Workin' Them Angels
The Rush Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Driving away to the east and into the past
History recedes in my rear view mirror
Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road

Memory humming at the heart of a factory town

All my life
I've been workin' them angels overtime

Riding and driving and living so close to the edge

Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels overtime

Riding through the Range of Light to the wounded city
Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly
Oh, taking the high road, taking that high road to the wounded city

Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture

All this time
I've been workin' them angels overtime
Riding and diving and flying just over the edge

Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels overtime

Driving down the razor's edge 'tween the past and the future
Oh, turn up the music and smile
Get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times

Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter
Memories beating at the heart of an African village

All my life
I've been workin' them angels overtime
Riding and driving and living so close to the edge

Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels overtime

Workin' them angels
Workin' them angels

Overall Meaning

"Workin' Them Angels" by Rush is a song that talks about the past, present, and future of a person's life. The song suggests that our experiences and memories stay with us, even as we move forward, and shape the choices we make in life. The lyrics begin with the singer driving away, leaving the past behind them in the rearview mirror. They are carried away on a wave of music down a desert road, and their memories are humming at the heart of a factory town.

Throughout the song, the singer talks about working their angels overtime, which could refer to the purposeful actions they are taking to achieve their goals, or it could be a metaphor for the people or things that are helping them to succeed. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been riding, diving, and flying just over the edge, which could indicate that they have been living dangerously or taking risks to achieve greatness.

As the song continues, the singer talks about driving down the razor's edge between the past and the future. They suggest that we should turn up the music and smile, get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times. The song ends with the singer saying they've been working their angels all their life, living on the edge, but still pushing forward.

Overall, "Workin' Them Angels" is a song about the struggles and triumphs of life, the importance of memories, and the drive to succeed.

Line by Line Meaning

Driving away to the east and into the past
Moving away from the present towards one's past

History recedes in my rear view mirror
The past gets farther and fades away with time

Carried away on a wave of music down a desert road
The power of music taking over and out of control on a lonely journey

Memory humming at the heart of a factory town
The nostalgia of memories resonating with the essence of a blue-collar town

All my life I've been workin' them angels overtime
Working hard, pushing limits, and striving for greatness

Riding and driving and living so close to the edge
Living life on the edge, taking risks, and enjoying every moment

Riding through the Range of Light to the wounded city
Traveling through different landscapes to a place of scars and pain

Filling my spirit with the wildest wish to fly
The desire to be free, to soar, to be weightless and unbound

Oh, taking the high road, taking that high road to the wounded city
Choosing the higher path, the one that requires more effort but leads to a better destination

Memory strumming at the heart of a moving picture
Memories resembling a piece of art coming to life

All this time I've been workin' them angels overtime
Continuously pushing and striving for greatness

Riding and diving and flying just over the edge
Living so close to danger and adventure, in a state of thrill and excitement

Driving down the razor's edge 'tween the past and the future
Navigating between the past and the future, on a thin line that requires balance and skill

Oh, turn up the music and smile
Enjoying the moment, finding joy in the present

Get carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times
Losing oneself in the melodies and tales from a bygone era

Memory drumming at the heart of an English winter
Memories of a cold, harsh winter in England, beating strong in the heart

Memories beating at the heart of an African village
Memories of a vibrant village in Africa, pulsing strongly in the heart

Workin' them angels
Continuing to strive for greatness and work hard

Workin' them angels
Persisting in the pursuit of excellence and greatness

Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee Weinrib, Neil Peart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Ricardo Castillo

5y↑54

The best Rush album is whichever one I am listening to any given time.

David Sadler

4y↑1

AMEN bro

Michael Schuppe

4y↑1

I agree 100%

7389

4y↑27

RIP Professor. 😢 We will miss you and always be grateful that you shared your talent with us.

Norek Family Quarantine Explosion

4y↑20

"All my life I've been working them angels overtime....." RIP Neil Peart.

Captain Moretokin

2y↑2

Yep. The Time Machine tour is right on . Working them angels they have a overhead camera on Neil thats so cool.

Eventhorizon 221

3y↑2

@Half-Assed and Not Fast.
Absolutely, RUSH lyrics are so deep, this a tribute to their lifetime of experiences
The positive & negative!

Half-Assed and Not Fast

4y↑4

I believe he is referring to living a hard dangerous life, therefore his guardian angles work overtime protecting him.

Antonio Torelli

4y↑1

What does exactly mean working them angels? I am Italian and not easy to translate this sentence. Anyway, great song. Thank you!

RH Williams

11y↑15

This is honestly my favorite song.

Blueocea

5y↑8

Love the guitar harmonies

Jeff A

Blueocea Me too

Nick Matthes

6y↑39

I still think snakes and arrows is one of their best albums next to moving pictures

bianchi1885

4y↑2

I dunno. As added competition, you've got 2112, A Farwell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Signals, Grace Under Pressure ...and I would add Clockwork Angels.

Chronic Crypto

4y↑3

I agree. Unlike most bands where the longer they’re out the worst they get Rush became greater and it’s a sad thing to know they’re done for good and the worlds best drummer has moved on into the rock gods realm.

