mother of all machines Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 We all know Rush songs are full of meanings and ideas. What i want to do is for you to pick any random part of any random Rush song and explain what do you believe it means. (I don't put this is in Roll the bones as i believe this is more a debate than a game) For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Maybe some of you believe this means nothing, or something completely different. I would love to see more points of views in different songs. Post your ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 This is a bit too "Solaris blue Raven" for me. I think you take the lyrics as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Barchetta Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 "...and all too soon, a canine will be chasing cars in doggie heaven." To me, these lyrics mean Neil was mailing it in for Test for Echo. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day of Light Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Actually, we can go broader than that, because housekeepers are a disconnected concept within the context of the rest of the lyrics. When Neil writes lyrics and Geddy sings them in this song, it hints at pollution, disaster, emotional discomfort. He's talking about how humans need both emotional and practical support. It is not enough to have somebody to discuss with, you need somebody who does things, and somebody who is a problem solver, who resets everything to zero after a mess. The way it's sang suggests that they are aware of the people in those roles: people who clean up houses, yes, but also people who clean up after disasters, people who write news stories that "sweep the floor", people whose work enables the survival of others. They're generally anonymous, and therefore dehumanized in regards to the list of available participants in somebody's personal life. Edited February 7, 2016 by Day of Light 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital Dad Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 "...and all too soon, a canine will be chasing cars in doggie heaven." To me, these lyrics mean Neil was mailing it in for Test for Echo. As if tough talkin hoodboys arent banal enough for you 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmejim Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Bootboys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowdogged Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 We all know Rush songs are full of meanings and ideas. What i want to do is for you to pick any random part of any random Rush song and explain what do you believe it means. (I don't put this is in Roll the bones as i believe this is more a debate than a game) For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Maybe some of you believe this means nothing, or something completely different. I would love to see more points of views in different songs. Post your ideas!What I believe those lyrics mean is that we need someone to sweep the floors or the dirt and garbage will pile up too high and we will not be able to talk because the dirt and garbage will go in our mouths when we try to talk. I thought that was pretty obvious, but that's just me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Actually, we can go broader than that, because housekeepers are a disconnected concept within the context of the rest of the lyrics. When Neil writes lyrics and Geddy sings them in this song, it hints at pollution, disaster, emotional discomfort. He's talking about how humans need both emotional and practical support. It is not enough to have somebody to discuss with, you need somebody who does things, and somebody who is a problem solver, who resets everything to zero after a mess. We need philosophers and ploughmen. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Actually, we can go broader than that, because housekeepers are a disconnected concept within the context of the rest of the lyrics. When Neil writes lyrics and Geddy sings them in this song, it hints at pollution, disaster, emotional discomfort. He's talking about how humans need both emotional and practical support. It is not enough to have somebody to discuss with, you need somebody who does things, and somebody who is a problem solver, who resets everything to zero after a mess. We need philosophers and ploughmen. As long as they each know their part. We can't have any ploughmen start philosophizing, you know. The philosophers' union would be all up in arms. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil1972 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "Yea ooooh Yea!" from Finding My Way That means Ged was a bad ass mofo vocalist back in the day. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddy's Soul Patch Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "We're on the train to Bangkok, aboard that silent express." Clearly this is demonstrating how, when everyone gets too stoned, no one wants to talk on the train 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 For example,"We need someone to talk to,And someone to sweep the floors" I think this talks about the fact some people really believe the people who clean houses are not "people" but just someone who works for them, not someone you can "talk to" Actually, we can go broader than that, because housekeepers are a disconnected concept within the context of the rest of the lyrics. When Neil writes lyrics and Geddy sings them in this song, it hints at pollution, disaster, emotional discomfort. He's talking about how humans need both emotional and practical support. It is not enough to have somebody to discuss with, you need somebody who does things, and somebody who is a problem solver, who resets everything to zero after a mess. We need philosophers and ploughmen. As long as they each know their part. We can't have any ploughmen start philosophizing, you know. The philosophers' union would be all up in arms.At least