A modern-day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide
Today's Tom Sawyer, he gets high on you
And the space he invades, he gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to
The friction of the day


Lyrics submitted by knate15

Tom Sawyer Lyrics as written by Geddy Lee Weinrib Alexandar Zivojinovich

Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Tom Sawyer song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

124 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +40
    General Comment

    I am a new member, and it's so good to see and read so many fellow RUSH fans. Their respective musicianship, demeanor and intellectually progressive style is second to none, in my opinion, and makes them, again in my opinion, the best three piece rock band ever.

    As a drummer, philosopher and appreciator of unique and interesting personalities, I have appreciated Neil Peart in various capacities for some time. As an undergraduate philosophy student (presently working on my Ph.D.) we were assigned in senior seminar to write about our favorite living philosopher. I turned in a twenty page treatise on Neil Peart and the look on my professors face was priceless. Without reading it, he handed it back and told me to grow up and do the assignment, stating "He's not even an academic. How could he be a philosopher?" (such attitudes are commonplace) I told him that if he didn't think differently after reading it I would quit school. He could tell I was serious. The next day, handing me a paper with the first letter of our alphabet scribed widely across the top, he asked me, embarrassed, if I would burn him a CD with "some of their stuff" :-)

    As far as lyrical meaning, it is important to note that, while influenced by Twain, Rand and various others, he is (in his own words), "a disciple of no one." Through his lyrics we can piece together a personal philosophy, a proprietary blend, of anti-idealism/objectivism/individualism (Freewill, The Pass, TOM SAWYER, Show Don't Tell, Vital Signs, etc...), fatalism (Roll The Bones, a personal favorite), existentialism (again, Roll The Bones, Limelight, the title "All The World's A Stage") and several other philosophical influences.

    Tom Sawyer (not Diane Sawyer, Ricky. hehe) is, in both the book and song, the personification of a sort or type of person, the sort of person breaking away from the status quo, exploring and, importantly, the sort who represents both a normative and actual shifting of the human paradigm in the direction of his (man's) rational evolution. This fits, to a greater or lesser extent, with Freud's idea that man evolves in such a way as to shed his dependence on ideals (religion, social norms) and replace that dependence with a greater implementation of reason (leading to self-reliance, a deeper self-awareness and sense of responsibility for ones own "destiny"). Tom Sawyer has thus been a different people at different transitional points in man's evolution (our history). "Todays" Tom Sawyer is exactly what the song says; a leader to the next step in realizing pure reason or rationality; the "space he invades," is his days work, to explore the unknown as progress towards truth; the "friction of the day," is the resistance he faces from both people's unwillingness to embrace change as well as the intellectual rigor of tackling what hasn't already been explored (the guy who cuts a path through the forest faces resistance from the brush leaving those who follow behind with little to do but be complacent and stagnate). He (TS) does all of this with a mind filled only by his own conclusions (i.e. "not for rent"), and via the power coming from honest intellectual reciprocity or dialectical process ("he gets high on you," "he gets by on you"). As far as "riding out the days events," the song is referring to fate controlling what life gives to us, even though it is our responsibility (and can be a point of pride if done well) to live our own life with what fate hands us. In RUSH's "Roll the Bones," Peart refers to the same notion, "we draw our own designs, but fortune has to make that frame."

    The philosophical analysis could go on and on. Tom Sawyer is an intellectually (ideologically) dense song, as are many other of Peart's lyrics. It would take a while to thoroughly unpack them and I feel bad writing as much as I have. Sorry about that. I'm new, and haven't yet developed any restraint :-)

    roll_the_bones79on July 27, 2007   Link
  • +21
    General Comment

    Rush are horribly underrated.

    IanoDublinon June 17, 2002   Link
  • +12
    General Comment

    It's about individualism and not mindlessly bowing to authority, (religion, government, etc.). This song was written in Neil's Ayn Rand influenced period. Look her up.

    pavlovscaton June 24, 2010   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    This song covers a lot of concepts. Primarily it is a description of today's rebel hero, Tom Sawyer. This person is independent and self-aware. Several in TS recurr in other Rush songs: ..."He knows that changes aren't permanent...but Change is": change is the only constant ..."Love and life are deep...maybe as his eyes are wide": reality is defined by our perception of it.

    mutzon May 19, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Neil Peart collaborated this song with Pye Dubois (a lyricist).

    He said, "A portrait of a modern day rebel, a free-spirited individualist striding through the world wide-eyed and purposeful. I added the themes of reconciling the boy and man in myself, and the difference between what people are and what others perceive them to be - namely me I guess."

    I'm doing a presentation on the parallels between American novels and music, using this song (of course) as an example. When I looked deeper at it, I became confused. To me, it sounds like Peart and Pubois are talking more about Huckleberry Finn and less about Tom Sawyer, though both are rebels in their own way. However, Tom, rebels for his own selfish purposes (someone else said that on here too and I completely agree). Huck, on the other hand, rebels even though he believes helping a Negro would 'send him to hell'. Still confused about it, but maybe I'm thinking too hard which is possible... ahhh

    lekittyon May 06, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Changes aren't permanent, but change is.

