All Hail the King!
The rock group Rush just finished a 40-year career in 2016. I for one think it was amazing in many ways. Whether or not you like them as a band, one song is interesting to look at just from a lyrics perspective. I personally recommend them as far as listening to their music, but at least, many of their songs (like 75!) basically read like poetry. Yes, Rush is but a rock group but they are THAT good. This is the song “A Farewell to Kings.”
This interesting look at hypocrisy, government, evolution, and individualism came out in 1977. That’s almost as long as I’ve been alive! These kids (they were probably 19 or 21 years old!) from Canada turned out a great album – of the same name. It has a few other gems on it like “Xanadu,” based on a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem entitled “Kubla Khan,” the very artsy and brooding “Cygnus X-1,” and pound for pound one of the best songs in existence: “Closer to the Heart.” This album has heart and Rush really developed their technical chops in this, their fourth album.
Here are the lyrics. Copyright Ole Media Management LP. Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson wrote the lyrics and the instrumentation (yes, there are only three members). And yes, they turn in an instrumental performance in virtually all of their songs that makes one think there must be five guys just beating their instruments to death. True virtuosos. In fact, Rush has such a loyal fan base that they have more albums that sold “gold” status than any other band – except for The Stones and the Beatles. That’s sayin’ something!
This is a song about hypocrisy, tradition, progressivism, government, individuality, and truth. Yes, truth. The values of “truth,” “wise(dom),” and “that which is closer to the heart” are referenced. Vive le Rush!
“A Farewell to Kings”
When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can’t we find
The minds that made us strong?
Oh can’t we learn
To feel what’s right and what’s wrong? What’s wrong
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
Whoa can’t we raise our eyes
And make a start?
Can’t we find the minds
To lead us closer to the heart?
I wonder what you think. Here are some comments from the interesting site SongMeanings.com about this compelling Rush song ‘A Farewell to Kings’
“[The song] doesn’t even only apply to politicians. It can be some head of a corporation who wants nothing but money. We have shelved cars that run solely on vegetable oil and mere garbage and are millions of times more efficient, because we want the income from gas money. It’s sickening, and Neil hits the nail on the head… like always.” – Stephanierush07
“I think ‘A Farewell to Kings’ warns of the corruption of our leaders, and the people’s general disillusionment and complacency in regards to politics. We turn away from the “castles” which are the centers of political power, and take the path of least resistance. While corrupt politicians spread fear, lies, and corruption in our society. Rush is saying that people are going to have to start caring, and acting in order for real positive change to occur in our society.” – MattK87
“Rush isn’t only speaking of world leaders and business tycoons; using pronouns like “we” and “us” suggest that they mean everybody, not just the people in charge. There is corruption everywhere (in the words of George Carlin, “Bullshit is rampant”). I think the “Castles” mentioned are the castles in the sky — that society of our dreams, the one everyone fantasizes about when thinking of their own Utopia. This song advises us to turn away from atrocities of the past and even of the present, and start working productively together to make life better for everyone.”
“[‘A Farewell to Kings’ by Rush] is the ultimate understanding of this song is that WE THE PEOPLE (the 99.9999%) have allowed ourselves to be distracted from grand visions of reaching the stars, to merely become wanderers always seeking paths of least resistance, hoping to somehow survive. The “farewell” to kings is when we awaken and realize our limitless potential, we can be anything that we wish. And when we do so, we will no longer require governments/rulers, who are only ever looking after their own interests, to lie to us for a living. WE are the answer; WE are the way; and when we wake up to this universal truth, there’s nothing that the ruling elites will be able to do!” – CharlieFreak
There you have it. ‘A Farewell to Kings’ is clearly one of 75 great Rush songs. True, fans of this marvelous trio are “super-fans,” but if you really let those lyrics penetrate – or move you by listening to it – you, too will probably be impressed. Here is another blog about the wisdom in song lyrics.
