Don't laugh: it's right here on track 3 of this album. Yes, the most cringe-inducing lyrics in rock music are firmly set down here. After all, if it weren't for the wisdom of Neal Peart, how would we ever know that:

 'A spirit with a vision
 Is a dream with a mission.'

Or that:

 'Nothing can survive in a vacuum
 No one can exist all alone.'

If you're wondering how Peart manages to play the drums and stroke his chin at the same time, here's how:

 'I find no absolution
 In my rational point of view
 Maybe some things are instinctive ...'

Or here's another profound observation:

 'Folks are basically decent
 Conventional wisdom would say.'

Or try this for grammar:

 'How they suffered about it!'

I've heard of people 'suffering from' something or even 'suffering with' something, but 'suffering about'?

Such lyrics might be bearable if they not also being squeezed through the helium balloon of Geddy Lee's voice. There's a track on the 2007 album 'Snakes and Arrows' called 'Malignant Narcissism'. Rush did not have to wait until 2007 for that: on track 9 of 'Hold your Fire' you'll find Lee crowing that

 'I stood on the top of the mountain
 And China sang to me.'

Me, me, me: thousands of years of history and 1.5 billion people, all singing to Geddy Lee and the self-absorbed lyrics forced upon him by Peart. Sigh ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any yet, and yet ... I can't deny that my whole reason for buying this CD was to replace the tape I had about fifteen years ago while I was in college. At the time I really like Rush's melody. One's distaste for such lyrics grows stronger as the years go by, and still I find that if I can tune out the words, the actual music the band made remains lively and listenable. So, in summary, I think it's fine that Lee, Lifeson and Peart are still playing: it's just a shame that Peart is still writing. But for that - if I may employ a Rushism - I could probably see past Lee's singing voice.
Don't laugh: it's right here on track 3 of this album. Yes, the most cringe-inducing lyrics in rock music are firmly set down here. After all, if it weren't for the wisdom of Neal Peart, how would we ever know that:

 'A spirit with a vision
 Is a dream with a mission. '

Or that:

 'Nothing can survive in a vacuum
 No one can exist all alone. '

If you're wondering how Peart manages to play the drums and stroke his chin at the same time, here's how:

 'I find no absolution
 In my rational point of view
 Maybe some things are instinctive... '

Or here's another profound observation:

 'Folks are basically decent
 Conventional wisdom would say. '

Or try this for grammar:

 'How they suffered about it! '

I've heard of people 'suffering from' something or even 'suffering with' something, but 'suffering about'? Such lyrics might be bearable if they not also being squeezed through the helium balloon of Geddy Lee's voice. There's a track on the 2007 album 'Snakes and Arrows' called 'Malignant Narcissism'. Rush did not have to wait until 2007 for that: on track 9 of 'Hold your Fire' you'll find Lee crowing that

 'I stood on the top of the mountain
 And China sang to me. '

Me, me, me: thousands of years of history and 1. 5 billion people, all singing to Geddy Lee and the self-absorbed lyrics forced upon him by Peart. Sigh... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any yet, and yet... I can't deny that my whole reason for buying this CD was to replace the tape I had about fifteen years ago while I was in college. At the time I really like Rush's melody. One's distaste for such lyrics grows stronger as the years go by, and still I find that if I can tune out the words, the actual music the band made remains lively and listenable. So, in summary, I think it's fine that Lee, Lifeson and Peart are still playing: it's just a shame that Peart is still writing. But for that - if I may employ a Rushism - I could probably see past Lee's singing voice.