@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Basic elemental
Instinct to survive
Stirs the higher passions
Thrill to be alive
Alternating currents
In a tidewater surge
Rational resistance
To an unwise urge
Anything can happen
From the point of conception
To the moment of truth
At the point of surrender
To the burden of proof
From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey
Is not to arrive
Anything can happen
Basic temperamental
Filters on our eyes
Alter our perceptions
Lenses polarize
Alternating currents
Force a show of hands
Rational responses
Force a change of plans
Anything can happen
From a point on the compass
To magnetic north
The point of the needle
Moving back and forth
From the point of entry
Until the candle is burned
The point of departure
Is not to return
Anything can happen
I set the wheels in motion
Turn up all the machines
Activate the programs
And run behind the scene
I set the clouds in motion
Turn up light and sound
Activate the window
And watch the world go round
Anything can happen
Instinct to survive
Stirs the higher passions
Thrill to be alive
Alternating currents
In a tidewater surge
Rational resistance
To an unwise urge
Anything can happen
From the point of conception
To the moment of truth
At the point of surrender
To the burden of proof
From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey
Is not to arrive
Anything can happen
Basic temperamental
Filters on our eyes
Alter our perceptions
Lenses polarize
Alternating currents
Force a show of hands
Rational responses
Force a change of plans
Anything can happen
From a point on the compass
To magnetic north
The point of the needle
Moving back and forth
From the point of entry
Until the candle is burned
The point of departure
Is not to return
Anything can happen
I set the wheels in motion
Turn up all the machines
Activate the programs
And run behind the scene
I set the clouds in motion
Turn up light and sound
Activate the window
And watch the world go round
Anything can happen
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I have to admit that I just don't see the supposed connection to child-rearing that others do. But maybe that's simply because I don't have children.
I've always thought that this song almost belonged more on "Roll the Bones" than on "Hold Your Fire," though both albums have similar themes ("Roll the Bones" on the need to take a risk and "Hold Your Fire" on the need to stay motivated) which would make some thematic overlap understandable. To me, this song is about holding onto one's drive and pushing through from start (the point of ignition) through the finish (the final drive) and to accept whatever it may bring (rational responses force a change of plans).
I also absolutely love the dual meaning in what, to me, are the two key phrases in the song:
"The point of the journey is not to arrive." "The point of departure is not to return."
Read one way those can be taken as cautions that we shouldn't see the journey as merely something that we have to go through to get to the destination (that is to say, arriving isn't the point of the journey) or that the point of leaving is to take in something new and different rather than just to let us come home and be thankful for the comfort and familiarity of our home.
Read another way, these are much more forceful statements. The first can be taken as "never arriving is the entire point of a journey," suggesting that the whole point of life is to seek journeys, not destinations; that we should "thrill to be alive." The second admonishes us not to come back home; it tells us that never returning is the whole point of departure. When we leave, we should leave and not be wedded to the idea of returning home; the whole point is to keep moving and keep discovering.
I've always preferred the second reading.
Forgot to include that a "prime mover," in addition to the usual philosophical meanings, is also used to describe a machine that converts natural energy into useful work. For example, the engine in a car is the "prime mover" for the car and the massive turbines in the Hoover Dam are the "prime movers" for electricity generators that power millions of homes and businesses. This seems to support the idea that the song is about taking that initial impetus, that "point of ignition" and transforming it into something useful.
To me Prime Mover is about the our human need to explain the unknown with GOD(s) and how we should resist these urges.
This is actually my favorite Rush song! (Who knew it be from Hold Your Fire, right? But I actually think that a lot of HYF songs are good.)
It's about the journey of life. I would say that most of your other interpretations are true, because it is just a very general subject about life. I would just like to go through and we'll see what life's about.
When you're born, you have basic instincts. You start to survive, but it gives you a drive to want. And when you get what you want, you learn happiness.
Life will be moving against you, but you need to push on. Sometimes you want to do something wrong to get through it, but your morality keeps you on the right track.
You start your life, you learn what it's about. You accept that this is your life. And you need to prove that it's worth living for.
You take action in your life, all the way till the end. The goal is perfection, but you will never get there. But you will try.
You change your opinion on things. You start to see things a certain way. You understand what's right and what's wrong.
People do not share the same view as you, so you must speak out about the truth. But when people agree, they change as well.
We think we know the right way, but then we might change our minds.
We have a new way of thinking, but eventually, that changes too. But we will know that we can't go back to the way we were.
You prepare for action. You learn concepts and skills.
You show people what you're about. Be proud about it. And watch your work come into fruition.
But anything can happen. And that's the journey of life.
Ok, well, maybe not theee favorite. But it's up there.
I cant believe that on-one has commented on this song yet, it's an amazing piece of music, without a doubt one of Rush's best. The end section is so awesome, when everything except the drums, keys and geddy drop out, its amazing. Wow.
This song is about sex and babies.
From the point of conception
(when the sperm and egg meet) To the moment of Truth (finding out you have a child) At the point of surrender (giving birth? or preparing to raise children) To the burden of proof (ladies get fat when pregnant)
Then of course that's just one interpretation, I think it's about the journey of being married and having children, kind of like Neil did.
@Life and Life Only you dolt! Neil Peart wrote the lyrics to this song as a tribute to their road crew who supported Rush on their concert tours.If you carefully read the lyrics you can see this.
I just thought it was about life changes and the possibilites they bring. Which I guess is kinda the same thing.
This song strikes me as a roughly analogous to the psychological theory of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
From the basic level, physiological level: “Basic elemental instinct to survive” to one of Actualization: “I set the clouds in motion/turn up light and sound”
I think its about a couple making a baby and when the baby is born the father is a shocked. Maybe it was unplaned? or maybe it wasnt his? who knows. Great song btw one of my favorites.
I think all you guys are right. I happen to think the lyrics were most likely born of Neil's life experience of his daughter Selena's birth (in 1978) and the unpredictability of fatherhood. The album was released in 1987 - when Selena was 9.
Egor - I think you are really onto somehting there though. As well-read and intellectual as NEP is, it wouldn't suprise me if your observation was something Neil also had in mind when he wrote this song.
when i first heard this on A Show of Hands i was amazed how beautiful it sounded Hold Your Fire is one of my favorites because all the tracks are really beautiful