Sexsmith started his first band at 14. After moving to Toronto he formed the Uncool and released his cassette Out of the Duff, and a year later, There's a Way. Meanwhile, he worked as a courier, and released Grand Opera Lane in 1991. On the strength of this album he earned a contract which led to the self-titled album Ron Sexsmith of 1995. Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums before the acclaimed Cobblestone Runway in 2002.
There's A Rhythm
Ron Sexsmith Lyrics
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And it beats for the old and the young
And it pounds in the back of the sun
It's the sound of one drummer, one drum
There's a rhythm, it's subtle yet strong
And it moves all the wallflowers on
To the dance floor that holds everyone
Dance, for the time marches on
Off to a war that can never be won
To the heartbeat of drums
There's a rhythm not cruel or kind
Though you feel that it's left you behind
Is it justice or you that is blind
When you don't see it coming, how come?
There's a rhythm under the song
And it beats for the old and the young
And it pounds in the back of the sun
It's the sound of one drummer, one drum
The lyrics to Ron Sexsmith's "There's A Rhythm in 2-3" are a powerful and introspective look at the universal nature of music and how it speaks to us all. The song opens with the line "There's a rhythm under the song," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. Sexsmith is singing about the underlying pulse of music, the heartbeat that connects all of us, regardless of age or background.
As the song progresses, Sexsmith continues to explore the power of this rhythm. He sings about how it can move even the shyest wallflower to the dance floor, and about how it marches us all off to war, to the beat of the drums. The line "Dance, for the time marches on" is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the idea that we should make the most of the time we have, even if we know that it will eventually run out.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a rhythm under the song
There is a beat underlying this melody
And it beats for the old and the young
This rhythm is indiscriminate of age
And it pounds in the back of the sun
The sound resonates everywhere
It's the sound of one drummer, one drum
There is a single source for this beat
There's a rhythm, it's subtle yet strong
This rhythm is not obvious, but present nevertheless
And it moves all the wallflowers on
It compels the bashful to come forth and dance
To the dance floor that holds everyone
This beat is inclusive of all
To the sound of one drummer, one drum
It still originates from a solitary source
Dance, for the time marches on
Engage with life, for it relentlessly progresses
Off to a war that can never be won
This is an unwinnable conflict that time imposes on us
To the heartbeat of drums
The rhythm of life pulses on
There's a rhythm not cruel or kind
This beat possesses neither malice nor benevolence
Though you feel that it's left you behind
You might think you have lost touch with it, but it persists
Is it justice or you that is blind
It's unclear whether the fault lies with you or with the beat
When you don't see it coming, how come?
It's puzzling when it takes you by surprise
There's a rhythm under the song
Once again, there's a beat underlying this tune
And it beats for the old and the young
It remains unrestricted by age
And it pounds in the back of the sun
It thrums through the entire universe
It's the sound of one drummer, one drum
It emanates from one solitary origin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD ELDON SEXSMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind