Thank you! Never really listened to these lyrics till today. The live version is a treat. Neil really was a profound influence on my developing mind as i grew up.
This was in 1975, almost 10 score (200) years after the American revolution. They did not invent democracy but it was still a wondrous dream. Not for all though as much of the land was stolen from the Indians and most people weren't allowed to vote and slavery.... 🙄 That debt from history will never be repaid. 😢 America was the "Earth's melting pot" where immigrants arrived by ship, many of their dreams did come true. Sadly now the gun has indeed replaced the plow as the culture shifts from an agrarian focus and society becomes more accustomed to hyper violence without thinking about the consequences. America's facade as Reagan's "shining city on a hill" is tarnished now. The American Dream has gone stale. But still there is hope. We can change things for the better if we put in the work to do it. Democracy requires each of us to do some work to participate. Somehow we need to convince the citizens "along for the ride" from Rush - Territories to start doing something to take part.
The Eagle The Declaration of Independence Shadows refer to their Ancestors, aka this is about ourselves in America It is an observation that America has not achieved what its founding fathers had hoped. How though we talk about a good game, we have yet to achieve it.
He wrote that while touring America on that kinda inaugural tour with them, from the backseat of a rental station wagon, observing the good, the bad and the ugly of American culture and cities. AND as always Neil was spot Effin on with his interpretation. Geddy commented on that song as being quite a mouthful 😂to handle singing. Last time they played a shortened version of it was I think ESL or Signals warm-up tour 81-82ish.
Hi dame! That interpritation was spot on. If you want another song about u.s. history you should listen to steppenwolfs song monster off the live album. Love the channel! Keep up the good work! Peace brother!
Fly By Night released in 1975 and only a lyrical genius like Peart would say 10 score instead of 200 years ago since 10 score would be 200! 1775 is when the war was fought!
Great reaction to a hidden gem. I love watching your wheels turn! Neil created a genius puzzle. Never a more brilliant lyricist will be. 10 score years ago - 200; Kingly Foe - England; Tame the trackless waste - Westward expansion; Noble Bird - Bald Eagle; Dream's gone stale - MLK, "I have a dream;" History's debt 't be repaid - slaughter of Native Americans, Nagasaki/Hiroshima, Vietnam; Proudest words - Star Spangled Banner; Behind the Beauty - America the Beautiful; Shadows bow in fear - all the ways we have not lived up to our principles threatens to destroy US.
You the history buff, nice summation here of 200 years of America-my how we’ve fallen not just since 1776 but since the release of this in 1975-which ironically is a year shy of the bicentennial of the good ole USA😢❤🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎤🎸
Neil wrote this song during their first tour through America. This was his impression. The Vietnam War had been going on for a long while. So many young men lost their lives or their sanity during that war. It was horrible. Being the same age as the guys in Rush I met a lot of draft dodgers back then and some who been in that war and suffered mentally because of it. Is Canada perfect? Heck no, but this song is about Neil's first impression of the U.S. The Tragically Hip, another Canadian band did do songs about some of the dark things that happened in Canada. Wheat Kings Locked in the trunk of a car are two of them. Cheers
I'm going to chalk this up to Neil's youth and naiveté. Wonder if he ever turned a sharp critical lens on his own country in the same way? Pretty sure the answer is a resounding, "no." The issue isn't whether the US is perfect or immune from criticism (it's not). But the US is the single most important nation on the planet. If not for the US, Europe and Africa would be speaking German and/or Russian right now and Asia would be speaking Japanese. The US has improved the lives of more people than any nation in history. The preamble to the US Constitution lays it out clearly, not that the US is perfect but the goal has always been "to form a MORE PERFECT union." (i.e. better than we were yesterday - and sometimes that means 2 steps back before you can take 3 steps forward.) I would just remind everyone that the US pretty much single handedly put Rush on the map and ultimately in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because US audiences bought millions of Rush albums, and paid untold millions to attend their live shows over a 40 year span, making Neil, Geddy, and Alex millionaires and giving them a platform to perform and express themselves through music. I would have preferred that Neil lit a candle in 1975 instead of cursing the darkness.
A score equals 20 years, so 10x20=200. When this song came out the U.S. was very close to it's Bicentennial. Always ahead of their time, many times prophetic, I believe it is what they see happening to the U.S., losing it's truth and nobility of it's founding and turning into a deep state run by the military/industrial complex and the people's ethics and morality cracking too. We built a great nation with great promise but now where are we? Would the founding fathers even recognize the so-called Republic any more? That's my take.
One of favourite deep cuts. 🎉❤
What a great poet Neil was!!! Just incredible! Just a prelude to what was to come from Neil in the next 17 albums!!!
You have awesome reviews!!!!!
A song about America.
As true, if not truer today, than upon its release-which we all know is trademark Peart lyricism and Geddy and Alex musicianship.❤️❤️❤️
Beneath the noble bird (bald eagle) gives away America.
Kudos for diving in the Rush deep cuts!
Love it, lyrics right on the money.
These are some of the greatest lyrics ever put to music! The failure of America to live up to it's founding ideals.☮
Great song!! Great lyrics but also great drums!!
Thank you! Never really listened to these lyrics till today. The live version is a treat. Neil really was a profound influence on my developing mind as i grew up.
Nice!
