In 1989, Neil Peart (of the band Rush) wrote a song that could have been about the Gulf situation

[scheming daemons]

Sorry, non-Rushophiles. This Gulf situation made me think of this song.

Red Tide

Words by Neil Peart, Music by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, 1989

nature has some new plague
to run in our streets
history some new wrinkle
we are doomed to repeat
fugitives at the bedroom door
lovers pause to find an open store
rain is burning on the forest floor
and the red tide kisses the shore

THIS IS NOT A FALSE ALARM
THIS IS NOT A TEST

stay out of the sun
it only burns my skin
sky full of poison
and the atmosphere's too thin
bless the sun, the rain no more
river running like an open sore
black wind falling to the ocean floor
and the red tide washes ashore

THIS IS NOT A FALSE ALARM
THIS IS NOT A TEST
Nowhere we can fly away
Nowhere we can rest
The party is disrupted by
An uninvited guest

deadline approaches
for the weary land
it used to be something
but we let it run down in our hands
too late for debate, too bad to ignore
quiet rebellion leads to open war
bring a sea-change to the factory floor
as the red tide covers the shore

Now's the time to turn the tide
Now's the time to fight
Let us not go gently
To the endless winter night
Now's the time to make the time
While hope is still in sight
Let us not go gently
To the endless winter night

[The Doctor.]

1. Message to the unreccers of this OP;

"Go Cheney yourselves."

[cliffordu]

5. OR:

"GO shove a Cheney up your Rove..

[The Doctor.]

6. Oh...

"Dick" and "Asshole"... I see.

[cliffordu]

7. Whatever....

[JeffersonChick]

2. I love Rush, and you're right - how fitting.

[leftstreet]

3. K&R

greatest drummer evah!

[flvegan]

4. "Every action has a reaction. We have one planet, one chance."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN2FrUUq-zI&feature=related

[Dr. Strange]

28. Why would you post that?

This is a thread about Neil Peart. You know, a real musician.

You've sullied this thread like a leaking bladder in a hot tub.

[kysrsoze]

8. Neil Peart was right at that time too. This garbage has been going on for a long time

This, unfortunately, is one of the most visible forms of continued destruction, but it's happening all around us.

Rush rules. I've been a fan since I was a kid in the late 70's and I'm FINALLY going to see them live this summer - already have my tix.

[Ardent15]

24. Saw them live during the "Snakes and Arrows" Tour 2007

They are truly amazing live. You won't be disappointed.

:fistbump:

[Touchdown]

9. Also made Malloy think of it. He played Red Tide as a bumper song.

Or... rather Kathy played it. I wonder how his environmental interest conflicts with Ayn Rand worshipping... unless he grew up since he wrote 2112.

Ever notice Rush likes the color red?

Red Barchetta
Red Sector A
Red Tide
Red Lenses

Just thinking.:shrug:

[opiate69]

12. How is 2112 Randian?

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. It has an evil, all-controlling state religion that oppresses individuals

Lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/2112_20119899.html

And, according to the Wikipedia entry for it (not authoritative, I know) there's a 'credit' for the 'genus of Ayn Rand' on the album, and the plot has some similarities to Anthem.

Randians rave about Peart using Rand themes: http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sciabarra/essays/rush.htm

[opiate69]

15. Interesting.. I've always seen it as..

I've always seen it as being about the band's struggle with the commercialized, corporate rock industry.. I'll have to pull out my old copy to see if that quote is there....

[Mister Ed]

18. "With acknowledgement to the genius of Ayn Rand"

I recall for certain that my copy of "2112" featured those words on the jacket. A college buddy said that this was just Peart's way of acknowledging that he lifted the whole storyline from Ayn Rand's "Anthem".

I don't know that this means he was a kool-aid drinking Randian fundamentalist, though, or is one now.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Well, Rush did have a song called "Anthem"

Know 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
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down


Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
The wonders of the world, wonders of the world
Wonders of the world they wrought

Live for yourself...there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more



Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yet it was for me, not you, I came to write this song



Wrought
Wrought

There's also the fact that their record label happens to be "Anthem Records", though their first album was on that label, and Peart didn't even play on it, so draw your own conclusions there....

[scheming daemons]

30. Until the late 70s, Peart was a Randian.... then he grew up.

Listen to "Territories" and you can see how he gradually became a liberal.

