An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and virtuosity on the bass guitar have proven very influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, John Myung of Dream Theater, Les Claypool of Primus, Cliff Burton of Metallica, and countless others. Lee's vocal style, while less influential, is nonetheless distinctive; one Rolling Stone critic opined a negative review in the Rolling Stone Album Guide that Geddy Lee's voice was a cross between Robert Plant's and Donald Duck's voices. Reference to the latter in the brief review upset many die-hard fans of Rush and Lee.
Lee's first solo effort, My Favorite Headache, was released in 2000. In addition to his composing, arranging, and performing duties for Rush, Lee has produced albums for various other bands, including Rocket Science, and recorded a short rendition of "O Canada" with Lifeson included on the "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" soundtrack. Geddy Lee is also heard singing the Top 20 hit "Take Off" on the McKenzie Brothers (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) 1981 comedy album The Great White North: Bob and Doug McKenzie, and on the Max Webster song, "Battle Scar," featured on their Universal Juveniles album, which saw both bands playing together live in the studio. Geddy shares lead vocals on this track.
Geddy is also a devoted baseball fan, and performed "O Canada" at the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and took batting practice with the then-California Angels (circa 1992).
Along with his colleagues Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, Lee was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio were the first rock musicians so honoured.
Present tense
Geddy Lee Lyrics
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When you lose the past
And the future makes no sense
You're living in the present tense
Crawling out, secure and confident
Imbued with innocence
Ready for the whirl
Living in a different kind of world
You're living
Living in the present tense
There's nothing to blame
No victim of consequence
You're living in the present tense
Something you said
It made me
Step outside ..the moment
Eyes pan right and left
Around my world
Open yourself
Up to the possibility
Aware of some reality
Outside your world
In a silent universe
The moment can be so real
You almost can't stand it
In a distant universe
Distracted from ourselves
You can't help but wonder
In a crowded universe
When the talking turns to noise
You almost start laughing
You're living
Living in the present tense
When you lose the past
And the future makes no sense
You're living in the present tense
Nothing to blame
No victim of consequence
You're living in the present tense
Geddy Lee's "The Present Tense" centers around the concept of living in the present moment while acknowledging the past and future. The first stanza addresses the idea of losing the past, losing track of time, and feeling disoriented as a result. The chorus then emphasizes that living in the present tense means there is no need to blame or feel like a victim of consequence because you are fully immersed in the moment.
The second stanza describes a transformative experience, where the singer feels secure and confident but suddenly becomes more aware of the world around them. The subsequent verses reinforce the importance of being open to new experiences and realities outside of one's own. The final lines allude to the vastness of the universe, suggesting that the present moment is both powerful and fleeting in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, "The Present Tense" encourages listeners to be present and engaged in their lives, while also recognizing the impact of past experiences and the unpredictability of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Living in the present tense
Living in the here and now
When you lose the past
When you let go of the past
And the future makes no sense
And you're uncertain about the future
You're living in the present tense
You're embracing the present moment
Crawling out, secure and confident
Starting anew with courage and positivity
Imbued with innocence
With an open heart and pure intentions
Ready for the whirl
Prepared for life's ups and downs
Suddenly the view was more intense
Life becomes more vivid and meaningful
Living in a different kind of world
In a transformed, more positive reality
There's nothing to blame
No one is at fault
No victim of consequence
No one suffers from the outcome
Something you said
Your words struck a chord
It made me
Step outside ..the moment
It caused me to reflect on the bigger picture
Eyes pan right and left
Around my world
Observing everything around me
Open yourself
Up to the possibility
Be receptive to new opportunities
Aware of some reality
Outside your world
Recognizing a different perspective
In a silent universe
The moment can be so real
You almost can't stand it
In a peaceful setting, reality can feel overwhelming
In a distant universe
Distracted from ourselves
You can't help but wonder
When we're removed from our daily routine, we gain perspective and ponder life
In a crowded universe
When the talking turns to noise
You almost start laughing
When we're surrounded by chaos, it can be comical
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN MINK, GEDDY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind