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"
We've taken care of everything
The words you read and the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all, all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls
Look around this world we made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the brotherhood of man
Oh, what a nice contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the red star proudly high in hand
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls
The words you read and the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all, all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls
Look around this world we made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the brotherhood of man
Oh, what a nice contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the red star proudly high in hand
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers
Fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests
Of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life
Are held within our walls
Lyrics submitted by Bruiser, edited by mike111440
The Temples Of Syrinx Lyrics as written by Neil Elwood Peart Geddy Lee Weinrib
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
While I also realize that the song is part of a larger album and story, the song on it's own seems to reflect upon a society who's information is controlled by a select few. In many ways a reflection on how things really have evolved in our current society today. When RUSH wrote this they might not have realized how vital computers have become and how everyone would eventually be connected in such a way. I mean, the song echos "We are the priests of the temples of Syrinx Our great computers fill the hallowed halls" and back to the opening "We've taken care of everything The words your read, the songs you sing The pictures that give pleasure to your eye"
It's definitely about a society where all information, music you listen to, things you read, news, stories, etc., etc is controlled by a select few. Much like the way things really are now.
mike, I hope you are kidding. "the song on it's own seems to reflect upon a society who's information is controlled by a select few. In many ways a reflection on how things really have evolved in our current society today."<br /> <br /> You do realize you are posting this very opinion on the internet? Also known as the biggest free-for-all of information (and misinformation) ever conceived by the human species? I'll just assume you intended the irony.
That's a perfect description mikem, don't let the graviton try to pull you down. He's just sad that his entire existence is dictated by Newton..
If you want your heart to burn with love & your mind blown have a read of the Ringing Cedars of Russia book series. This book series gives so much meaning to many great songs & has important knowledge contained in its words that will help our future descendants live their life with love & happiness. (sounds a bit loopy I know but I am quite serious.) :)
Neil Peart did an exceptional job of adapting Ayn Rand's book Anthem to the album-side manifesto known as 2112. Whereas in Anthem, the lost identity in the future society was in the elimination of the word "I," in 2112 Peart created the concept of a musicless society. Temples of Syrinx is the song that introduces the listener to this society and sets the stage for the hero who discovers an ancient artifact, a guitar from a bygone era. 2112 still remains one of my favorite concept albums from the Prog Rock era, and certainly one of the most political and intellectual pieces in rock history.
@maxthedork I'm not sure what Neil meant by any lyric but subdivisions and the priests of the temple of syrinx are my favorite songs by rush. Subdivisions when I listen reminds me of high school times when we went "downtown" to pick up weed and get high. Hence
Good point Max. But from what i got out of it, it was talking about the former USSR. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd verses explain about how life was like. Basicaly, they set out rules and limits citizens were forced to enjoy/except them. The \'temples of syrinx\' would be an illusion to a new world order, communism, but they were talking about the Soviet Union. But what really gives you the clue that they are talking about the Soviet Union is when they say the line \'hold the red star proudly high in hand\'. One of thier symbols was a red star.
Yeah, it just dawned on me after a discussion on communism in one of my classes that this song is exactly about communism. Throught the song refernces are made on how everything in everybodies lives are controled by a few people, which is pretty much how communsim works.
Great thoughts and insights. Do you think they were pro communism or warning about communism?
I agree with max, this is a concept song about a musicless society in the future.
I thought the first line was part of the overture.
your right it is but the overture leads into the temple of syrinx i guess thats why its here
"Yeah, it just dawned on me after a discussion on communism in one of my classes that this song is exactly about communism. Throught the song refernces are made on how everything in everybodies lives are controled by a few people, which is pretty much how communsim works."
More of this in "Red Lenses".
In classical mythology, Syrinx (Greek Συριγξ) was a nymph and a follower of Artemis, known for her chastity. Pursued by the amorous Greek god Pan, she ran to the river's edge and asked for assistance from the river nymphs. In answer, she was transformed into hollow water reeds that made a haunting sound when the god's frustrated breath blew across them. Pan cut the reeds to fashion the first set of pan pipes, which were thence forth known as syrinx.
It's about a society opposed to music and one man's legacy to fight the priests and bring music to the people.
@orangebeaker very possible , also I have read the lyrics point to LSD use and the loss of ego on a bad "trip". In existential philosophy the ego constrains ones behavior and in essence a person has no freedom of choice. On LSD those restraints are removed apparently and it's frightening the first time. I've never done LSD so I don't know how it feels. But society's resistance to any and all drug use is a common refrain in rush lyrics.