seven cities of gold
The Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wandering aimless
Parched and nameless
A man could lose his way, in a country like this
Canyons and cactus
Endless and trackless
Sculptured by a prehistoric sea
Seven Cities of Gold
With stories that fired my imagination
Seven Cities of Gold
A splendid mirage in this desolation
Seven Cities of Gold
Glowing in my dreams, like hallucinations
Glitter in the sun like a revelation
Distant as a comet or a constellation
A man can lose himself, in a country like this
Rewrite the story
Recapture the glory
A man could lose his life, in a country like this
Sun-blind and friendless
Frozen and endless
And the nights grow longer, the farther I go
Wake to aching cold, and a deep Sahara of snow
Seven Cities of Gold
With stories that fired my imagination
Seven Cities of Gold
A splendid mirage in this desolation
Seven Cities of Gold
Glowing in my dreams, like hallucinations
Glitter in the sun like a revelation
Distant as a comet or a constellation
Oh, that gleam in the distance could be heaven's gate
A long-awaited treasure at the end of my cruel fate
Seven Cities of Gold
With stories that fired my imagination
Seven Cities of Gold
A splendid mirage in this desolation
Seven Cities of Gold
Glowing in my dreams, like hallucinations
Glitter in the sun like a revelation
Distant as a comet or a constellation
The lyrics to "Seven Cities of Gold" by Rush present a portrait of a man lost in the vast, unforgiving landscape of the American Southwest. He is alone and wandering, searching for something elusive and tantalizing. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the song suggests that this quest is both dangerous and futile. The man is in danger of losing not just his way, but his identity and his life.
The opening lines suggest a kind of existential crisis, as the man realizes that in this country, he risks losing his past and his name- the very things that define him. The landscape he is traversing is inhospitable, with its barren deserts and endless canyons. The repetition of the phrase "in a country like this" serves to underscore the sense of isolation and alienation that characterizes the song.
The chorus presents the eponymous Seven Cities of Gold as a mirage- a figment of the man's imagination. They are idealized, shining cities that represent the ultimate prize, but ultimately are out of reach. The metaphorical use of these cities serves as a reminder that what we pursue in life- be it wealth, fame, or love- often remains elusive and ultimately unattainable.
Overall, "Seven Cities of Gold" is a haunting ballad that explores themes of loss, isolation, and the search for meaning in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
A man can lose his past, in a country like this
In a barren, desolate land, one can easily forget their past, connections, and identity
Wandering aimless
With no clear direction, aimless wandering ensues
Parched and nameless
Thirsty for identity and purpose, feeling forgotten and anonymous
A man could lose his way, in a country like this
In such an unforgiving, featureless environment, navigation and orientation can be easily lost
Canyons and cactus
The landscape is harsh and unforgiving, with little to no resources for survival
Endless and trackless
The expanses seem infinite, with no visible signs of human inhabitation or direction
Searching through a grim eternity
Endless searching in a bleak and hopeless existence
Sculptured by a prehistoric sea
The natural formations and features of this land have been shaped and created by a past sea
Seven Cities of Gold
A mythical and elusive dream of a wealthy destination that may or may not exist
With stories that fired my imagination
Tales of this legendary city of gold have instilled excitement and wonder in the artist's mind
A splendid mirage in this desolation
The city may only be a mirage, an illusion in the midst of the barrenness
Glowing in my dreams, like hallucinations
The idea of the city has taken on a surreal and unrealistic quality in the artist's mind
Glitter in the sun like a revelation
The alleged gold of the city shines with a divine and awe-inspiring quality
Distant as a comet or a constellation
The city seems impossibly far away, like a heavenly body in the sky
A man can lose himself, in a country like this
The harsh, featureless environment can cause one to become lost and disheartened internally
Rewrite the story
The artist desires to take control of their own narrative and change the course of their life, away from the desolation of this land
Recapture the glory
The artist desires to rediscover their former sense of pride and self-worth
A man could lose his life, in a country like this
Survival in this unforgiving environment is not guaranteed and can lead to one's demise
Sun-blind and friendless
Blinded by the harsh sunlight and isolated from human connection
Frozen and endless
The land can be equally barren and unforgiving in winter, with seemingly endless stretches of cold and snow
And the nights grow longer, the farther I go
As the artist travels deeper into this desolation, the time feels slower and more agonizing
Wake to aching cold, and a deep Sahara of snow
The artist wakes up to intense, bone-chilling cold, surrounded by seemingly limitless snowdrifts
Oh, that gleam in the distance could be heaven's gate
The hope of finding the mythic city of gold takes on a quasi-religious significance, with the gleam being a potential gateway to heaven
A long-awaited treasure at the end of my cruel fate
The artist views the discovery of the city as a reward for their trials and tribulations, the conclusion of a harsh destiny
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind