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.
The 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
In Geddy Lee's song "The Present Tense," the lyrics suggest that living in the present is an important aspect of life. When you lose the past and the future seems uncertain, focusing on the present moment is a way to ensure that you are fully living. The lyrics encourage listeners to be "imbued with innocence" and ready for whatever the world throws at them. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of the present tense, stating that there is "nothing to blame" and "no victim of consequence."
Throughout the song, the lyrics paint vivid pictures of different types of universes. In a silent universe, the present moment can be overwhelming and intense to the point where you feel you can't stand it. In a distant universe, it is easy to become distracted from ourselves and wonder about our place in the world. In a crowded universe, when noise and talking become overwhelming, we can almost laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Present Tense" encourage listeners to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past or worry about the future. By being aware of the reality around us and open to new possibilities, we can fully experience life in the present tense.
Line by Line Meaning
Living in the present tense
Existing in the current moment, not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future
When you lose the past
When previous experiences or memories are no longer affecting one's actions or thoughts
And the future makes no sense
When the upcoming events or possibilities are unclear or uncertain
You're living in the present tense
The current state of being is one where the focus is on what is happening right now
Crawling out, secure and confident
Slowly emerging and feeling safe and assured
Imbued with innocence
Filled with purity and naivety
Ready for the whirl
Prepared for the chaos or excitement of life
Suddenly the view was more intense
All of a sudden, the perspective or outlook became more vivid or extreme
Living in a different kind of world
Existing within a unique and distinct environment or mindset
There's nothing to blame
There is no need to fault someone or something
No victim of consequence
There is no one who is negatively affected by the situation
Something you said
A comment that you made
It made me
It caused a reaction or response within me
Step outside the moment
To temporarily leave the current situation or mindset
Eyes pan right and left
Looking around in different directions
Around my world
Within my personal environment or perspective
Open yourself
To make oneself receptive or vulnerable
Up to the possibility
Consider the chance or potential for something
Aware of some reality
Mindful of a particular truth or fact
Outside your world
Beyond one's personal experiences or perceptions
In a silent universe
Within an environment or moment devoid of sound or noise
The moment can be so real
At times, the current situation can seem incredibly authentic and genuine
You almost can't stand it
The profundity or intensity is almost too much to handle
In a distant universe
Within an imaginary or metaphorical place far removed from reality
Distracted from ourselves
Not focused on our own thoughts, feelings or actions
You can't help but wonder
One is compelled to contemplate or speculate
In a crowded universe
Within a space where many things or people are present
When the talking turns to noise
When conversation becomes meaningless or unimportant
You almost start laughing
The absurdity or ridiculousness is almost enough to cause laughter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN MINK, GEDDY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind