I did not write this song and I do not intend any copyright infringement. Rush-Xanadu from the 1977 album 'A Farewell To Kings'. Enjoy! Check my channel for more Rush lyrics videos.
I tend to agree with you absolutely, as does one of the finest music affectionatos named Rick Beato and you should definitely check out his channel and breakdown of this song👍🎶
The 70s Stuff is really the best. RUSH was so hated by early Punks partially because they sold out hard trying to stay trendy and really completely lost the sincerity of the early records.
Legend has it that, with the exception of Alex's solo beginning at 9:25, "Xanadu" was recorded in one take as if recorded live-- which, for a studio recording, is the equivalent of getting a hole-in-one in golf. And when you consider there are parts where Geddy is playing the synthesizer (MOOG Taurus synth pedals) with his feet WHILE playing bass AND singing ( 5:00 - 5:14 ), and Alex is switching back and forth from six-string to twelve-string and playing the occasional Taurus pedal synth note with his feet, too--it's all the more mind-blowing this was recorded in a single take.
One takes - even if they include mistakes, carry much greater spirit and energy than over produced and corrected versions. One day people will learn that
40 years and a lifetime ago. 3 intelligent and classy gents. Real men, who, Giving their label, Anthem, the finger, Gave us the ULTIMATE TRILOGY OF ROCK HISTORY! 2112. A Farewell to Kings. Hemispheres. Music that'll require the intelligence to fully engage each of your God - giuven senses while Knee - capping your emotions. Bringing a REAL MAN down tears. That's the pinnacle of REAL MUSIC!!!
A buddy of mine asked me, "Does Rush have any bad songs?" I decided to blast Xanadu and Red Barchetta, and then after all that, turned to him in the car. "Nope... can't seem to think of any, man."
well when signals came out I was disappointed, and then after that I could not get into it, One little Victory started to restore my faith in them, but no one can make great music all the time for over 4 decades, impossible.
This is the greatest rock band of all-time. AND Neil Peart is the MVP in all of rock. This band absolutely soared after this incredible drummer came on board. What makes him the MVP, is the fact that his lyrics and skills with the sticks, made these guys not just great musically, but intellectually!
What I take from this song is that even if you get what you want, you may regret it in the future. Like, seriously, the character in this lyrical story read an old book that told him about a paradise where he could be immortal, so the dude went and found it. At first he was all happy go lucky but then after a thousand years he thinks the place is like a prison and has gone mad! That is some deep stuff dude.
In light of the song's subject matter... I'd say Neil, Geddy, and Alex have achieved immortality, the band Rush will be remembered as long as humans keep playing music
Had back surgery this summer. I am recovering well and will resume teaching in the fall. After binge watching Marco Polo on Netflix, this song holds more meaning than it used to. British poet Samuel Coleridge's opium induced dreams was the inspiration for this song: " In Xanadu did Kublai Khan a stately pleasure dome decree. Where Alph the sacred river ran through caverns measureless to man, down to a sunless sea. With twice five miles of fertile ground, with towers girded all around... etc Any scholar knows the rest. I love this song.
+Scott Zaccagnini I called in to a radio station to have them play this and the DJ actually asked me if I meant Olivia Newton John. I just said, "Are you kidding?" and we both laughed.
45 years later the hairs on the back of my neck still stand stiff on the guitar launch! Transported immediately to the first time I spun this precious vinyl in my parents den and the Maple Leaf Gardens show in December of that year. Funny how wonder imprints so deeply. Much love for these lads and RIP Professor P!
A thousand years have come and gone But time has passed me by Stars stopped in the sky Frozen in an everlasting view Waiting for the world to end Weary of the night Praying for the light Prison of the lost, Xanadu
I used to not like this song, but after hearing it as it must i notice that it's a marvelous masterpiece. Long live RUSH and rest in eternal peace Neil Peart
The first time I saw Rush in concert was All the Worlds a Stage tour at Cleveland Public hall 4th Row an Im still blown away by that show ..The sound was amazing an the show was the best Ive ever seen ..Keep Rockin Everyone
There just has to be a group of kids somewhere, with the drive and passion for music like these guys did. Is this level of musicianship really this rare?
