietly, I felt that as expended emotion and hollowed-out rest. It was therapeutic expression for me in ways I didn’t know how to do, or didn’t have the freedom to do for myself.
There is another album my brother obsessed over and later everything Peter Gabrielle his solo career was occult.
Now what you have offered is convincing evidence RUSH paid the piper.