Force Ten
The Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Demand tough hearts demand tough songs
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts demand tough songs
Demand
We can rise and fall like empires
Flow in and out like the tide
We can hit and miss like pride, just like pride
We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers under cover, under cover
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around
At the sight and the sound
Look in, look out, look around
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts demand tough songs
Demand
We can move with savage grace
To the rhythms of the night
Cool and remote like dancing girls
In the heat of the beat and the lights , and the lights
We can wear the rose of romance
An air of joie de vivre
Too tender hearts upon our sleeves
Or skin as thick as thieves', thick as thieves'
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around
At the sight and the sound
Look in, look out, look around
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts demand tough songs
Demand
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around
At the sight and the sound
Look in with the storm in the eyes
Look out
To the sea and the sky
Look around
At the sight and the sound
Look in, look out, look around
Tough times demand tough hearts
Tough times demand tough talk
The lyrics of "Force Ten" by Rush are a rallying cry for resilience during tough times. The song emphasizes the need for strength, both physical and emotional, during turmoil. The repetition of the phrase "tough times demand tough talk, tough hearts, and tough songs" is a call to arms, urging listeners to endure and persevere.
The song also explores the theme of duality, highlighting how people can exhibit both positive and negative traits. The lyrics suggest that we can be both vain and smart, humble and dumb, hit and miss, circle around like hurricanes or dance and dream like lovers. The chorus then doubles down on the need for toughness, emphasizing that we must move with "savage grace" and wear our hearts on our sleeves while maintaining a thick skin as we navigate through turbulent times.
Throughout the verses, the song encourages listeners to maintain a sense of awareness and vigilance, to look around and be aware of the world's challenges. The line "look in to the eye of the storm" suggests that we must face our problems head-on, while "look out for the force without form" highlights the need to be aware of potential threats that may not be immediately visible. Ultimately, "Force Ten" is a powerful and rousing song that encourages us to stay resolute in times of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Tough times demand tough talk
Difficult situations require strong language and a confident attitude from individuals.
Demand tough hearts demand tough songs
People need to have strong and resilient personalities as well as motivational music during hard times.
We can rise and fall like empires
Our lives can go through periods of prosperity and decline, like the rise and fall of kingdoms.
Flow in and out like the tide
We can have periods of being in control and then losing it, similar to the moves of the sea.
Be vain and smart, humble and dumb
We have the potential to fluctuate between moments of arrogance and intelligence, as well as modesty and ignorance.
We can hit and miss like pride, just like pride
We can be successful and then fail miserably due to being too prideful.
We can circle around like hurricanes
People can be unpredictable and chaotic in their actions, similar to the movements of a hurricane.
Dance and dream like lovers
People have the capacity to act with passion and desire, as they would when they are in love.
Attack the day like birds of prey
To tackle problems head-on, people need to be like birds of prey and face challenges with confidence and aggression.
Or scavengers under cover, under cover
On the other hand, there are times when people need to be discrete in the way they approach difficult situations, much as scavengers hide and operate in secrecy.
Look in To the eye of the storm
A person should focus on the epicenter of the problem to fully understand what is taking place.
Look out For the force without form
People need to be aware that danger or opportunity may present itself in forms that are not immediately recognizable.
Look around At the sight and the sound
In order to fully comprehend one's surroundings, it is important to observe all the information available.
Tough times demand tough hearts
People need to have the mental fortitude to deal with adversity.
Tough times demand tough talk
Strong and confident speech is necessary in difficult situations.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DUBOIS PYE, NEIL ELWOOD PEART, GARY LEE WEINRIB, ALEX ZIVOJINOVICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Desdinova69
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts, demand tough songs
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts, demand tough songs
Demand
We can rise and fall like empires
Flow in and out like the tide
Be vain and smart, humble and dumb
We can hit-and-miss like pride
Just like pride
We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers undercover, undercover
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around
At the sight and sound
Look in, look out, look around
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts, demand tough songs
Demand
We can move with savage grace
To the rhythms of the night
Cool and remote like dancing girls
In the heat of the beat and the lights, and the lights
We can wear the rose of romance
An air of joie de vivre
Too tender hearts upon our sleeves
Or skin as thick as thieves
Thick as thieves
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around (rising)
At the sight and sound (falling at force ten)
Look in, look out, look around (we twist the world and ride the wind)
Tough times demand tough talk
Demand tough hearts, demand tough songs
Demand
Look in
To the eye of the storm
Look out
For the force without form
Look around
At the sight and sound
Look in
Look the storm in the eye
Look out
To the sea and the sky
Look around
At the sight and sound
Look in, look out, look around
Tough times demand tough hearts
Tough times demand tough talk
Deborah Edelen
We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers under cover
We can move with savage grace
To the rhythms of the night
We can wear the rose of romance
An air of joie de vivre
David Pedder
Remember had a friend in highschool, he was only into Led zep, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, ECT. He was a drummer in a band and had never heard Rush. I lent him this tape, and by the end of that week he had gone out and bought every Rush album, every Rush t-shirt, was making plans to see them the next time they came to Montreal. Good memories.
Down The Blvd
That rocks. They are amazing in every way, through all their incarnations. People may dislike them, but they definitely deserve respect.
James Fox
RIGHT ON!💕😎
phi50
You totally did the RIGHT THING!
Fierce Narcopath Fighter
That is so awesome makes me smile
Matthew Visca
Who’s ECT?
Kicking Back
One of the coolest intros I’ve ever heard. From Aimee Mann’s laugh to Neil Peart's beats, to Geddy Lee’s bass. Absolutely epic.
Gables Guitars
This DOES indeed deserve the word "epic."
Senoritya Amarrita
Growing up my older brothers always made me listen and pay attention to Geddy's bass lines in this song, Alex's rifts, and Neil's rhythm. They explained to me how difficult the timing was to keep on this track. And the lyrics are beautiful. The world will never see the likes of these men.
Gables Guitars
My daughter just naturally gravitated to their music. In fact, even though at 25, she loves today's pop music, she asked me to take her to see Rush as her first concert (Time Machine).