| Rush – Earthshine Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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More than anything, this song is a LOVE song - just not a chicks and hair and happily ever tune. In other words, it is a love song like no others. A love song about loss and longing, but instead of cheesy overdubbed strings, you get Rush's hard driving and pulsing opening riff, leading to Neil's description of the physical phenomenon of "earthshine". A beacon in the night ... a jewel out of reach. A beautiful description of the lover's passion inspired by the moon's light. Then, as it seems only Neil can, he proceeds to personalize the phenomenon. In an out of body experience, he sees HIS faint reflection, one that others see but he himself doesn't feel. Others see him as competent and complete. He sees an emptiness and shallow approximation of the real him ... "a pale facsimile, like what others see". Looking back at this phenomenon that looks different than what others know is really there ... he sees his missing lover, stretching out her hand and telling her story to him again through the reflected light "full of starlit diamonds". The momentary happiness as he bathes in that light produces a "borrowed face", one of contentment - but he knows it is only borrowed and only given to him third hand. Not directly from his own (first) hand or directly from her (second) hand, but from the lingering effect (third hand) left behind by this now absent person who gave him so much happiness. But in the end, she's "still out of reach, Form a dream to rise to Earthshine". Gone but not forgotten. Fitting that today is November 11th - Remembrance Day in Canada. My wife has never been a fan of heavy metal or progressive music, so she obviously was never a Rush fan. However, I sat her down to listen to this song and really comprehend the lyrics. After listening to it, I told her THAT was how I felt about her and how I would feel if she was absent from my life. I've since dragged her to two Rush shows since, so I can safely say she is now a convert. |
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| Rush – Driven Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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The full band starts playing a hard steady driving beat - and lyrically expressing feelings of loss of control and outside forces dictating your path. Then a solo acoustic guitar rebelling - it's MY turn to drive ... to be in control. The theme alternates between these and Alex's solo sounds so much like a vehicle careening out of control ... a life heading to a disastrous end because the one who should be in control is not. And then ... "the road unwinds towards me, what was there is gone, the road unwinds BEFORE me, and I go riding on." Life and its tribulations come steaming toward the writer but no longer threatens ... and NOW life is not a threat but a road unwinding before him and he intends to take it. Powerful stuff. Fantastic lyrics and a perfect driving bass line with the mad frantic guitar work of Alex. As always, I call on all to bow at the greatness that is Rush! |
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| The Tragically Hip – Cordelia Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This tune was written in the late 80's/early 90's and to me, it speaks of the challenges English Canada has with the separatist movement in Quebec. Cordelia, the dutiful and indulgent daughter, endured all manner of abuse. By refusing to be like Cordelia, Gord is advocating English Canada should refuse to be bullied by Quebec's dictates and demands. He articulates that Quebec must muster all of its energy to prove it is aggrieved and not fulfilled within confederation. Treading the boards? The posturing of an actor as he makes his pronouncements, just like a politician, ranting his unhappiness and misery at the fate associated with coexistence. Who jumps "in the ring with your hidden cape"? One who enters the political fray expressing national pride. Of course, the bull is Quebec, unable to decide if the hatred is for the cape (ie flag) or the bullfighter (the rest of Canada). There are references to things being done just because they can - spitting from a bridge, jumping on a train etc., as well as the Tin Man reference - he of no heart. Quebec can do all these things in the current political environment, so it chooses to do so, whether it is logical and desirable or not. Old antiques - time honoured grievances ... and of course, robbing a bank - transfer payments to an always financially dependent Quebec. Of course, this is also evident in the final verse, where the thief stays hoping to extract just one more thing before falling on his own knife, in the form of suicide by separation. Of course, once independent, Quebec hopes to maintain an economic affliliation with Canada - now blinded on the job, Quebec will have to steal for life. Gotta love the Hip - provocative stuff. |
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