2112 by Rush Lyrics Meaning – The Anthem of a Dystopian Eclipse
Lyrics
We’ve taken care of everything
The words you hear the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It’s one for all and all for one
We work together common sons
Never need to wonder how or why
We are the priests, of the temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests, of the temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
Look around this world we made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the brotherhood of man
Oh, what a nice contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the red star proudly high in hand
We are the priests, of the temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the priests, of the temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
What can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It’s got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?
See how it sings like a sad heart
And joyously screams out its pain
Sounds that build high like a mountain
Or notes that fall gently like rain
I can’t wait to share this new wonder
The people will all see its light
Let them all make their own music
Priests praise my name on this night
I know it’s most unusual
To come before you so
But I’ve found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There’s something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Yes, we know it’s nothing new
It’s just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
The world is doing fine
Another toy will help destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn’t fit the plan
No
I can’t believe you’re saying
These things just can’t be true
Our world could use this beauty
Just think what we might do
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There’s something here that’s as strong as life
I know that it will reach you
Don’t annoy us further
Oh, we have our work to do
Just think about the average
What use have they for you?
Another toy will help destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn’t fit the plan
I wandered home though silent streets
And fell into a fitful sleep
Escape to realms beyond the night
Dream, can’t you show me the light?
I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days
I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes
They left the planets long ago
The elder race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home, to tear the temples down
Home, to change
The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams
Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen
I don’t think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
Oh, no
My spirits are low in the depths of despair
My lifeblood spills over
Attention all planets of the solar federation
Attention all planets of the solar federation
Attention all planets of the solar federation
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
Rush’s ‘2112,’ a magnum opus of progressive rock, unfurls a saga that’s as much about vigorous riffs as it is about an underlying narrative of freedom, creativity, and defiance. The iconic overture encompasses not only the band’s virtuosity but also a storytelling prowess that transports listeners to a grim, faraway future.
Beneath the seven-movement suite lies a rebellion that transcends the fictional Solar Federation’s confines, striking chords of individuality and liberation. