The Friday Morning Rush
I needed help to get started today, it has been a rough Friday morning. Hard to believe someone could have a rough time on a Friday, but I did. We all have those days.
I had to zone out for a while, get lost in some music. I stuck my headphones in my ears and opened iTunes on my Macintosh G5, then selected the album I always use to remind me of what life is about. Hold Your Fire, by Rush.
I don’t know what it is, maybe the soaring feeling I get, or the friendly voice of Geddy Lee telling me about the stuff that lyricist Neil Peart has on his mind. Whatever the reason, Rush is almost always the band I turn to when I need a lift, a little extra push. Maybe because I have been listening to their music 75 percent of the time for most of my life. Rush always makes me think. The combination of words and music always manages to strike a chord with me or tug on my heart strings.
Back in the 80′s there were religious groups referring to the band as satanists, and trying to imply that R-U-S-H stood for ruling under satan’s hand. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Tell me how songs that positively effect someone, speak of compassion, love, educate and impart good values can be considered evil?
The members of Rush don’t really come right out and express a belief in God one way or the other, though many of their songs do touch on spirituality. They’re entitled to their opinion. I’ll tell you what, if someone can get into heaven based on how they have affected the world, regardless of their belief, Rush is in. St. Peter will see them coming and shout, “Alex, Geddy, Neil! Over here guys, don’t wait in line!”
I don’t want to get too far off track. But of course, I will.
I have this habit, when a song I’m listening to hits me emotionally, I usually share the line that affected me with my friend Roger in Florida. You may remember him from past observations.
Upon receiving my email Roger will usually reply with some words to the effect of, “Cool, you just put a great song into my head. Now I have to go put the CD on!”
So not only does the music I’m listening to affect me, it affects Roger through me. Yesterday I sent him a line from No Sign of Yesterday from the Men At Work album, Cargo. Today I sent him the last few lines from High Water, the last track found on Hold Your Fire. The line reads:
“In a driving rain of redemption
The water takes me home
The water takes me home
Take me home.”
There’s something about the words, but not just that. The way Geddy Lee delivers the words makes an important difference, as does the way the music wraps around them.
That’s how music affects us, and that’s why it’s so important in our lives. That’s how I was able to make it through this Friday morning, and why the rest of the day looks better than it did before. I made it through with my Friday morning Rush. And I recommend it to anyone.
Rush is the most famous Canadian rock band in history. Since their self produced CD back in 1974 (with original drummer John Rutsy) they have been a dominant force in progressive rock worldwide, and continue to push the boundaries of musical originality. Rush is a band that cannot be compared with any other band in the history of rock music. Give them a listen, you’ll see what I mean.
You can learn more about Rush at their official website Rush.com, including details of their 2004 release, Feedback, which consists entirely of their renditions of popular rock songs from the sixties and seventies, including remarkable cover versions of Summertime Blues, For What It’s Worth, Crossroads and others.
Obviously the below copyright note does not apply to any material by rush.
