Interesting back story. But nobody seems to have addressed the actual "meaning" of the song.
In the first verse he moves away from home in order make some grand change in his life. But things are bleak and that's the reality of the situation. The innocence of youth enables him to delude himself and push on anyway. That's cool. Nonetheless, whatever we will, we're at the mercy of the fates. And wherever we go, whatever we do, we're never really in control.
In the second verse he has grown older and wiser. He's a rock star and has gained much of the success that he dreamed of as a boy. Nonetheless, "wherever you go, there are." He's still at the mercy of the universe, like all of us.
I always thought this song was somewhat influenced by, or a response to the Yes song "Perpetual Change". It was written a few years prior to "Circumstances". Here are some lyrics:
"As truth is gathered, I rearrange,
Inside out, outside in, inside out, outside in,
Perpetual change.
And there you are,
Saying we have the moon, so now the stars,
When all you see
Is near disaster gazing down on you and me,
And there you're standing,
Saying we have the whole world in our hands,
When all you'll see,
Deep inside the world's controlling you and me.
As mist and sun are both the same,
We look on as pawns of their game."
With this song in mind, one can imagine Neil Peart saying 'Yes, we are pawns of random forces beyond our control. Yes, things do perpetually change. BUT, the more things change...' Well, you know the rest.
Interesting back story. But nobody seems to have addressed the actual "meaning" of the song.
In the first verse he moves away from home in order make some grand change in his life. But things are bleak and that's the reality of the situation. The innocence of youth enables him to delude himself and push on anyway. That's cool. Nonetheless, whatever we will, we're at the mercy of the fates. And wherever we go, whatever we do, we're never really in control.
In the second verse he has grown older and wiser. He's a rock star and has gained much of the success that he dreamed of as a boy. Nonetheless, "wherever you go, there are." He's still at the mercy of the universe, like all of us.
I always thought this song was somewhat influenced by, or a response to the Yes song "Perpetual Change". It was written a few years prior to "Circumstances". Here are some lyrics:
"As truth is gathered, I rearrange, Inside out, outside in, inside out, outside in, Perpetual change.
And there you are, Saying we have the moon, so now the stars, When all you see Is near disaster gazing down on you and me, And there you're standing, Saying we have the whole world in our hands, When all you'll see, Deep inside the world's controlling you and me.
As mist and sun are both the same, We look on as pawns of their game."
With this song in mind, one can imagine Neil Peart saying 'Yes, we are pawns of random forces beyond our control. Yes, things do perpetually change. BUT, the more things change...' Well, you know the rest.