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Something Neil does a lot


trenken
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Am I pointing out obvious ones here?

 

Mystic Rhythms:

The more we think we know about

The greater the unknown

 

Circumstances:

The more that things change

The more they stay the same

 

Grand Designs:

So much Style without Substance

So much Stuff without Style

Edited by Kenneth
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QUOTE (Undemanding Contact @ Jun 24 2011, 02:13 PM)

BTW, fellow fans, I was wondering how many bands exist to which this kind of analysis can be applied in earnest? Not many I'm sure, probably only a bare handful of prominent bands. Just goes to show what special stuff we have in Rush.

Just bands with smart guys writing the lyrics. Mars Volta does this sometimes, although in a MUCH more abstract way.

 

Ed from the band Live did it here and there. He is VERY smart, and one of my favorite lyricists next to Neil. In some ways I like some of what he's written a little more, since it's less angular. That's how I like to describe lyrics that are trying so hard to sound intelligent.

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Some lines from Hemi seem like they would qualify;

 

As a disembodied spirit

I am dead and yet unborn...

 

Let the truth of love be lighted

Let the love of truth shine clear...

 

in fact, the whole song seems to do this, but on a longer scale, like paragraph to paragraph, or section to section, if that makes any sense...

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QUOTE (Tarkus406 @ Jun 24 2011, 10:17 PM)
Gotta say, this is a pretty good thread idea, trenks! trink39.gif

What he said. I've been listening and paying attention since 1979 and every now and then we get a new perspective. Much 'spect to the OP.

 

How about Beneath ... Between ... Behind

 

Can you be all three at once?

 

If only.

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One of my favorites:

 

An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure

 

 

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Anagram for mongo:

 

"he and she are in the house

But there's only me at home" ?

 

BTW what the heck is a brain fart?

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QUOTE (driventotheedge @ Jun 26 2011, 06:05 PM)
QUOTE (HowItIs @ Jun 24 2011, 11:32 PM)
One of my favorites:

An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure

Ditto. And from the same song:

"Fact is it's fiction".

Except the lyrics is "the fact is, this friction/will only be worn by persistence."

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QUOTE (Undemanding Contact @ Jun 24 2011, 02:13 PM)
Got a few more:

Digital man:
With the answers - but no clue
Constant change is here to stay


Second Nature:
We fight the fire, while we're feeding the flames

Anagram (for Mongo - whoever the hell Mongo is/was):
The con they couldn't conceal
The saint is turning to sin


Bravado:
We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost

Face Up:
Hit the target, or you better hit the ground

I have checked all of FbN and CoS, and Neil did not use this technique in those albums at all. Moreover, from memory (I don't have time currently to trawl through the entire canon), I don't think he did in any of the 70's albums, or, at least, only rarely, so it seems to be something he developed in the 1980s (when, in my view, he cranked out some truly astonishing stuff).

BTW, fellow fans, I was wondering how many bands exist to which this kind of analysis can be applied in earnest? Not many I'm sure, probably only a bare handful of prominent bands. Just goes to show what special stuff we have in Rush.

"Anagram (for Mongo)" is a reference to the film Blazing Saddles- the original line in the movie is "Candygram for Mongo!" It's just a little joke, like Austin Powers in Goldmember line "Isn't that weird?" title card on the S&A Live DVD.

 

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Wow, I'm dissapointed in my fellow board members. It's almost two full pages and no one has mentioned the song with some of the most blatant use of this lyrical mechanic, New World Man.

 

He's old enough to know what's right

But young enough not to choose it

He's noble enough to win the world

But weak enough to lose it -

 

Wait, there's more!:

 

He's wise enough to win the world

But fool enough to lose it -

 

 

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QUOTE (pedro2112 @ Jun 27 2011, 01:24 AM)
Wow, I'm dissapointed in my fellow board members. It's almost two full pages and no one has mentioned the song with some of the most blatant use of this lyrical mechanic, New World Man.

He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it -


Wait, there's more!:

He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it -

It was actually mentioned on the first page.

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QUOTE (Undemanding Contact @ Jun 27 2011, 08:32 AM)
BTW, LyndseyG: I think the nearest we have to 'brain fart' on our side of the pond would be 'brainstorm'.

Gilby reckons he's having trouble thinking straight. I think I get it. yes.gif

 

Oh here's a couple more:

 

Face Up:

 

"I'm on a roll now

Or is it a slide?"

 

"I'm in a groove now

Or is it a rut?"

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And again!:

 

Resist

 

"You can surrender without a prayer

But never really pray, pray without surrender

 

You can fight, fight without ever winning

But never ever win, win without a fight"

 

These are amongst my favourite lyrics blush4.gif

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QUOTE (LyndseyG @ Jun 27 2011, 03:41 PM)
And again!:

Resist

"You can surrender without a prayer
But never really pray, pray without surrender

You can fight, fight without ever winning
But never ever win, win without a fight"

These are amongst my favourite lyrics blush4.gif

Same here. That's why the second part is in my sig. smile.gif

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QUOTE (trenken @ Jun 27 2011, 09:02 AM)
QUOTE (pedro2112 @ Jun 27 2011, 01:24 AM)
Wow, I'm dissapointed in my fellow board members. It's almost two full pages and no one has mentioned the song with some of the most blatant use of this lyrical mechanic, New World Man.

He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it -


Wait, there's more!:

He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it -

It was actually mentioned on the first page.

I never let facts get in the way of disappointment.

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QUOTE (trenken @ Jun 27 2011, 09:02 AM)
QUOTE (pedro2112 @ Jun 27 2011, 01:24 AM)
Wow, I'm dissapointed in my fellow board members. It's almost two full pages and no one has mentioned the song with some of the most blatant use of this lyrical mechanic, New World Man.

He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it -


Wait, there's more!:

He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it -

It was actually mentioned on the first page.

I never let facts get in the way of disappointment.

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