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)
Subdivisions
Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In geometric order
An insulated border
In-between the bright lights
And the far, unlit unknown
Growing up, it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass-production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Drawn like moths, we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Rush’s song “Subdivisions” describes a sense of alienation experienced by some young people who feel detached from the mainstream of society, the song portrays a sentiment of “us versus them” that is amplified by suburbanization. The first and second stanzas illustrate the isolation of life in the outskirts of the city, where people are cordoned off from the “bright lights” of civilization and the unknown. The lyrics lament the lack of diversity in thought and how in mass-produce zones, people’s opinions and feelings are ignored, further leading to detachment and sub-division.
The chorus speaks to the confinement of modern society, in which people’s individuality is suffocated, and they have to choose between conforming or being cast out. The song’s final stanzas summarize how some disaffected youths find their way by moving to the city and engaging in its nightlife, search for any way to escape the dreariness of suburban life in search of something more tangible.
Line by Line Meaning
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
The suburbs sit outside the city, sprawling outwards.
In geometric order
The suburbs are ordered and predictable, with little variation.
An insulated border
The people in the suburbs are separated from the rest of society, living a different lifestyle.
In-between the bright lights
The suburbs are located between the bright lights of the city and the unlit unknown of the countryside.
And the far, unlit unknown
The suburbs are beyond the bright lights of the city, and the countryside beyond them is unknown and unexplored.
Growing up, it all seems so one-sided
As a child, life in the suburbs seems simple and straightforward.
Opinions all provided
In the suburbs, opinions are often predetermined and provided by society.
The future pre-decided
In the suburbs, the path of life is predetermined, with little choice or change.
Detached and subdivided
The people in the suburbs are detached from society and divided from each other.
In the mass-production zone
The suburbs are a place of mass production, with identical houses and people following identical lifestyles.
Nowhere is the dreamer
Creativity and dreams have no place in the suburbs.
Or the misfit so alone
Those who don't fit into suburban society are left isolated and alone.
Subdivisions
The divisions that exist in the suburbs between people and lifestyles.
In the high school halls
The divisions and cliques that exist in high school.
In the shopping malls
The divisions that exist in consumer culture.
Conform or be cast out
People in the suburbs must conform to society or be ostracized and rejected.
In the basement bars
The divisions and cliques that exist in bars.
In the backs of cars
The divisions and cliques that exist in cars.
Be cool or be cast out
People in the suburbs must be cool and conform to society or be cast out and rejected.
Any escape might help to smooth
Leaving the suburbs might help to make life seem more bearable and smooth.
The unattractive truth
The realities of life in the suburbs, which are often unfulfilling and lonely.
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The suburbs have no inherent qualities that make them appealing or enjoyable.
The restless dreams of youth
The unfulfilled dreams and desires of young people stuck in the suburbs.
Drawn like moths, we drift into the city
People are naturally drawn towards the bright lights and excitement of the city.
The timeless old attraction
The enduring appeal and allure of the city.
Cruising for the action
Seeking out the excitement and energy of the city.
Lit up like a firefly
The city is bright and vibrant like a firefly.
Just to feel the living night
People are attracted to the city's energy and vibrancy, which makes them feel alive.
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Some people are willing to give up their dreams in exchange for small pleasures and material possessions.
Or lose the race to rats
Some people get caught up in the rat race of city life and lose sight of their dreams.
Get caught in ticking traps
People get caught up in the processes and routines of city life, losing sight of their individuality.
And start to dream of somewhere
People begin to dream of a different place where they can be free and happy.
To relax their restless flight
Looking for a place where they can escape from the pressures of city life and find peace and quiet.
Somewhere out of a memory
A place that exists only in their memories and dreams.
Of lighted streets on quiet nights
A peaceful and quiet place, unlike the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beatakeshii
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In-between the bright lights
And the far, unlit unknown
Growing up, it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass-production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Drawn like moths, we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
@dhareshsingla118
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown
Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Subdivisions —
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions —
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights…
@metalhead6526
In middle age you look at the part where they say
“Some will sell their dreams for small desires and lose their race to rats
Caught in ticking traps ⏰ ”
The rat race of being a professional worker is another form of dissatisfaction you experienced later in life
@LeahFloyd
I can't stop listening to "Subdivisions" it's a powerful song that speaks to anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in. It reminds us to be true to ourselves, even when it's hard. That's the power of music, my friends.
@veronicaalleyne
in my 58 years no place on the planet for me & no one for me, either I've become inured
@AlwaysBeWater
When I was 14 I had Rush posters all over my room. I was completely obsessed with the band and their photos. I used to stare at those posters and torn out photos from Rock n Roll magazines and wonder who the hell took them and how they got so close to the band. I'm 50 now and I'm a professional concert photographer who's been photographing 75-100 bands a year for the last 25 years.. In 2013 and for the first time, I got to stand 10 feet away from RUSH and photograph them live. .See their expressions. Watch them smile when they hit a crescendo. Watched Neil just crush souls and totally felt his energy as he was murdering his drum kit with sheer power and ultimate grace. It was truly sublime and I nearly had a heart attack from sheer joy and being that close to what I consider the best power trio in Rock and Roll history. I remained focused however and got some fabulous shots of the boys from all sorts of angles.. Holy crap what a show that was too. Band was as tight as ever and full of energy. Now I have my own Rush posters hanging in my office that I shot personally. Full Circle! Life's so cool. Love you and thank you Neil, Alex and Geddy! RIP Neil, we'll never see your like again.
-Todd. picturesyoucanhear.com glidemagazine.com
rush photos can be seen here http://listenheredenver.com/23110/rush-august-2nd-the-pepsi-center/
@Maniacalblonde
Not sure if you still have copies ( what am I saying OF COURSE YOU HAVE!!! Would love to see them- <3 What a true gift-
@martinruiz5112
I'm 50 too ...I went through a divorce but not Rush ....and I hope
They can do me a favor, and do one more studio record ...
Some kind of farewell .....please
@mochaandcappuccino2719
you are practically my dad (he made me listen to this crap)
@AlwaysBeWater
@Mocha and Cappuccino Hahahahaha! Nice.
@abanana2561
That is the fucking coolest
@samw.1608
How three guys manage to get this larger than life feeling in just five and a half minutes is a true testament to their talent.
@WillNNawlins
well there are a lot of overlays. Hard for Geddy to play bass and synths at the same time. Studio sounds a bit different than live also.