    That just about says it all.

    Rush4Peaceon February 05, 2013   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    When one understands the underpinnings of soceity, the propaganda and money powers that manipulate societies one truly understands the meaning of this song. Mean stride, mean pride (Tom Sawyer, the hidden hand behind nations, governments.) What you say about his company Is what you say about society When you question this power of the tyrants (the hidden hand), you are questioning the decency of society itself. They have made it so through mass media manipulation, to make you feel guilty about questioning them. Catch the mist, catch the myth Catch the mystery, catch the drift. That is the mystery. We're being lead around by con men and bullshiters. No, his mind is not for rent To any god or government (The powers that be have no homeland and answer to no one. Don't put him (them) down as arrogant His(there) reserve, a quiet defense Riding out the day's events The river

    ggrichardson February 14, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Any one catch The ep. of Trailer park boys featuring rush? great stuff

    MGDon June 06, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    god this song is amazing I think it's one of their bests

    Spenca92on July 07, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hey ledskynyrd, here is a list from the net of the 100 Top Drummers of all-time and as your dumb ass will see, John overdose Bonham takes a comfortable back seat (and not a close one I might add) to the MAN; Neil Peart.

    1. Neil Peart (Rush)
      1. John Bonham* (Led Zeppelin)
      2. Carl Palmer (ELP)
      3. Keith Moon* (The Who)
      4. Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa)
      5. Ginger Baker (Cream)
      6. Hal Blaine (Session man)
      7. Danny Carey (Tool)
      8. Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson)
    2. Earl Palmer (Session man)
    3. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
    4. Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
    5. Benny Benjamin* (Funk Brothers)
    6. Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
    7. Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge)
    8. Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne)
    9. Stewart Copeland (The Police)
    10. Bernard Purdie (Session)
    11. Vinnie Colaiuta (Zappa)
    12. Jeff Porcaro* (Toto)
    13. Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
    14. David Garabaldi (Tower Of Power)
    15. Ainsley Dunbar (Jeff Beck)
    16. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
    17. Mike Shrieve (Santana)
    18. Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix)
    19. Steve Smith (Journey)
    20. Al Jackson* (The MGs)
    21. Matt Cameron (Soundgarden)
    22. Tim Alexander (Primus)
    23. Jim Keltner (Session man)
    24. Phil Collins (Genesis)
    25. Cozy Powell* (Rainbow)
    26. Simon Phillips (Toto)
    27. Russ Kunkel (Session man)
    28. Bobby Jarzombeck (Rob Halford)
    29. Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews)
    30. Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)
    31. Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins)
    32. Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
    33. Kenny Aronoff (Session man)
    34. Alan White (Yes)
    35. Mike Giles (King Crimson)
    36. Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs)
    37. Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull)
    38. Mike Mangini (Extreme)
    39. Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
    40. Roger Hawkins (Arethra Franklin/Session Man)
    41. Bobby Elliot (The Hollies)
    42. Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
      1. BJ Wilson* Procul Harum)
    43. Joe Franco (Good Rats)
    44. Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)
    45. Virgil Donati (Planet X)
    46. Roger Taylor (Queen)
    47. Chad Wackerman (Zappa)
    48. Topper Headon (The Clash)
    49. Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir)
    50. Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac)
    51. Danny Seraphine (Chicago)
    52. Gene Holgan (Death)
    53. John Densmore (The Doors)
    54. Max Weinberg (Springsteen)
    55. Jabo Starks (James Brown)
    56. Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
    57. Jerry Allison (Crickets)
    58. Phil Ehart (Kansas)
    59. Chester Thompson (Santana)
    60. Matt McDonoughe (Mudvayne)
    61. Dean Castronovo (Journey)
    62. Jon Theodore (Mars Volta)
    63. Van Romaine (Steve Morse)
    64. Ralph Humphrey (Mothers Of Invention)
    65. Les Lester (Los Straightjackets)
    66. Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy)
    67. Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
    68. Dick Richards (The Comets)
    69. Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle)
    70. Stanton Moore (Galactic)
    71. Joey Jordison (Slipknot)
    72. Ron Wilson (Surfaris)
    73. Jack Irons (Pearl Jam)
    74. Jim Gordon (Derek And The Dominoes)
    75. Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
    76. Eddie Bayers (Session man)
    77. Jeff Campitelli (Joe Satriani)
    78. Dave Grohl (Nirvana)
    79. Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow)
    80. Chris Frantz (Talking Heads)
    81. Mike Bordin (Faith No More)
    82. Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
    83. Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep)
    84. Phil Selway (Radiohead)
    85. Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio)
    86. Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche)
    87. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
    88. Nick Menza (Megadeth)
    89. John Dalmayan (System Of A Down)
    90. Travis Barker (Blink 182)
    91. Ralph Salmins (Session man)

    To even think that Bonham is even close to Neil Peart is an insult that borderlines insanity.

    Snyder80on June 04, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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."
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.