If only Samuel Taylor Coleridge hadn't been interrupted from writing down an opium dream by an insurance salesman, this song would have been longer I think.
im trying to get that baseline and drumming as perfect as possible, its kinda hard, been practising for weeks...damn im addicted to this song and the trees.
This song is a sonic, lyrical journey. RUSH at their most exotic. I'm also reminded of Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE, and the palatial residence of Charles Foster Kane called Xanadu.
Xanadu is an English bastardization of Xiang-thu, the Chinese/Mongolian city where Kublai Khan prefered to spend his summers. It was known for many centuries as "The Forbidden City" because no foreigner was allowed within its walls on pain of death. It was considered holy. Consecrated to the gods and ancestors of the great Kublai. Only in recent decades were foreigners allowed to visit Xiang-thu.
Geddy's voice was at its very best in this vocal performance. I was familiar with Coleridge's unfinished masterpiece the first time I heard the song, and I loved what Rush did with it. The poor narrator wasted his life searching for immortality only to find himself trapped in an unchanging immortal non-existence. It's a monkey's paw tale.
Can't tell you how many times,my friends and i would skip school,hide out and wait near my one friends house until we'd see his mom take off for work and then go over there. He had a garage attic that we'd hooked up with an old coffee table,a couple couches an old chair and end tables and a stereo. What i wouldn't do to go back for a little while,put this on the turntable again and pass a joint or a bowl around. There were quite a few songs that were good to get a buzz going to.......................this was one of them.
This is a perfect example of how to make a masterpiece, In my opinion This along with Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody,Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven, Black Sabbath-Megalomania, and Iron Maiden-Rime of the ancient Mariner are good examples of how to write music.
What an awesome song!! It has probably the longest intro of rock music history... Totally awesome! Without a doubt my favourite song and one of Rush's best
rush has the greatest bassist and drummer of all time. and the 95th or so greatest guitarist, who is still more technically proficient than some in the top 20
@Evangelos Killer mike every time I hear "OK Boomer" it reminds me of a parrot, squawking and thoughtlessly repeating what it's been taught to say. But then I remember that parrots are actually quite intelligent animals, unlike the morons who mindlessly quip "OK Boomer" every chance they get.
This was the third RUSH album I purchased, shoveled driveways and lawns. 3 bucks an hour. Took 3 hours to earn a RUSH album. To steal from another great band, The Who, I call that a bargain. The Best I ever had.
Apparently the last line "Oh, is it paradise?" is actually "The wizard never dies". I'd look deeper into that and maybe add a caption on the video if that's the case.
If you're looking for some modern music that still sounds great, Check out Steven Wilson.. "Hand cannot erase ".. it's a great album.. Very Progressive and Rush like..
It's still out there. Just ditch all the modern pop and go look up some modern prog rock artists. Haken, Steven Wilson, and Porcupine Tree all come to mind.
Thanks for uploading the words.. it's really important for people to know the story... to be immortal and live a Thousand Years.. " oh ? IS it PARADISE ? "
isn't this one of the songs that people teased them about back in the day? I don't get how you can make fun of such a piece of art, regardless, this song is awesome!
It wasn't the song people made fun of, they wore kimono robes live around this time. Geddy Lee says Uriah Heep made them stop as they took the piss out of them constantly
People who make lyric videos for music are the backbone of youtube. I commend your work.
+InspirationalAmoeba Nicely said.
These folks are among the unsung heroes of RUclips :)
Robert
unsung heros of the world of rock and roll
I am willing to bet, People Who started off a youtube comment with the words "People Who" have a 94% rate of Bashing 'Said' People. So, Nice Job!
@panda44r People Who respond to me are the backbone of RUclips. I commend your Work, Sir!!!
@@Papawill13 People who start off *I am willing to bet,* are usually not really going to bet. But rather enjoy a little extra emphasis! Well done! 😁
The best rush song of all time, hands down. RIP neil, you were a master.
Imo tossup between this and 2112
@@jettpeters3470 they are both great!!!
I tend to agree with you absolutely, as does one of the finest music affectionatos named Rick Beato and you should definitely check out his channel and breakdown of this song👍🎶
He's most likely not even 'dead' brother
The 70s Stuff is really the best. RUSH was so hated by early Punks partially because they sold out hard trying to stay trendy and really completely lost the sincerity of the early records.
Legend has it that, with the exception of Alex's solo beginning at 9:25, "Xanadu" was recorded in one take as if recorded live-- which, for a studio recording, is the equivalent of getting a hole-in-one in golf.
And when you consider there are parts where Geddy is playing the synthesizer (MOOG Taurus synth pedals) with his feet WHILE playing bass AND singing ( 5:00 - 5:14 ), and Alex is switching back and forth from six-string to twelve-string and playing the occasional Taurus pedal synth note with his feet, too--it's all the more mind-blowing this was recorded in a single take.
For Rush it was just another day at the office, that's how they recorded most of their records
One takes - even if they include mistakes, carry much greater spirit and energy than over produced and corrected versions.
One day people will learn that
gulp
@@RequestAssassin The only band I ever saw, and I've seen a lot, where they sound live practically the same as their studio work.
40 years and a lifetime ago.
3 intelligent and classy gents.
Real men, who,
Giving their label, Anthem, the finger,
Gave us the ULTIMATE TRILOGY OF ROCK HISTORY!
2112.
A Farewell to Kings.
Hemispheres.
Music that'll require the intelligence to fully engage each of your God - giuven senses while
Knee - capping your emotions.
Bringing a REAL MAN down tears.
That's the pinnacle of REAL MUSIC!!!
A buddy of mine asked me, "Does Rush have any bad songs?"
I decided to blast Xanadu and Red Barchetta, and then after all that, turned to him in the car.
"Nope... can't seem to think of any, man."
well when signals came out I was disappointed, and then after that I could not get into it, One little Victory started to restore my faith in them, but no one can make great music all the time for over 4 decades, impossible.
Dog years
Yeah that one wasn't too great from what I heard.
DOOOOOG years
lightbulbsun43 Unless you love Tolkien
"Can't we raise our eyes and make a start?" RIP Professor - thanks for everything you gave
This is the greatest rock band of all-time. AND Neil Peart is the MVP in all of rock. This band absolutely soared after this incredible drummer came on board. What makes him the MVP, is the fact that his lyrics and skills with the sticks, made these guys not just great musically, but intellectually!
What I take from this song is that even if you get what you want, you may regret it in the future. Like, seriously, the character in this lyrical story read an old book that told him about a paradise where he could be immortal, so the dude went and found it. At first he was all happy go lucky but then after a thousand years he thinks the place is like a prison and has gone mad! That is some deep stuff dude.
He deviates from the original Coleridge poem. Rush turns it into a first person narrative. A quest that turns ironic.
Just a song bro, nothing deep.
They were Immortal (Sons of Canadian Darkness if you will)
@@AsadAli-jc5tg Rush's songs tend to have deeper meanings.
In light of the song's subject matter... I'd say Neil, Geddy, and Alex have achieved immortality, the band Rush will be remembered as long as humans keep playing music
Had back surgery this summer. I am recovering well and will resume teaching in the fall. After binge watching Marco Polo on Netflix, this song holds more meaning than it used to. British poet Samuel Coleridge's opium induced dreams was the inspiration for this song: " In Xanadu did Kublai Khan a stately pleasure dome decree. Where Alph the sacred river ran through caverns measureless to man, down to a sunless sea. With twice five miles of fertile ground, with towers girded all around... etc Any scholar knows the rest. I love this song.
Thank you for the informative comment and for being a teacher. That is an extremely noble and humble thing.
Neil Peart is a lyrical genius.
Definitely
All hail Neil Peart x
And so much more.
UNDERSTATEMENT OF ALL HUMANITY'S EXISTENCE
just as good as Robert Hunter. All artists are of one bread.
