Playlist Ponderings: Rush

It has been quite some time since I did a Playlist Pondering, so I thought it was time to resurrect the idea. Today’s pondering is on one of the greatest rock bands to grace the planet – Rush.

Growing up in Canada, Rush entered into my consciousness at an early age. Back in the day, it seemed like they played virtually every high school in Canada – except mine. Rush was always on the radio, at least on the rock stations like CHEZ 106 in Ottawa or Q107 in Toronto.

The stellar musicianship and incredible jams initially caught my attention. How could it not, with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neal Peart playing their hearts out? All you had to do was watch “Exit … Stage Left” and you would be hooked. Awesome sauce, indeed.

But it was far more than that. My high school years, like many other people I am sure, found me struggling to find meaning. I was struggling to find out who I was and where I fit in, and the timing was right: there were Neal Peart’s lyrics right in front of me.

Peart’s lyrics were more than just snappy phraseology – they had real meaning and told real stories about people struggling within themselves and their community. These characters faced many of the same internal challenges that many of us, self included, faced while growing up.

I was a math and science guy. Of all my classes in my senior year, Canadian literature epitomized “survival” for me. It was way outside of the bounds for me.

I was fortunate that my high school Canadian literature teacher, Mr. Huether, presented the class with what I can now say, 27 years later, was a great assignment. Mr. Huether gave us the option of doing a book report on a book written by a Canadian author, or a review of a series of songs written by a Canadian songwriter. At that time, I was a little doubtful that I could find many good Canadian books remaining that hadn’t already been covered in class. But music had become a big thing for me during high school. To delve into the lyrics – and write a review of what I discovered – now that was an English assignment I could really sink my teeth into. With that in mind, I dove headlong into Peart’s lyrics and found meaning far beyond what I had ever hoped, even to this day.

I selected 8 songs from their catalog:

“Subdivisions” (“Signals” 1982);

“Natural Science” (“Permanent Waves" 1980);

“Vital Signs” (“Moving Pictures” 1981);

“Something For Nothing” (“2112” 1976);

“Freewill” (“Permanent Waves” 1980);

“Losing It” (“Signals” 1982);

“Cinderella Man” (“A Farewell To Kings” 1977); and

“Closer To The Heart” (“A Farewell To Kings” 1977).

These are such amazing songs. But it was “Subdivisions” that really set the tone for me …

… Growing up it all seems so one-sided / Opinions all provided / The future pre-decided / Detached and subdivided / In the mass production zone / Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone …

(Subdivisions) In the high school halls / In the shopping malls / Conform or be cast out

Some will sell their dreams for small desires / Or lose the race to rats / Get caught in ticking traps / And start to dream of somewhere / To relax their restless flight / Somewhere out of a memory of lighted streets on quiet nights...

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And of course there was “Freewill” …

… If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice … I will choose a path that’s clear / I will choose free will …

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Wow. Just re-reading those lyrics now takes me back in time. Heady stuff for a teenager.

The due date was January 9, 1984. As it turns out, it was probably one of the best pieces of writing I ever completed in high school. In the process of writing, it gave me a deeper insight into who I was, and what life meant to me at the time. In retrospect, it provided me with one of the first times that I truly thought that I could write and express myself.

I remember reading an interview with Neal Peart in which he mentioned the influence of Ayn Rand on his writing and thinking. I eventually took the time to read “Atlas Shrugged” and it was the most important, thought-provoking book that I have ever read. I can thank Neal Peart for bringing Rand to my attention, and for bringing some clarity to some challenging teen years. Better yet, I can thank Rush for providing many hours of great listening pleasure and for providing me with a respite from traditional Canadian literature.

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