This was in 1975, almost 10 score (200) years after the American revolution. They did not invent democracy but it was still a wondrous dream. Not for all though as much of the land was stolen from the Indians and most people weren't allowed to vote and slavery.... 🙄 That debt from history will never be repaid. 😢
America was the "Earth's melting pot" where immigrants arrived by ship, many of their dreams did come true.
Sadly now the gun has indeed replaced the plow as the culture shifts from an agrarian focus and society becomes more accustomed to hyper violence without thinking about the consequences. America's facade as Reagan's "shining city on a hill" is tarnished now. The American Dream has gone stale.
But still there is hope. We can change things for the better if we put in the work to do it. Democracy requires each of us to do some work to participate. Somehow we need to convince the citizens "along for the ride" from Rush - Territories to start doing something to take part.
Like that very proper
Give it up for the most thought-provoking musicians that were ever on the planet.neal rest in peace 🙏
The Eagle
The Declaration of Independence
Shadows refer to their Ancestors, aka this is about ourselves in America
It is an observation that America has not achieved what its founding fathers had hoped. How though we talk about a good game, we have yet to achieve it.
He wrote that while touring America on that kinda inaugural tour with them, from the backseat of a rental station wagon, observing the good, the bad and the ugly of American culture and cities. AND as always Neil was spot Effin on with his interpretation. Geddy commented on that song as being quite a mouthful 😂to handle singing. Last time they played a shortened version of it was I think ESL or Signals warm-up tour 81-82ish.
One of my favorite deep cuts 🔥🤘🏻👍
You talked it out and YES, USA! "Guns replace the plow" is an easy giveaway! Thanks!
Hi dame! That interpritation was spot on. If you want another song about u.s. history you should listen to steppenwolfs song monster off the live album. Love the channel! Keep up the good work! Peace brother!
The first song Neil wrote for Rush and still my favorite
The Fountain of Lambeth is brilliant. Rush greatest of all time
Beneath the noble bird 🦅
Fly By Night released in 1975 and only a lyrical genius like Peart would say 10 score instead of 200 years ago since 10 score would be 200! 1775 is when the war was fought!
Great reaction to a hidden gem. I love watching your wheels turn! Neil created a genius puzzle. Never a more brilliant lyricist will be.
10 score years ago - 200; Kingly Foe - England; Tame the trackless waste - Westward expansion; Noble Bird - Bald Eagle; Dream's gone stale - MLK, "I have a dream;" History's debt 't be repaid - slaughter of Native Americans, Nagasaki/Hiroshima, Vietnam; Proudest words - Star Spangled Banner; Behind the Beauty - America the Beautiful; Shadows bow in fear - all the ways we have not lived up to our principles threatens to destroy US.
Never more true than now in the US! WOW!!!
You the history buff, nice summation here of 200 years of America-my how we’ve fallen not just since 1776 but since the release of this in 1975-which ironically is a year shy of the bicentennial of the good ole USA😢❤🤘🖖✌️🎸🥁🎤🎸
3rd Bass- Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2
Neil wrote this song during their first tour through America. This was his impression.
The Vietnam War had been going on for a long while.
So many young men lost their lives or their sanity during that war. It was horrible.
Being the same age as the guys in Rush I met a lot of draft dodgers back then and some who been in that war and suffered mentally because of it.
Is Canada perfect? Heck no,
but this song is about Neil's
first impression of the U.S.
The Tragically Hip, another Canadian band did do songs about some of the dark things that happened in Canada.
Wheat Kings
Locked in the trunk of a car
are two of them.
Cheers
"Almost all Rush albums have many songs that have dense allusions to mystic altered-state phenomena"...:)
Can't think of a single Rush song that has dense allusions to mystic altered states..
Is there one?? Please let me know, I would like that.
Neil is pointing out how what the United States founding fathers established has become something very different.
I'm going to chalk this up to Neil's youth and naiveté. Wonder if he ever turned a sharp critical lens on his own country in the same way? Pretty sure the answer is a resounding, "no." The issue isn't whether the US is perfect or immune from criticism (it's not). But the US is the single most important nation on the planet. If not for the US, Europe and Africa would be speaking German and/or Russian right now and Asia would be speaking Japanese. The US has improved the lives of more people than any nation in history. The preamble to the US Constitution lays it out clearly, not that the US is perfect but the goal has always been "to form a MORE PERFECT union." (i.e. better than we were yesterday - and sometimes that means 2 steps back before you can take 3 steps forward.) I would just remind everyone that the US pretty much single handedly put Rush on the map and ultimately in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because US audiences bought millions of Rush albums, and paid untold millions to attend their live shows over a 40 year span, making Neil, Geddy, and Alex millionaires and giving them a platform to perform and express themselves through music. I would have preferred that Neil lit a candle in 1975 instead of cursing the darkness.
The bird is the eagle. The words is the Constitution. America is a melting pot.
A score equals 20 years, so 10x20=200. When this song came out the U.S. was very close to it's Bicentennial. Always ahead of their time, many times prophetic, I believe it is what they see happening to the U.S., losing it's truth and nobility of it's founding and turning into a deep state run by the military/industrial complex and the people's ethics and morality cracking too. We built a great nation with great promise but now where are we? Would the founding fathers even recognize the so-called Republic any more? That's my take.