This song is a masterpiece.
Amen to that.
Great song. Just makes me wonder how many people were looking for the Olivia Newton John song and got this instead haha.
Haha
+Scott Zaccagnini
I called in to a radio station to have them play this and the DJ actually asked me if I meant Olivia Newton John. I just said, "Are you kidding?" and we both laughed.
+Scott Zaccagnini Hopefully a lot of people. It can only be beneficial to their meek lives.
lol my favorite Rush song right here.
+Scott Zaccagnini Dude, that was funny.
to think that Neal, Geddy, and Alex were in their early 20's when they wrote and played this boggles my cranium
Intelligent lyrics! One of the best songs i've ever heard
Rest in Peace, Neil Peart- You will not be forgotten...
The bell at 4:40 gets me everytime, and also when geddy first sings.
When I listen to songs like this, I remember why I am still alive
45 years later the hairs on the back of my neck still stand stiff on the guitar launch! Transported immediately to the first time I spun this precious vinyl in my parents den and the Maple Leaf Gardens show in December of that year. Funny how wonder imprints so deeply. Much love for these lads and RIP Professor P!
A thousand years have come and gone
But time has passed me by
Stars stopped in the sky
Frozen in an everlasting view
Waiting for the world to end
Weary of the night
Praying for the light
Prison of the lost, Xanadu
I used to not like this song, but after hearing it as it must i notice that it's a marvelous masterpiece.
Long live RUSH and rest in eternal peace Neil Peart
poetry in music. the best band to ever exist
Alex's ending solo = awesome feeling... Miss you, Rush. THANKS.
This is one of my favorites from RUSH. Great true story behind it.
I was introduced to Rush in 1987 by my first husband, RIP 2112. Neil Peart is without doubt my favourite drummer of all time. Love live Rush x
And Neil said that this was the time "they were figuring out how to be themselves"... I wish I could grow this spectacularly.
The first time I saw Rush in concert was All the Worlds a Stage tour at Cleveland Public hall 4th Row an Im still blown away by that show ..The sound was amazing an the show was the best Ive ever seen ..Keep Rockin Everyone
William Mcallister I saw them when they came out with their first album called Rush. They were the back up band for KISS....1974.
There just has to be a group of kids somewhere, with the drive and passion for music like these guys did.
Is this level of musicianship really this rare?
It’s out there, but the record companies will never ever allow it out. You see they can’t control it, so there’s not enough money in it.
If only Samuel Taylor Coleridge hadn't been interrupted from writing down an opium dream by an insurance salesman, this song would have been longer I think.
I know.That fucking insurance salesman dick!
.! Got interrupted by Neal peat hay I've got this really fab rif what do think??!!!.....oh ..oh bugger!!!
im trying to get that baseline and drumming as perfect as possible, its kinda hard, been practising for weeks...damn im addicted to this song and the trees.
Best band fucking ever
you wrote this a week ago and my question is....HOW AM I THE FIRST TO LIKE THIS!!?? Love Rush :)
I don't know but thank you XD
way to go kiddo... great taste
40th anniversary this year !
And I will be there for my first ever Rush concert 2015.
I always loved that little guitar part after "everlasting view" at 7:50. What a great song.
such music. much wow.
***** wow. much anger. so rush. farewell kings. wow.
This song is a sonic, lyrical journey. RUSH at their most exotic. I'm also reminded of Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE, and the palatial residence of Charles Foster Kane called Xanadu.
Fuck “Rosebud”. Kane’s last words should have been,”This is the greatest fucking song I’ve ever heard! Now I can die in peace.”
Xanadu is an English bastardization of Xiang-thu, the Chinese/Mongolian city where Kublai Khan prefered to spend his summers. It was known for many centuries as "The Forbidden City" because no foreigner was allowed within its walls on pain of death. It was considered holy. Consecrated to the gods and ancestors of the great Kublai.
Only in recent decades were foreigners allowed to visit Xiang-thu.
