Prime Mover

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.

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.

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.

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