Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Why try? I know why
The feeling inside me says it's time I was gone
Clear head, new life ahead
It's time I was king now, not just one more pawn
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Moon rise, thoughtful eyes
Staring back at me from the window beside
No fright or hindsight
Leaving behind that empty feeling inside
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend, wow
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Start a new chapter
Find what I'm after
It's changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away
Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lone hand
My life begins today
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
The feeling inside me says it's time I was gone
Clear head, new life ahead
It's time I was king now, not just one more pawn
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Moon rise, thoughtful eyes
Staring back at me from the window beside
No fright or hindsight
Leaving behind that empty feeling inside
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend, wow
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Start a new chapter
Find what I'm after
It's changing every day
The change of a season
Is enough of a reason
To want to get away
Quiet and pensive
My thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland
Playing a lone hand
My life begins today
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
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This song is about making a new start and changing your life. Neil left his simple life working at a parts store in Canada behind to join the band and "Fly By Night" away from there.
thats pretty cliche buddy.. Geddys voice will always be one of the most unique in rock & roll...
Anyways this song is about starting over again, and its just got a great riff.
OMG if I hear one more comparison of Rush and Coheed and Cambria I think I may shoot someone! The two bands are nothing alike. Rush=one of the best bands in rock history...while Coheed and Cambria= posers...I mean they have a song called "2113" for gods sake...how originial rolls eyes I can't make fun of people who like Coheed and Cambria b/c we all have out different tastes in music...but to actually go and compare them to Rush...its like saying Pink Floyd sounds like Good Charlotte...or The Beatles compared to 50 Cent
Rush and Coheed Cambria don't deserve to be in the same state at the same time...they are two completely different bands...
I honestly think Rush has one of the greatest lyrics of all time...they are so deep and actually mean something...they are about life, society, literature, movies, and there are a few that cover love...and the instrumentals...Neil Peart is the best drummer ever...I don't see any contenders for Coheed and Cambria
Sorry....I know this is for Fly By Night...but it makes me really mad when people go and compare a classic band to a new band that will probably not make more then 4-5 hit songs...or even 1 or 2 hit albums...
Hey...I may be wrong...Coheed and Cambria could make it really big...and 20 years later people are still talking about how much they rock...but bottom line is they don't sound like Rush...their lyrics cant even compare to Rush....and they will never be Rush...
Anyways...For "Fly By Night" what a great Rush song...its one of my favorites...its about changing your life...starting over...perhaps erasing your past...I like the line "It's time I was king now not just one more pawn" I think we all feel like that...worthless...helpless...useless...like a Pawn...just like the common people or everyone else....everyone dreams to be recognized like a king
its a very catchy song...it always gets stuck in my head
Your Pink Floyd and Beatles comparisons made me laugh out loud, literally. I completely agree that you can't compare Rush with Coheed and Cambria. The only thing I disagree with you on is Neil Pert. I just think he's second best to John Bonham from Led Zeppelin who is severly underrated.
I believe you meant that you're in full agreement with him and that John Bonham is great, but severely overrated.
Coheed is great and so is Rush...<br /> Claudio Sanchez' (Coheed's lead singer) voice sounds nothing like Geddy's. Claudio can change his voice to fit any character (Coheed and Cambria's albums have stories to them) and Geddy's voice is completely unique. Claudio is a really good guitar player and Geddy is probably the best "Rock 'n' Roll" bassist to ever live.<br /> You go, Gary Lee Weinrib. <br /> Rock on, Claudio Sanchez.
@steel07 <br /> <br /> You suck, man. Coheed isn't Rush but they are great musicians. Don't make Rush look bad by spewing your close-minded crap all over the internet. <br /> <br /> Also, for the record, Chris Pennie was in Coheed and he is an incredible drummer. I'm sure he has Peart's respect but isn't good enough for you? C&C have proven themselves time and time again. 8 years later and you are still an idiot... <br /> <br /> I'm sure Geddy would be thrilled that fans of Rush are trashing other bands. Get a clue. These are two talented bands... it's not like people are comparing Rush and One Direction or something.
@steel07 I agree with you that Rush may very well have the best song lyrics ever. Like, I like a lot of heavy metal, some of which has amazing lyrical writing, but Rush.... their incorporation of allegory and fantasy, while still basically referring to more objective, real-life situations, but not blatantly....like, idk it's just super awesome.
@steel07 I agree with you that Rush may very well have the best song lyrics ever. Like, I like a lot of heavy metal, some of which has amazing lyrical writing, but Rush.... their incorporation of allegory and fantasy, while still basically referring to more objective, real-life situations, but not blatantly....like, idk it's just super awesome.<br /> <br /> I've never actually heard of Coheed and Cambria, but I feel I have to agree with moarwade in that you shouldn't really trash artists without good reason. I mean, yeah, if it's like One Direction or Beiber than yeah go the fuck ahead but if it's just another rock artist, they may not be rock gods like Rush but that doesn't mean they're not any good.
@steel07 i know this is old, but i this is just....the best<br /> <br /> "I can't make fun of people who like Coheed and Cambria b/c we all have out different tastes in music...but to actually go and compare them to Rush...its like saying Pink Floyd sounds like Good Charlotte...or The Beatles compared to 50 Cent"
The song is about Neil Peart leaving Canada for London he wrote it in heathrow airport at the age of 18 when he returned one year later geddy lee wrote the instrumentals and boom. If you look into it Neil confirms this on several occasions
beemer11 was just gettin me into Rush, thats what the beginning junk is, he's a starting pitcher and i'm the closer for a baseball team, and the rest is lines from Major League.....we're just bein dumbasses
Yeah...Mothra...and Angus Young or Robert Plant or any of those guys never sang high pitched either right? Get a clue.
Not like that they didn't. Nothing against Geddy Lee, but I don't think they'd ever be singing "Cygnus".
@RUSHMAN -<br /> Angus Young? RushMan, how do YOU know what Agnus Young sounds like when he sings? (I really wanted to add "- have you showered with him? ;)", but even with the inclusion of the "winky emoticon" I thought you might take it personally, when, honestly, I'm just basting your bulls. ;) )<br /> <br /> BTW- Plant and either Bon Scott or Brian Johnson could NEVER hit the notes Geddy does. Roger Taylor of Queen, maybe. Take it easy.
about starting over
i dont know a damn thing bout rush, but since beemer11 is the biggest rush fan in America i'll agree with him
I would go through the whole post game report...but i'm too lazy to type it all in....thats what happens when you only get 1 god damn hit
well id agree with u guys cuz rush does rock guys get the song yyz its incredible rush song...