That's the song that I could listen all the day and never try to stop their melody 💘
Rush 🙌
Geddy and Alex so incomprehensibly interpret what Neil has retold and... well... only in the listening will description be found. Just... incredible.
This song is fucking epic. The intro with the bells ringing lets you know youre in for a mind blowing journey.
I'm torn between this and 2112 for playing at my funeral (hopefully a long time away yet). Think I'll go for both.
This song is about immortality, so I might recommend the use the irony
There's something about listening and reading the lyrics that makes the message/warning ....well, clear.
don't forget the synths. He plays those, too.
I love this guy's channel--awesome for all Rush fans
I love that the tapping was recorded in the courtyard and that they kept all the nature sounds. It makes the whole into.
Geddy's voice was at its very best in this vocal performance. I was familiar with Coleridge's unfinished masterpiece the first time I heard the song, and I loved what Rush did with it.
The poor narrator wasted his life searching for immortality only to find himself trapped in an unchanging immortal non-existence. It's a monkey's paw tale.
Can't tell you how many times,my friends and i would skip school,hide out and wait near my one friends house until we'd see his mom take off for work and then go over there. He had a garage attic that we'd hooked up with an old coffee table,a couple couches an old chair and end tables and a stereo. What i wouldn't do to go back for a little while,put this on the turntable again and pass a joint or a bowl around. There were quite a few songs that were good to get a buzz going to.......................this was one of them.
WHY WOULD ANYONE DISLIKE THIS!?!?!
Best intro to any song ever. Of all time.
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment= Xanadu /1797 Kubla Khan one of his poem/ and this song made in 1977 just interesting year numbers :)
5:20 to 6:15
I couldn't tell you how many times I replayed that piece.
knowing and understanding the music of the monumental band RUSH automatically makes you brilliant and wise.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
This is a perfect example of how to make a masterpiece, In my opinion This along with Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody,Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven, Black Sabbath-Megalomania, and Iron Maiden-Rime of the ancient Mariner are good examples of how to write music.
I agree!!
Nope this song crushes all of those
This reminds me of half the fantasy books I read during my youngen days. Spent many a summer with my nose in a book and ear phones on my ears.
What an awesome song!! It has probably the longest intro of rock music history... Totally awesome! Without a doubt my favourite song and one of Rush's best
rush has the greatest bassist and drummer of all time. and the 95th or so greatest guitarist, who is still more technically proficient than some in the top 20
Geddy Lee = Musical genius. Thanks for uploading.
i will never forget the day June 9th 1981 . I was there and no one can take that away from me
I'm 46 and first heard it at 13 so probably 1000+ times and still love it.
Ahhh Yes, Music that requires an attention span longer than that of a hamster.
Ok Boomer
gotta love those hamsters.
@Evangelos Killer mike every time I hear "OK Boomer" it reminds me of a parrot, squawking and thoughtlessly repeating what it's been taught to say. But then I remember that parrots are actually quite intelligent animals, unlike the morons who mindlessly quip "OK Boomer" every chance they get.
w3vjp OK boomer (kidding)
This coming from a man with the name LITTLE ,how Ironic.
No questions for me this is my all time favourite rush song.
if i could choose, this would be the last song my ears hear before i die....
This was the third RUSH album I purchased, shoveled driveways and lawns. 3 bucks an hour. Took 3 hours to earn a RUSH album. To steal from another great band, The Who, I call that a bargain. The Best I ever had.
Beautiful...
Saw this live. Did not disappoint. The main riff was actually pretty amazing live. ( 1:50 - 2:45 )
This song is so fucking complex and yet... so easy to digest. It’s peak Rush
Apparently the last line "Oh, is it paradise?" is actually "The wizard never dies". I'd look deeper into that and maybe add a caption on the video if that's the case.
They are brilliant! Masterpiece song! :-)
This song gives me chills
The Paradise of Euphoria becomes a Prison of the Lost=drugs
People don't spend years trying to decipher the mystery of how to go on a drug trip though.
