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Wish Them Well Lyrics
All that you can do is wish them well
All that you can do is wish them well
Spirits turned bitter by the poison of envy
Always angry and dissatisfied
Even the lost ones, the frightened and mean ones
Even the ones with a devil inside
Thank your stars you're not that way
Turn your back and walk away
Don't even pause and ask them why
Turn around and say goodbye
People who judge without a measure of mercy
All the victims who will never learn
Even the lost ones, you can only give up on
Even the ones who make you burn
The ones who've done you wrong
The ones who pretended to be so strong
The grudges you've held on for so long
It's not worth singing that same sad song
Even though you're going through hell
Just keep going
Let the demons dwell
Just wish them well
All that you can do is wish them well
Always angry and dissatisfied
Even the lost ones, the frightened and mean ones
Even the ones with a devil inside
Turn your back and walk away
Don't even pause and ask them why
Turn around and say goodbye
All the victims who will never learn
Even the lost ones, you can only give up on
Even the ones who make you burn
The ones who pretended to be so strong
The grudges you've held on for so long
It's not worth singing that same sad song
Just keep going
Let the demons dwell
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every new song that i listen to of rush i'm amazed and thankful for being alive to be part of that miracle called RUSH- that's a great example how rush teaches us how to get better even if your going through hell..
thanks RUSH/
I'm glad that Neil wrote lyrics about the issue of how we deal with those who have done us wrong -- and for thier own sake as I view things. That not only includes certian types of people but also groups of them; goverments, corporate owners, and all that serve for them.
The meaning of the song has been detailed by Peart and Anderson.
This aspect of the story is a cowardly embarrassment. I remember when the band used to sing enthusiastically about fighting forces that hold you back and fighting oppression. They end their career with this whimper, where their protagonist (Owen) pats himself on the back because "he's not like them". He's so self-satisfied that makes no effort to resist the murderous terrorist "Anarchist", not the fascistic "Clockmaker". The Anarchist had just engineered the murder of his friends (as detailed in the song 'The Wreckers'). It's cowardly to present as a hero somebody who "wishes well" people who are enemies of humanity.
@unsaved I at first thought this song was a big "F you..." and "Talk to the hand." But you're saying this is a surrender? Is there any aspect of the story telling us who is better off? The oppressed Hero in smug righteousness? Or the oppressors?
@unsaved I at first thought this song was a big "F you..." and "Talk to the hand." But you're saying this is a surrender? Is there any aspect of the story telling us who is better off? The oppressed Hero in smug righteousness? Or the oppressors?
I think this song is about religious people who try to tell non-believers that they are going to burn in Hell if they don't accept Jesus. He's saying that you can't get them to see your point of view, so all you can do is wish them well and go on about your life.
The lyrics are vague enough that they could apply to any situation in which one person or group is so strident in their position that they can't be bothered to consider alternative viewpoints. However, the religious references (spirits, the devil, judgment/mercy, hell, and demons) make me think he's referring to religious people, particularly fundamentalist Christians.