[opiate69]

35. I think he's just got a wide range of writing influences...

he has recently said "For a start, the extent of my influence by the writings of Ayn Rand should not be overestimated -- I am no one's disciple."
http://www.famouslikeme.com/3320/article.html

[Sebastian Doyle]

19. Mike also mentions that oil is sort of like the earth's "blood"

and then mentioned the scripture in Revelation which mentions "the sea turning to blood".

I was surprised to hear that reference coming from an atheist, but Malloy knows the bible better than 95% of the fundagelicals do. He just doesn't believe it.

[chillspike]

22. I would think water is the earth's blood nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. Except most of the earth's water is on the surface

Also, the biblical symbolism couldn't work if the sea turned to water. Since it already is.

[GOPBasher]

26. Although many of Peart's lyrics were inspired by Ayn Rand, his politics are not similar.

He has said, in regards to his inspiration from Ayn Rand, that he's "nobody's disciple." Also, he keeps pretty quiet about his political beliefs, so I don't presume to know what they are, but looking at the lyrics he written, it seems those beliefs are all over the place. Yes, he seems to have some libertarian leanings judging from the Rand-inspired lyrics, but he's also written many other songs that seem to be left-leaning. Also, he's written many songs that are very anti-religion, such as "Faithless" and "The Way the Wind Blows," among others. So, I would doubt he's cool with the Christian right.

[TheWatcher]

10. Neil Also wrote a song in 1977 that seems to be an Eerily Prophetic Vision of where we are now.

When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?

We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance

Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise

The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred Halls of Truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find the minds that made us strong?
Can't we learn to feel what's right
And what's wrong?

WHAT'S WRONG?

Cities full of hatred, fear and lies
Withered hearts and cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude and
Scoffing at the wise

Can't we raise our eyes and make a start?
Can't we find the minds to lead us

Closer to the heart.....

-A Farewell To Kings

Neil was always ahead of his time.

Their Music is one of the most precious jewels that we have ever had the privilege of experiencing.

They are timeless, and Neil has always told it like it is, NOT what we want to hear.

And NOWHERE did he ever do it better than the above song.

[Touchdown]

16. What's the name of... "We will pay the price, but we cannot count the cost..."

I Like that one too.:shrug:

[TheWatcher]

17. That would be Bravado.

Another very important one is "The Weapon"

We've got nothing to fear...but fear itself?
Not pain, not failure, not fatal tragedy?
Not the faulty units in this mad machinery?
Not the broken contacts in emotional chemistry?

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom's will be done

And the things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us...

He's not afraid of your judgment
He knows of horrors worse than your Hell
He's a little bit afraid of dying
But he's a lot more afraid of your lying

And the things that he fears are a weapon to be held against him...

Can any part of life be larger than life?
Even love must be limited by time
And those who push us down that they might climb
Is any killer worth more than his crime?

Like a steely blade in a silken sheath
We don't see what they're made of
They shout about love, but when push comes to shove
They live for the things they're afraid of

And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them...

[scheming daemons]

36. "Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise"

you picked my song.


;-)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. Link to YouTube -- plays in background to the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrIemrsi0NM

[Catherina]

14. Thanks. Didn't; know it before. Rec'd

[Swamp Rat]

21. k&r

[GOPBasher]

25. You've just entered the cool club.

I'm a huge Rush fan, and I agree, those lyrics are very fitting.

[scheming daemons]

29. Where do you think my username came from? (hint: Lyrics in A Farewell to Kings)

...

[GOPBasher]

34. Oh yeah! That's awesome! n/t

[NNN0LHI]

27. I don't think he is talking about oil though

He appears to be talking about the naturally occurring phenomenon known as Red Tide.

Don

[distantearlywarning]

31. I have often noted how Rush lyrics are relevant and timely

for so much of the American political arena of the last decade.

From one Rush fan to another:

:toast:

[Touchdown]

32. See. This is why Sting should've never become Yanni!

He was a great lyricist too, but he didn't stick with the Police or rock and roll. Nobody quoted "We Work the Black Seam" when the coal mine collapsed.

[mikeytherat]

33. Marvin Gaye, from 1973:

Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Where did all the blue sky go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north, east, south, and sea
Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury
Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Radiation in the ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can you stand?
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord

mikey_the_rat