until Cygnus shows up, then everything will balance out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "We're on the train to Bangkok, aboard that silent express." Clearly this is demonstrating how, when everyone gets too stoned, no one wants to talk on the train Maybe you were joking, but the lyrics are: We're on the train to BangkokAboard the Thailand Express 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 (edited) Too much fuss and bother Too much contradiction and confusion Peel away the mystery Here's a clue to some real motivation All there really is The two of us And we both know why we've come along Nothing to explain It's a part of us To be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . Edited February 9, 2016 by Lucas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddy's Soul Patch Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "We're on the train to Bangkok, aboard that silent express." Clearly this is demonstrating how, when everyone gets too stoned, no one wants to talk on the train Maybe you were joking, but the lyrics are: We're on the train to BangkokAboard the Thailand Express I once saw someone on here mistake the lyric for "silent express." I guess it's an inside joke with myself :smoke: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "We're on the train to Bangkok, aboard that silent express." Clearly this is demonstrating how, when everyone gets too stoned, no one wants to talk on the train Maybe you were joking, but the lyrics are: We're on the train to BangkokAboard the Thailand Express I once saw someone on here mistake the lyric for "silent express." I guess it's an inside joke with myself :smoke: lol I see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Too much fuss and bother Too much contradiction and confusion Peel away the mystery Here's a clue to some real motivation All there really is The two of us And we both know why we've come along Nothing to explain It's a part of us To be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . I've never looked at that song from this angle. Pretty interesting food for thought. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Too much fuss and botherToo much contradiction and confusionPeel away the mysteryHere's a clue to some real motivation All there really isThe two of usAnd we both know why we've come alongNothing to explainIt's a part of usTo be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . I've never looked at that song from this angle. Pretty interesting food for thought.I looked at it as a possible reference to their wives. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Too much fuss and botherToo much contradiction and confusionPeel away the mysteryHere's a clue to some real motivation All there really isThe two of usAnd we both know why we've come alongNothing to explainIt's a part of usTo be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . I've never looked at that song from this angle. Pretty interesting food for thought.I looked at it as a possible reference to their wives.Yeah, I've always interpreted it as just a silly little love song. I like Lucas' take, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Too much fuss and botherToo much contradiction and confusionPeel away the mysteryHere's a clue to some real motivation All there really isThe two of usAnd we both know why we've come alongNothing to explainIt's a part of usTo be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . I've never looked at that song from this angle. Pretty interesting food for thought.I looked at it as a possible reference to their wives.Yeah, I've always interpreted it as just a silly little love song. I like Lucas' take, though....or Al was getting tired of using Dean Markley's and wanted Different Strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HemiBeers Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "The caravan thunders onwardTo the distant dream of the cityThe caravan carries me onwardOn my way at last, on my way at last".....refers to a Chrysler minivan. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amps211 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 So as long as we are talking about song meanings ... Did the dude in 2112 take his self out or did he die of old age? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil1972 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 So as long as we are talking about song meanings ... Did the dude in 2112 take his self out or did he die of old age? I interpreted it as suicide. I think the 1976 Ayn Rand influenced Peart saw that as a noble thing; to die rather than give in. And he became the martyr for the Grand Finale war. The 2012 Neil who wrote CA would probably see that as a bad thing now. The Garden has supplanted (pun intended) the 2112 dude. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital Dad Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Too much fuss and botherToo much contradiction and confusionPeel away the mysteryHere's a clue to some real motivation All there really isThe two of usAnd we both know why we've come alongNothing to explainIt's a part of usTo be found within a song Geddy, on his relationship with Alex, and the band and music business as a whole .. I think Different Strings was definitely an ode to Alex, with some subtle references to Neil . . I've never looked at that song from this angle. Pretty interesting food for thought.I looked at it as a possible reference to their wives. Yeah I always thought it was a love song. But it does make sense either way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital Dad Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 "The caravan thunders onwardTo the distant dream of the cityThe caravan carries me onwardOn my way at last, on my way at last".....refers to a Chrysler minivan. Mickey the Pikey- Ill do it for a Caravan. Its fermemahh. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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