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.
Runaway Train
Geddy Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a loveless room
You've got to want it
You've got to want it
Who's the fool
Where apathy rules
You've got to want it
If you don't want it
It remains the same
It's a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
If there's no defiance
It remains insane
If it's all compliance
It's a runaway train
Nothing so cruel
Where malevolence rules
You've got to want it
You've got to want it
There is no defence
Against pointed arrogance
You've got to want it
You've got to want it
If you don't want it
It remains the same
It's a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
It can be surprising
When you lose the shame
And the sun starts rising
Another day to tame
If you're heart is aching
Just remove the shame
You've got to want it
Give your soul a shaking
And refuse the blame
You've got to want it
Who's the fool
Where apathy rules
You've got to want it
You've got to want it
If you don't want it
It remains the same
It's a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
If there's no defiance
It remains insane
If it's all compliance
It's a runaway train
It's a runaway train
The lyrics to Geddy Lee's song "Runaway Train" speak to the importance of taking charge of one's own life and desires. The repeated refrain, "You've got to want it," emphasizes the need for personal motivation in order to achieve fulfillment. The first verse sets the scene of a loveless room where nothing can bloom without the desire for love. The second verse talks about the dangers of apathy ruling and malevolence, and the need for defense against pointed arrogance.
The chorus warns of the consequences of not wanting what one truly wants in life. The heart of darkness represents a sense of hopelessness and complacency that can lead to insanity and a runaway train. Without defiance and a refusal to comply to societal norms, one can become trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction and lack of fulfillment. The song offers hope through the line, "And the sun starts rising, another day to tame," which suggests that taking control and wanting what one truly desires can lead to a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing blooms
Not a single thing flourishes
In a loveless room
In a space where affection is absent
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
Who's the fool
Who acts foolishly
Where apathy rules
In a place where indifference governs
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
If you don't want it
If you lack the desire for it
It remains the same
The situation will persist without change
It's a heart of darkness
It's a place of emotional emptiness
That wants to play that game
That craves to engage in negative behavior
If there's no defiance
If there's a lack of resistance
It remains insane
The situation will remain illogical and senseless
If it's all compliance
If everyone is obedient
It's a runaway train
The situation becomes uncontrollable
Nothing so cruel
Nothing can be more heinous
Where malevolence rules
Where ill will governs
There is no defence
There is no way to protect oneself
Against pointed arrogance
Against insulting rudeness
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
If you don't want it
If you lack the desire for it
It remains the same
The situation will persist without change
It's a heart of darkness
It's a place of emotional emptiness
That wants to play that game
That craves to engage in negative behavior
It can be surprising
It's possible to be caught off-guard
When you lose the shame
When you rid yourself of self-consciousness
And the sun starts rising
And a new day dawns
Another day to tame
Another day to conquer
If you're heart is aching
If you're feeling intense emotional pain
Just remove the shame
Just get rid of your embarrassment
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
Give your soul a shaking
Stir your internal essence
And refuse the blame
And don't accept the guilt
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
Who's the fool
Who acts foolishly
Where apathy rules
In a place where indifference governs
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
You've got to want it
You must possess a desire for it
If you don't want it
If you lack the desire for it
It remains the same
The situation will persist without change
It's a heart of darkness
It's a place of emotional emptiness
That wants to play that game
That craves to engage in negative behavior
If there's no defiance
If there's a lack of resistance
It remains insane
The situation will remain illogical and senseless
If it's all compliance
If everyone is obedient
It's a runaway train
The situation becomes uncontrollable
It's a runaway train
The situation becomes uncontrollable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN MINK, GEDDY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind