Anyone who knows me, even just a little bit, knows that I practically eat, sleep, and breathe the music of the Canadian power trio Rush. So an article about them was coming sooner rather than later. For the past 40 years, their music has inspired me (and countless others) through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. They have inspired many musicians that have gone on to make careers out of the music industry. Essentially, Rush is freaking awesome. But what makes them so awesome? Is it their addiction to making unusual meters sound flawless? Or is it their ability to tell a musical story through 20-plus minute epic songs? It is all that, but I think what sets them above other groups is the depth and complexity to, drumming god, Neil Peart’s lyrics. His lyrics focus on issues and ideas of many different topics and are open to the interpretation of the listener. Therefore, in this list, I will not provide any of my own thoughts on the lyrics. I will provide all (or some… let’s not forget some Rush songs are extensively long) of the lyrics to a song and leave you, the reader, to sit on them and find your own meaning. Here are the 20 best Rush lyrics from 20 studio albums – in chronological order (to order them any other way would be a sin. They are all way too good for that.)

1. Here Again – Rush (Lyrics by Geddy Lee)

Well, I say as I look back,
And all the thoughts I’ve had,
They reflect just what I’m learning.
Yes, you know that the hardest part,
Yes, I say it is to stay on top,
On top of a world forever churning.

2. Anthem – Fly By Night

Know that your place in life
Is where you want to be
Don’t let them tell you that
You owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward
No use in looking round
Carry your head above the crowd
And they won’t bring you down

3. The Fountain of Lamneth: VI. The Fountain – Caress of Steel

Now, at last I fall before
The Fountain of Lamneth
I thought I would be singing
But I’m tired… out of breath
Many journeys end here
But, the secret’s told the same
Life is just a candle
And a dream must give it flame

4. Something for Nothing – 2112

What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story
In your head is the answer
Let it guide you along
Let your heart be the anchor
And the beat of your own song

5. Closer to the Heart – A Farewell to Kings

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the Heart
The Blacksmith and the Artist
Reflect it in their art
Forge their creativity
Closer to the Heart
Philosophers and Plowmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the Heart
You can be the Captain
I will draw the Chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the Heart

6. Cygnus X-1 Book II: VI. The Sphere: A Kind of Dream – Hemispheres

We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility
Armed with sense and liberty
With the Heart and Mind united
In a single perfect sphere

7. Entre Nous – Permanent Waves

Just between us
I think it’s time for us to recognize
The differences we sometimes fear to show
Just between us
I think it’s time for us to realize
The spaces in between
Leave room for you and I to grow

8. Witch Hunt – Moving Pictures

Quick to judge,
Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear walk hand in hand

9. Losing It – Signals

Some are born to move the world —
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we’d like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you — the blind who once could see —
The bell tolls for thee

10. Kid Gloves – Grace Under Pressure

Handle with kid gloves
Handle with kid gloves
Then you learn the lessons
Taught in school won’t be enough
Put on your kid gloves
Put on your kid gloves
Then you learn the lesson
That it’s cool to be so tough
…
Handle with kid gloves
Handle with kid gloves
Then you learn the weapons
And the ways of hard-knock school
Put on your kid gloves
Put on your kid gloves
Then you learn the lesson
That it’s tough to be so cool

11. Territories – Power Windows

The whole wide world
An endless universe
Yet we keep looking through
The eyeglass in reverse
Don’t feed the people
But we feed the machines
Can’t really feel
What international means

12. Time Stand Still – Hold Your Fire

Summer’s going fast–
Nights growing colder
Children growing up —
old friends growing older
Experience slips away

13. The Pass – Presto

Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight
…
No hero in your tragedy
No daring in your escape
No salutes for your surrender
Nothing noble in your fate

14. Bravado – Roll the Bones

If we burn our wings
Flying too close to the sun
If the moment of glory
Is over before it’s begun
If the dream is won —
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost
When the dust has cleared
And victory denied
A summit too lofty
River a little too wide
If we keep our pride —
Though paradise is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost
And if the music stops
There’s only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory
All the sacrifice in vain
If love remains
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price,
But we will not count the cost

15. Everyday Glory – Counterparts

Just one spark of decency
Against a starless night
One glow of hope and dignity
A child can follow the light
No matter what they say
No matter what they say…
If the future’s looking dark
We’re the ones who have to shine
If there’s no one in control
We’re the ones who draw the line
Though we live in trying times —
We’re the ones who have to try
Though we know that time has wings —
We’re the ones who have to fly

16. Resist – Test for Echo

You can surrender
Without a prayer
But never really pray
Pray without surrender
You can fight
Without ever winning
But never ever win
Without a fight

17. How It Is – Vapor Trails

It’s such a cloudy day
Seems we’ll never see the sun
Or feel the day has possibilities
Frozen in the moment –
the lack of imagination
Between how it is and how it ought to be

18. For What It's Worth (Originally by Buffalo Springfield) - Feedback

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

19. Faithless – Snakes & Arrows

I don’t have faith in faith
I don’t believe in belief
You can call me faithless
But I still cling to hope
And I believe in love
And that’s faith enough for me

20. The Garden – Clockwork Angels

The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect
…
The future disappears into memory
With only a moment between
Forever dwells in that moment
Hope is what remains to be seen