Rush is considered a gifted musician and performer whose shows offer a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.
Rush began his musical career in the early '60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.
Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era.
In the early '70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and "recharge" his creative side at his New Hampshire farm.
Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston's prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush's love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences' love of Rush's music.
He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early '60s - to allow established artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O' Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the '80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation's finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.
In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covered his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled "The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets", the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, "River Song," which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn.
A live CD, "Trolling for Owls" released in 2003 and published by Tom's NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures a complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences.
In 2018, at age 79, he released the album "Voices".
Drift Away
Tom Rush Lyrics
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Give me the beat, boys
Day after day, I'm more confused
But I look for the light through the pouring rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
I'm feeling the strain, ain't it a shame?
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
I'm beginning to think that I'm wasting time
And I don't understand the things I do
Yeah, the world outside looks so unkind
Now it's up to you to carry me through
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
And when my mind is free
You know, the melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me, yeah
Thanks for the joy you've given me
I want you to know that I believe in the song
The rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You help me along, you're making me strong
Give me the beat, boys
Give me the beat, boys, come on
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Tom Rush's "Drift Away" is a rock and roll anthem that encourages listeners to embrace music as a way to escape the stresses and challenges of life. Throughout the song, Rush sings about feeling confused and unsure, but also about finding hope in the music that surrounds him. He longs to be carried away by the beat and melody of rock and roll, allowing it to soothe him and make him stronger.
The song speaks to the transformative power of music and the ways in which it can provide a sense of comfort and security. Rush recognizes the role that music and those who create it play in helping him along and making him strong. He wants to thank them for the joy they've given him and acknowledges that music is something he truly believes in.
The repetition of the lyrics "Give me the beat, boys and free my soul, I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away" creates a powerful chorus that reflects the underlying message of the song. It's about allowing yourself to be carried away by the music and finding solace and freedom in the rhythms and sounds.
Overall, "Drift Away" is a hopeful and uplifting song that encourages listeners to find refuge in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me the beat, boys
Starting from the very beginning, the singer wants the instrumental beat to overshadow everything else, drowning his thoughts in music.
Day after day, I'm more confused
The singer feels overwhelmed by the world around him, as each day passes leaving him with more doubts and confusion.
But I look for the light through the pouring rain
Despite his overwhelming doubts and confusion, the singer tries his best to find hope and positivity through the tough times.
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
Finding hope through tough times is hard, and the singer hates it when he can't do it.
I'm feeling the strain, ain't it a shame?
The singer feels stressed and under a lot of pressure, and he is saddened by how much it is affecting him.
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
In an attempt to escape his struggles, the singer wants the instrumental music to take control of him and set him free.
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
He wants to get completely lost in the music that he loves so much and forget about his problems.
I'm beginning to think that I'm wasting time
The singer is questioning if his time would be better spent elsewhere because of his confusion and doubts about the world.
And I don't understand the things I do
He's acknowledging that sometimes his actions don't always align with his beliefs or morals, leaving him unsure about himself.
Yeah, the world outside looks so unkind
The singer sees the world as a harsh, unfeeling place that's difficult to live in.
Now it's up to you to carry me through
He's pleading with the music and the musicians to carry him through the hard times, rather than wallowing in his struggles.
And when my mind is free
When his mind is free from his troubles and thoughts, perhaps through music or meditation, the singer feels freer and more content.
You know, the melody can move me
He finds that music has the power to move him emotionally and mentally, to transport him into a different, more peaceful mindset.
And when I'm feeling blue
When he's feeling down, the singer relies on music and the guitar to lift his spirits and help him through his struggles.
The guitar's coming through to soothe me, yeah
Specifically the sound of the guitar in the rock and roll music he listens to, helps calm and soothe his mind and heart.
Thanks for the joy you've given me
The singer is grateful and thanking the rock and roll musicians for the joy that they have brought him in his hard times.
I want you to know that I believe in the song
He wants the musicians to know that he deeply believes in the power of music and the message conveyed in the song to help people like him through tough times.
The rhythm and rhyme and harmony
The singer acknowledges the power of the harmony of the music, the beat of the rhythm, and the beauty of the lyrics in bringing him inner peace.
You help me along, you're making me strong
He's grateful for the rock and roll musicians for how they help him fight through struggles, and even make him stronger in the process.
Give me the beat, boys and free my soul
The singer repeats this line to remind himself and others of his desire to have the music take control and give him a sense of freedom.
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
This line is repeated alongside the previous to emphasize his desire to lose himself in the music and escape his problems through rock and roll.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mentor Ralph Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind