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)
Vapor Trails
Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trails of condensation held
In narrow paths of white
The sun is turning black
The world is turning gray
All the stars fade from the night
The oceans drain away
Memory written on the wind
Fading away, like an hourglass, grain by grain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Atmospheric phases make the transitory last
Vaporize the memories that freeze the fading past
Silence all the songbirds
Stilled by the killing frost
Forests burn to ashes
Everything is lost
Horizon to horizon
Memory written on the wind
Washed away like footprints in the rain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Washed away like footprints in the rain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
The opening lines of "Vapor Trail" by Canadian progressive rock band, Rush, beautifully depict the fleeting nature of human life, and how it is a mere speck in the grand scheme of things. The song is about how every person's life will eventually cease to exist, and with it, all of their memories and experiences, as if they never existed at all. The opening verse describes the condensation trails left by airplanes in the sky bringing attention to the temporary nature of human existence. The sun turning black and the world turning gray signifies the end of the world as we know it, and the fading stars and oceans draining away evoke a sense of loss and emptiness.
The second verse talks about how memories are just a fleeting phase in time, and even they eventually vaporize, leaving nothing but silence and ashes. The killing frost and burning forests represent the loss of natural habitats, and the destruction of our planet. The repetition of the phrase "in a vapor trail" drives home the theme of transience and the insignificance of human life in the grand scheme of things. The song is a powerful reflection on the fragile nature of existence and a reminder that everything fades away eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
Stratospheric traces of our transitory flight
The remnants of our fleeting journey linger in the high skies.
Trails of condensation held
Visible evidence of our flight remains frozen in time.
In narrow paths of white
The trails are thin and restrictive, unable to encompass our vast journey.
The sun is turning black
The bright light of life is eroding into darkness.
The world is turning gray
Vibrant colors of life are fading into bleakness.
All the stars fade from the night
The guiding lights of hope disappear into emptiness.
The oceans drain away
The vast bodies of water that once connected us are dwindling away.
Horizon to horizon
As far as the eye can see.
Memory written on the wind
The memories of our journey are fleeting and fragile, carried away by the elements.
Fading away, like an hourglass, grain by grain
Our journey is slipping away, like time pouring through an hourglass.
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
Our memories and experiences are lost in the chaos of life.
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Our journey is reduced to trails of condensed air, no longer tangible.
Atmospheric phases make the transitory last
The atmosphere prolongs our momentary existence, freezing it in time.
Vaporize the memories that freeze the fading past
Intense emotions and memories that once anchored us are now evaporated and gone.
Silence all the songbirds
The once lively sounds of nature are now still and silent.
Stilled by the killing frost
The cold embrace of death silences all living things.
Forests burn to ashes
The once thriving forests of life are destroyed and reduced to nothingness.
Everything is lost
All that once mattered is now gone forever.
Washed away like footprints in the rain
Our journey is erased like footprints in the rain, leaving no trace behind.
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
Our existence and experiences are lost in the unstoppable forces of life.
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Our journey is reduced to trails of condensed air, drifting away into nothingness.
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Our existence fades away into mere vapor, no longer meaningful or substantial.
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Our journey ends in mere wisps of air, leaving no lasting impact on the world.
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Our memories and experiences fade away into nothingness, vanishing into the air.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nanor Bogin
Stratospheric traces of our transitory flight
Trails of condensation held
In narrow paths of white
The sun is turning black
The world is turning gray
All the stars fade from the night
The oceans drain away
Horizon to horizon
Memory written on the wind
Fading away, like an hourglass, grain by grain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Atmospheric phases make the transitory last
Vaporize the memories that freeze the fading past
Silence all the songbirds
Stilled by the killing frost
Forests burn to ashes
Everything is lost
Horizon to horizon
Memory written on the wind
Washed away like footprints in the rain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
Washed away like footprints in the rain
Swept away like voices in a hurricane
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
In a vapor trail, in a vapor trail
VoodooCrab
One of the best Rush songs ever. I wish they would have played it live.
Flávia Ligia
The did it at Rush In Rio. I was there and that was amazing.
Steve Nelson
I heard it live
Indybowhntr
They did play it live.
TheKingofFive
They did, and it was amazing. Saw them Live in Des Moines, Iowa. It was an incredible show.
David Sadler
Absolutely
Deetroiter
I think the rough, raw editing of the album is perfectly spot on. Never needed to be remixed, in my opinion. With that said, this is easily one of Rush's darkest tracks. Audibly and lyrically, what an emotional powerhouse.
Scott Phillips
The remix sounds to hollow and echo-y. Not nearly as powerful a sound as the original.
Mark Mather
@Paul Stanley hi
VoodooCrab
Totally agree. I can't stand the remix.