@@handsomebrick oh man,they do trust me
Or Woman
JP Cantrell been there on a sea of opiated dreams! It’s all a dirty lie!
Xanadu is a place of mythical fact....kubla Kahn was the father of ghengis Kahn...( Mongolian horde) in eastern Asia so yeah
Wow...
.
After listening to that... I think I need a cigarette.
Holy crap. What did modern music do wrong? Why don't we have more of THIS!?!?
If you're looking for some modern music that still sounds great, Check out Steven Wilson.. "Hand cannot erase ".. it's a great album.. Very Progressive and Rush like..
Ari H Progessive yes but no unique voice like Geddy Lee
trebacca9 wintergatan has no lyrics but their music is dynamic like rush. Also they use machines and stuff and make their own instruments
It's still out there. Just ditch all the modern pop and go look up some modern prog rock artists. Haken, Steven Wilson, and Porcupine Tree all come to mind.
I'm so blessed I grow up on this stuff really just so blessed I knew it ..so did all my friends... we felt so privileged and yet so grateful
Thank you
My favorite song and favorite band of all time!! They are the best!!
Thanks for uploading the words.. it's really important for people to know the story... to be immortal and live a Thousand Years..
" oh ? IS it PARADISE ? "
Awesome jam session. Again, not a song, a JAM SESSION.
Work of art. Mmmmm. I like it.
***** "work of art", such words have rarely been uttered since the last Tool album.
2112 and Caress Of Steel are two albums I enjoy , loud !
this song is amazing
saw them do this song when i was just a kid for the first time in nyc, 1977, one word, then and now-----WOW!!!!!
isn't this one of the songs that people teased them about back in the day? I don't get how you can make fun of such a piece of art, regardless, this song is awesome!
It was making fun of their wordrobe choice.
It wasn't the song people made fun of, they wore kimono robes live around this time. Geddy Lee says Uriah Heep made them stop as they took the piss out of them constantly
Best Rush song out there...
Best song ever, ok Cashmier is close.
Rush is my favorite band, and this is my favorite song of them. When I die this song will say me the last farewell.
6:00 - 7:00 best part ever
My first Rush concert was July 8th, 2013. Front row. What an experience that was.
Such a wonderful song
The sound of that 4001!!!
Thank you twice lad its worth it
5 minute Instrumental... They dont make music like this anymore
+Leashea Tolley exactly -- check Angra song - Rebirth Out and it me back
+Leashea Tolley Indeed they don't.
*smiles*
+Leashea Tolley Who says that Rush has no female fans, right?
Exactly...
Ive seen them several times and I just close my eyes... and lose myself everytime!
Excellent. Thanks for posting!
R.I.P Neil pert
RIP Neil 😢
NOT IN ANY WAY to be confused
with the Olivia Newton John song.
Play them back-to-back and
you'll see.
Why is Neil Such a drumming GENIUS!!!
He's oldschool back when they put there very soul into there art.
Nambibulent!
I first saw them in 1978 London, Ontario...huge impact on me
They don't make bands like this anymore. The Mighty Zeppelin or Sabbath or the Rush.
It's Rush. Not THE Rush.
Id rank those 3, RUSH, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin last
What about Hanson? hahaha,mmmbop.
@@markdemell3717 🤣🤣
@@dougs6922 Tu sais que cest une blague ?
I like the style of Rush
Thanks goodness for a site like you tube!!!😁😊😎😎
Peart has a mind like nobody else..
Taskes me back to the show 07 and 13 and again 2 weeks ago.
Some many good memories growing up in the 70's best era for rock-n-roll.
Fuck you! I grew up with N'Sync, Justin Bieber and One Direction...
SuperSparrow45 I feel sorry for you.
SuperSparrow45 That would explain 1 of this video's 5 dislikes. You just gave yourself away. :P
cameraREDeye I grew up with those bands on the radio, I never said I liked them.
SuperSparrow45 Then why did you say "F--- you"? There was absolutely no reason for that.
me sinto em um mundo de fadas no minuto 6:00
Thank you!Fun music with fun lyrics :)