The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
So many things I think about
When I look far away
Things I know, things I wonder
Things I'd like to say
The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown
We suspend our disbelief
And we are not alone
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Mysteries of night escape the light of day
Mystic rhythms under northern lights
Oh, the African sun
Primitive things stir the hearts of everyone
We sometimes catch a window
A glimpse of what's beyond
Was it just imagination
Stringing us along?
More things than are dreamed about
Unseen and unexplained
We suspend our disbelief
We are entertained
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Nature seems to spin
A supernatural way
Mystic rhythms under city lights
Or a canopy of stars
We feel the powers
And we wonder what they are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Mysteries of night escape the light of day
Mystic rhythms under northern lights
Or a canopy of stars
We feel the push and pull
Of restless rhythms from afar
When I look far away
Things I know, things I wonder
Things I'd like to say
The more we think we know about
The greater the unknown
We suspend our disbelief
And we are not alone
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Mysteries of night escape the light of day
Mystic rhythms under northern lights
Oh, the African sun
Primitive things stir the hearts of everyone
We sometimes catch a window
A glimpse of what's beyond
Was it just imagination
Stringing us along?
More things than are dreamed about
Unseen and unexplained
We suspend our disbelief
We are entertained
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Nature seems to spin
A supernatural way
Mystic rhythms under city lights
Or a canopy of stars
We feel the powers
And we wonder what they are
(Oh, oh, oh)
Mystic rhythms capture my thoughts
Carry them away
Mysteries of night escape the light of day
Mystic rhythms under northern lights
Or a canopy of stars
We feel the push and pull
Of restless rhythms from afar
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Mystic Rhythms Lyrics as written by Gary Lee Weinrib Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[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.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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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.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
When i first heard this song, i hated it, and i thought it was horrid...yet the more I listened to it, the more I liked it, until it became one of my favorite rush songs to fall asleep to.
i feel the exact same way
One of the best, most lyrically and musically put together Rush songs of all time. We're all connected to more primitive things, no matter what century we're in.
First off, anyone who hasn't seen the music video should check it out. It's pretty cool stuff. This song is so epic and spacey sounding it sends chills down my spine. There's awesome drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, vocals, I really don't see why anyone could really hate the song unless they hate Rush... The lyrics escape me quite a bit... I can never quite put my finger on what it all means in collaboration. It certainly makes me think about our existence as human-beings and the secrets of the universe that our primative minds can barely tap into. There is a bit of talk about instinctual behavior in this song. Stuff like animals leaving an area before disasters and people having gut feelings that end up saving their lives have always amazed me. The only part of the song that I have even the slightest idea of its meaning is the third paragraph/stanza. I believe that it speaks of science fiction connecting to science. For example, we recieve so little information about life on other planets (and its far from sentient life), and yet we create so many fantasies and stories about interplanetary aliens and space travel, etc. At one point, the scientific proof that drove us to continue on has been overshadowed by what we have created out of our imaginations. ...my idea is probably completely wrong though.
I truly feel like a mystic whilst listening to this rythmn.
@Jutsushine
Love the beat, the lyrics, the music. And as subdivided indicated, this song can take you places mentally. Cool, great song!
I too disliked this song at first, but it grew on me.
Great lyrics. We can indications of a higher power in even the little things we observe all around us, whether it be nature or the manmade "city lights".
Rated 0 rate down rate up to blatantmethods ...
you really think this is the worst song Rush has ever made?...not only is this classic rush..Power Windows is probably top 3 Rush Albums of all time...7 great songs out of 8...a truly amazing piece of work and Mystic Rythms is one of he best on the album...you my friend need to listen to it again and again and even again...then listen to Middletown Dreams, Marathon, Manhattan Project, Emotion Detector, Territories and Grand Designs...this is a beautiful album...good luck
So, you're saying Big Money sucks? It's one of the highlights of this album. In my opinion, the weakest song on this album is Emotion Detector.
I think this song is awesome and I think that its about when you go to certain places put you in the perfect mood and you start wondering about everything.
looks like its about universal motion and how everything kinda works in "rythms" and patterns..........or the guest for greater knowledge......or the working of existence..........i'm not sure
this is song is, in fact, an excellent song i just noticed its kind of an "acquired taste" piece of music though. Once you listen to it a few times it'll start to grow on you.