Top Five Prog Rock Odysseys By Rush

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Music has always been used to tell stories. Stories of life, love, and loss are told by musicians worldwide. But the Canadian three-piece progressive rock titan Rush has an impressive catalogue of songs that go beyond the scope of the usual fare. 

Join me as we examine the sagas told by Rush's top five epics. With a collective runtime approaching that of a feature-length film, get comfortable, grab some popcorn, and listen along as we explore time, space, life after death, and the quest for eternal youth. 

 

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Close up image of the members of Rush in 1976 against a black background sporting long hair and white kimonos.

Rush Featured on the back album cover of 2112 - 1976 Image Courtesy of Mercury Records

 
The album cover of Rush's Caress of Steel.

Caress of steel - 1975 COURTESY OF MERCURY Records

"The Necromancer" - Caress of Steel 1975 (Runtime - 12:28)

Don your cloak and pull it tight as we begin our journey in "the dark and forbidding lands of the Necromancer." This is the tale of three men whose travels take them too close to an evil wizard's tower. 

With his dark powers, the titular villain imprisons the travellers in his dungeons to be turned into "empty, mindless spectres." Fortunately, their captor is slain by one of his rebellious thralls, Prince By-Tor. And with his death, the prisoners and the lands are freed from the dread influence of the Necromancer. 

This was one of Rush's earlier forays into long-form stories, and as such, it’s not quite as strong as some of the others featured here. It is, however, a sign of great things to come as we see drummer Neil Peart's lyricism shining through with influence from and allusions to Tolkien's work; this song features all the hallmarks of a fantasy epic.

 
The album cover of Rush's A Farewell To Kings.

A farewell to kings - 1977 Courtesy of Mercury Records

"Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" - A Farewell to Kings 1977 (Runtime - 10:25)

Hop aboard the ship "Rocinante" and set off on a journey into the stars. Our destination? The heart of the constellation of Cygnus, to a "mysterious, invisible force, the black hole of Cygnus X-1." This song poses the question of what lies beyond the void? Is there life after death?

As the X-ray's "siren song" draws us into the heart of Cygnus, we wonder, will we be "atomized at the core" or pass "through the astral door – to soar?"

We see the band's love of Sci-Fi in this song as it draws on real-world science and lays it on top of an extravagant tale of flying a spaceship through a black hole.

This song is the scantest on the list regarding length and lyrics. Nevertheless, it evokes a sense of exploration and discovery beautifully. It also sets the stage for the more ambitious Book II, released the following year.

 
The album cover of Rush's Hemispheres.

HEMISPHERES - 1978 Courtesy of Mercury Records

"Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres" - Hemispheres 1978 (Runtime - 18:08)

The second half of the Cygnus X-1 saga takes us rocketing through time to the mythological days of ancient Greece and into the struggle for control of the hearts and minds of humankind between the "gods of Love and Reason," Dionysus and Apollo.

This conflict leads to a climactic battle between the warring factions and the revelation of an ancient tale of the Rocinate's final flight. With the nature of time now in question, our narrator from Book I returns as a "disembodied spirit" and emissary of peace amid the chaos. 

Our narrator experiences apotheosis, becoming "Cygnus, the god of balance," uniting the heart and mind "in a single perfect sphere."   

With a tale as mythological as its setting, this song is a shining example of the power of music as a vessel for storytelling. This song draws on the oral history of humanity and the way these stories connect with us at our most fundamental nature.   

 
The album cover of Rush's 2112.

2112 - 1976 Courtesy of mercury records

"2112" - 2112 1976 (Runtime - 20:34)

The year is 2112, and society is controlled by a ruling priest class of the “Temples of Syrinx.” These priests control every aspect of life, from books and art to stock and trade, uniting the "planets of The Solar Federation" under the banner of the Red Star.

Our protagonist finds a mysterious music-producing object that we know is a guitar. Thinking this beauty will change the world, he brings it to the priests, who chastise him for wasting their time. They already know all about these things and claim that they led to the ruin of the "Elder Race."

Enter a mysterious oracle who leads our hero on a nocturnal odyssey. He is shown how the world was before the Elders left, and the planets were taken over by the Temple. He falls into a deep depression before passing away, unable to see the return of the Elders to "tear the temples down."  

"2112" is one of the best examples of Rush's achievements. Its driving sound and heady themes blend flawlessly into a masterful work of musical storytelling, as well as being a stone-cold banger. For many, "2112" is Rush's crowning piece, and it's hard to argue.

But for me, there is one more song that doesn't always get the love it deserves.

 
The rear album cover of Rush's Caress of Steel.

Back Cover of Caress of steel - 1975 Courtesy of mercury Records

"The Fountain of Lamneth" - Caress of Steel 1975 (Runtime - 19:57)

Our final stop is following the footsteps of one man's lifelong quest to find the legendary "Fountain of Lamneth." We trade a comfortable life for adventure. We survive a shipwreck, find love and loss, and lose our way and ourselves. We drown our sorrows as we "draw another goblet" amid the endless days.

But we persist in "hope and fear" and find our way to the "dancing waters." Sadly, we lament the discovery with our hero, "I thought I would be singing, but I'm tired… out of breath," as they learn that the journey, not the destination, gave their life meaning.

Of all the grandiose stories told in these songs, this one is the most human. While the adventures recounted here are no less fantastic than the others, the message at this story's heart is universally relatable. Our pursuits will never imbue our lives with lasting purpose when they cost us our meaningful connections.

As the song says, "Life is just a candle, and a dream must give it flame."

Alex is a second year student in the Algonquin Professional Writing program, but if you are here you probably already guessed that. 

He’s got a bass collecting dust in his closet so he’s a huge fan of Rush’s gnarly bass lines and lyrics about quests for the fountain of youth and riding a spaceship through a blackhole to mythical ancient Greece. 

But since he’s from Halifax he can’t help himself sing along and stomp his foot to Barrett’s Privateers if it hits his salty ears.