Richard Graham

It’s not a popular opinion but it’s definitely up there... I’d have to put Permanent Waves in there too.

rezbarchetta

4y↑1

Agreed. This is my second favorite song of all time, after Dreamline.

Steve Steve

5y↑1

Agreed

Mr. Inferior????/

11y↑10

One of the greatest Rush albums of all time, one of the greatest albums of all time!

Holy Smoke

Not really.
Vapor 2112

Joseph Gangloff

6y↑12

Great band can't belive this album is going on 11 years already.. RUSH!!!!!

dwayne lucier

dats funny relitivilisticaly spekin

Drums for Daves

3y↑2

Remember buying this album the day it came out with my dad.

I really always skimmed over this song I'm not sure why.

I wake up today and it's just stuck in my head for no reason at all... Amazing song, seems to be the older you get the better it gets as well.

James Storey

6y↑18

Best song on the album, i love it

thedarkness97

4y↑3

RIP Neil Peart, work them Angels, teach them to drum my man!

The Leprecommunist

8y↑18

I've seen Rush on the Time Machine tour and the Clockwork Angels tour and they were both phenomenal. Sad that they not touring anymore.

CatPucks

May 18th 1984...Grace Under Pressure Tour ;)

cis rock

Great tour with them opening with this song, first time I had heard it so it stuck with me. First time I saw Rush they opened with Tom Sawyer, another epic show!!

Robert Ghanem

The Leprecommunist all god things must come to an end,, and yes i wrote GOD !!

PUK015

Saw them at the same tour. They even played this song as well in their first set.

John Lehman

6y↑1

The Leprecommunist always put on fantastic shows, I've seen them 26 times rock on man!!

Lisa Kolek

6y↑5

Obsessed with Rush, love this one 🤘😍

Jakub P

3y↑2

I will never forget the time traveling Rush does to you. With the 1800s industrial revolution videos they had playing while they jammed this song gave me chills.

Rowan Nicolett-Ray

10y↑12

Rush is one of the bands I grew up on (thank you mom, dad), and this was my favorite song by them for a reaaalllly long time (and it still is ^__^).

Steve Steve

5y↑1

You're not very old then!! This is awesome, one of the best, but have you heard much earlier albums? And to see them live, that's just something else........

Albert Anvil

9y↑4

+Rowan Nicolett-Ray It's very nice. I like the solo with acoustic guitar :)

Josh Stockinger

12y↑2

this is my favorite album by rush. it may be because it was released during my time. but i really enjoy it.

juan suares

they are unique, extraordinary

MrGoodknight2010

2y↑1

Great album. Saw them in concert in Chicago area shortly after it was released and it's my fave of many awesome Rush concerts.

Comical

I havent been to a Rush concert you are lucky

gatermap

4y↑1

Oh man. Been a rush fan my whole life. My father used to play their tapes and CDs all the time. Rush had become a part of me hahaha. When I left California for the last time to return home from the Marine Corps over 10 years ago, this was the first song I played as I headed east. The lyrics follow suit. I was fortunate to see them during the Time Machine tour in Boston with my wife. Huge bucket list item for me.

Bootleg Bubble

5y↑4

Still a great album. Sadly my new car has no CD player, always had this playing, does not age .
Anyway thanks to Bluetooth and You Tube can still listen in the car, sounds great.

Jamie Warrior Warlord McCallum

9y↑15

great song love this one #rusharerocklegends

Bennie Holcomb

The first time I heard Moving Pictures I said to myself, "I want to be a drummer"
Thanks Neil for the inspiration to enjoy the realm of creating music with the drums.
RIP Mr. Peart

Dispatch 355

7y↑9

Best Band Ever Period!!!!!

DisappearingBoy

11y↑3

Surprised Neil wrote a song that acknowledges something above and beyond our physical existence.

ENIC HAS RETIRED

11y↑7

The song that introduced me to Rush was 2112 back in the 1970's. I had the radio on and the station played the entire 2112 song. This song is very good.

xxxx15us

11y↑4

I think it's a safe bet that tons of people would find a lot of Rush to like if they heard more than the same signature radio staples over and over simply because their sound and style has changed so much over the years. It's always cool to see a formerly non-fan discover a Rush song that they like.

808-4172

10y↑8

Very good song.

alwrig

11y↑1

It IS a rather good album, but be sure to give kudos to some of their classic material, from 2112 to Moving Pictures in particular. On the whole, I'd have to say Permanent Waves is my favorite.

Cristopher Palacios

8y↑6

Beautiful!

Jeff A

5y↑3

Neil beats the shit out of a drum set.

T&M Retribution

5y↑4

I love working them angels!!! evertime I'm on the highway.... overtime

Iternity Human

2y↑1

This 1 makes me feel good..what a song!

jesse noneofyobussines

It's beautiful, and yeah makes me feel joy with a hint of conflict and then bam such power and meaning.

