Rush achieved commercial success in the 1970s with Fly by Night (1975), 2112 (1976), A Farewell to Kings (1977) and Hemispheres (1978). The band's popularity continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with albums charting highly in Canada, the US and the UK, including Permanent Waves (1980), Moving Pictures (1981), Signals (1982), Grace Under Pressure (1984) and Counterparts (1993). Rush continued to record and perform until 1997, after which the band entered a four-year hiatus due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. The trio regrouped in 2001 and released three more studio albums: Vapor Trails (2002), Snakes & Arrows (2007), and Clockwork Angels (2012). Rush ceased touring at the end of 2015, and Lifeson announced in January 2018 that the band would not continue, which was cemented by Peart's death from glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, on January 7, 2020, at the age of 67.
Rush were known for their musicianship, complex compositions and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy and philosophy. The band's style changed over the years, from a blues-inspired hard rock beginning, later moving into progressive rock, then a period in the 1980s marked by heavy use of synthesizers, before returning to guitar-driven hard rock at the end of the 1980s. Their final work from 2012, marked a return to progressive rock. The members of Rush have been acknowledged as some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each winning numerous awards in magazine readers' polls over the years.
As of 2022, Rush ranks 84th in the U.S. with sales of 26 million albums and industry sources estimate their total worldwide album sales at over 42 million. Rush has been awarded 14 platinum and 3 multi-platinum albums in the US plus 17 platinum albums in Canada. Rush was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, won several Juno Awards, and won an International Achievement Award at the 2009 SOCAN Awards. The band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_(band)
Studio albums
Rush (1974)
Fly by Night (1975)
Caress of Steel (1975)
2112 (1976)
A Farewell to Kings (1977)
Hemispheres (1978)
Permanent Waves (1980)
Moving Pictures (1981)
Signals (1982)
Grace Under Pressure (1984)
Power Windows (1985)
Hold Your Fire (1987)
Presto (1989)
Roll the Bones (1991)
Counterparts (1993)
Test for Echo (1996)
Vapor Trails (2002)
Snakes & Arrows (2007)
Clockwork Angels (2012)
Driven
Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skidding down a road of black ice
Staring in and out storm windows
Driven to a fool's paradise
It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Driven day and night in circles
Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Stealing in and out back alleys
Driven to another den of thieves
But it's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Driven in
Driven to the edge
Driven out
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven off
By things I've never seen
Driven on
By the road to somewhere I've never been
Driven on
Driven in
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven out
Driven to the edge
It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
The road unwinds towards me
What was there is gone
The road unwinds before me
And I go riding on
It's my turn to drive
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
The song "Driven" by Rush is an emotionally powerful and thought-provoking piece that touches upon themes of control, powerlessness, and the human condition. The lyrics depict the singer being driven in circles, skidding on black ice, and staring out storm windows, driven to a fool's paradise, as he struggles to maintain control over his own life. The repetition of the line "It's my turn to drive" underscores his sense of agency and his determination to take control, but also highlights the tenuousness of his grip on the situation.
Naturally, the idea of being "driven" is central to the song, and there are numerous ways in which this theme is explored. The singer is driven "to the margin of error", "to the edge of control", "to the margin of terror", and "to the edge of a deep, dark hole". These are all metaphors for the mental and emotional states that one can experience when one feels pushed to the brink. The feeling of being "driven to the margin of terror" is particularly evocative, as it suggests a level of fear and anxiety that is almost overwhelming.
Despite the bleakness of the song's themes, there is a note of hopefulness in the closing lines. The road unwinds before the singer, and he goes riding on, taking control of his situation and moving forward. The repetition of the chorus is also significant, as it suggests a cyclical nature to the singer's struggles. He may be driven by forces beyond his control, but he is also capable of taking control himself. In the end, it is his turn to drive.
Line by Line Meaning
Driven up and down in circles
Going back and forth aimlessly
Skidding down a road of black ice
Losing control on a slippery path
Staring in and out storm windows
Looking through the window amidst chaos
Driven to a fool's paradise
Being taken on a false journey to an unrealistic dream
Driven to the margin of error
Approaching the point of no return
Driven to the edge of control
Pushing oneself to the limit of restraint
Driven to the margin of terror
Reaching a point of extreme fear
Driven day and night in circles
Continuously whirling round and round
Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Rotating like a storm of foliage
Stealing in and out back alleys
Sneaking around dark, narrow passages
Driven to another den of thieves
Forced to a location with dishonest intentions
Driven off by things I've never seen
Compelled to flee from the unknown
Driven on by the road to somewhere I've never been
Motivated by a path that leads to an unfamiliar destination
On the thin end of the wedge
At the point of fragmentation or separation
The road unwinds towards me
The path ahead unfolds before me
What was there is gone
What existed before has disappeared
The road unwinds before me
The path ahead extends without end
And I go riding on
And I continue driving forward
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Forced to the brink of an unknown abyss
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
21st Century Guerrilla Fishing
lyrics:
Driven up and down in circles
Skidding down a road of black ice
Staring in and out storm windows
Driven to a fool's paradise
But it's my turn to drive
Driven to the margin of error
Driven to the edge of control
Driven to the margin of terror
Driven to the edge of a deep, dark hole
Driven day and night in circles
Spinning like a whirlwind of leaves
Stealing in and out back alleys
Driven to another den of thieves
But it's my turn to drive
Driven in
Driven to the edge
Driven out
On the thin end of the wedge
Driven off
By things I've never seen
Driven on
By the road to somewhere I've never been
It's my turn to drive
The road unwinds towards me
What was there is gone
The road unwinds before me
And I go riding on
Songwriters: Alex Zivojinovich / Gary Lee Weinrib / Neil Elwood Peart
paul elliott
Magnificent in every way, which is Rush all over
Since Neil’s death I’ve been listening to their later albums more and more; I liked these a lot when they came out but I love them all now
So many delights and a legacy unmatched
RIP Professor
PHILLIP DOWNEY
Holy crap . I can’t believe I never heard this song . This is raw . Driven . Wow . I thought Counterparts was an amazing return to my style of Rush . Time to listen to this album . I probably will listen to this song another 5 times tonight .
Achille Prz
Hear it on different stages live album. Super!
Charles S
Alex's drop D cord sucks you right in !!
Ernest
Test for Echo is a good album Kind of gets forgotten about now. I love this song too.
Mark
T4E was the first Rush concert I ever attended. They put on a great show, will be sorely missed.
Kent Mains
Rush was getting back to the basics on this album and it was excellent.
dnasty312
R Diaz Is Counterparts not a most excellent hard rock album?
Kai
R Diaz Nothing was "lost" on Counterparts and, with all respect toward Neil, it was a poor decision on his part to seek help from someone who was strictly jazz and to try and reinvent his playing. If anything, something was lost on this album. I don't think traditional grip was his scene. This is all a matter of opinion though
N.S.I. entertainment
@dnasty312it most certainly is. Better than TFE in my opinion