Jared Palmer

9y↑13

This was the song that I first learned how to play on guitar and sing

Andrew Palmer

most excellent

Allen Hannah

then you learned the magic cords !...open

Kevin Murphy

then go get 2112

DisappearingBoy

11y↑6

I agree. I like Tom Sawyer and all, but my favorite songs by them are the ones that have NEVER been on the radio....Middletown Dreams, Open Secrets, etc, etc.

Stagnating

I find that to be the case with most bands. Radio hits rarely are even the best on album, and constantly hearing the same song lowers its "value" in a sense. I mean Tom Sawyer is great but so is the rest of their catalogue. Tom Sawyer wouldn't even make it to my top-20 Rush songs list. I started listening to Rush when I was like 10 years old and it wasnt until 5 years later in high school when I realized how good the albums after Moving pictures were. I kind of thought that they fell off after moving pictures since I never heard anyone praising the songs on the mid to late 80's albums for example. But turned out they had masterpieces on each of their albums.

Richard Graham

It’s funny you pick these two overlooked tracks, because they are easily my favourites from Power Windows and Hold Your Fire. Rush don’t often do “emotional”, but when they do, they pack a punch.

Anthony Gianettino

I can't like this comment enough.

John Bowers

As a long time Rush fan I'm shocked by how low "snakes and arrows is among critics and fans! For me it's the best album since signals. Probably only behind moving pictures, hemispheres, farewell to kings, 2112, and signals.

Phil Cardenas

5y↑6

I can see this song growing on me. It's a song that probably needs repeated listenings to get used to it. (Rush has so spoiled us with great music [Subdivisions, Limelight, Circumstances] that this one seems somewhat perfunctory). It's good, mind you, but I need to let it simmer...

k staine

3y↑1

It slowly climbed into my top 10 list. But it is solidly there now.

dwayne lucier

i dreamed and saw myself and two of my best friends standing together in some sort of defience against some sort of offence, while this tune made me dream

bianchi1885

5y↑9

"history recedes in my rear view mirror."

Zyphon

10y↑2

Beastly Song!

Frobite Bside

11y↑7

The song that introduced me to rush was Countdown on signals.

bianchi1885

5y↑1

Tom Sawyer for me. Junior high.

MaJesTic_Mik3

7y↑2

thank you for the many years of enjoyment but if it has to come to the end just have to say farwell to the kings

r8dj

6y↑3

Can't help but feel as if this is my theme song after all the near death experiences throughout my life......always followed by someone telling me, "wow you know how lucky you are?!"....to which I always replied, "it just wasn't my time to go yet....something else for me to do here...".Just wondering if I will drop dead the day after I figure out what that is...either way, play this at my funeral service... if they will allow it at a military ceremony(taps is just too depressing)....and make sure its the live cut from the snake-n-arrows tour dvd rip....that one hits so much harder (as is the case with all of Rush's performances)...... I, being of sound mind & body, do hereby willfully & voluntarily, make this declaration.

Eyal Cohen

wow..at their best.

William Lane

5y↑6

Rush best canadian band

Steve Steve

5y↑6

Worldwide, not just Canada......

SovietFox1945

11y↑1

Rush really isn't my thing, but this song is pretty good! Never thought I would say (or in this case type) good and rush in the same sentence but I have been proved wrong. :)

VMWorldC08

11y↑3

Not only this one but "Mystic Rhythms" too.

Jay

Love that switch from 4/4 time to 3/4 time to 4/4 time etc... (like Double Agent and many others)

Madison County Sound Labs

10y↑5

One person needs snakes and arrows to point the way.

T&M Retribution

5y↑8

Neil peart wrote this song after hearing a black man tell his wife how fast he was driving. His wife responded you been working them angels overtime?

T&M Retribution

@Billy Borgan no you misread.

Davi Cirillo

@Billy Borgan triggered much snow flake

Slymi

12y

yea he doesn't even try to hit the high notes anymore but ill be a rush fan forever

Shenazar G.

11y

spoken like a true fan

matthew king

good song

jfl125

12y↑1

ya but your not going to get anything like the older rush anymore. Geddy Lee doesn't quite have the voice for it anymore, but the new songs and albums that they are producing seem evolved and fresh.

xxxx15us

11y↑2

Completely agree.

Vitor Martins Kuhn

12y

thanks man i'm looking for a video like that a long time

Allan Miller

geddy lee's voice is horrendous now it's like finger nails on a board while squirting lemon juice into your eye's....old age I expect.

Allan Miller

3dom. I was Rush crazy from All the world's a stage too there amazing Album Roll the bones. But that's where sadly it ends. counterparts onwards fucking Awful.

Dirk McThermot

11y

Is it just me, or is this video better in 360p than 480p?

Rich Severson

NOOOOOO. SYNTHESIZERS!!! FUCKIN' ROCKS MAN!!!

DisappearingBoy

11y

I think it's better in 45 than 32

Yer Da

11y

Chills

VMWorldC08

11y↑3

Excellent comment.

SovietFox1945

11y↑1

Funny since my Dad has always a huge Rush fan and listens to their music often. I guess he just has terrible taste since all the songs he plays and says is great makes me sick to my stomach. :D I do love the classics though and I guess Rush kind of kinds its place in the music I like. Thanks for responding!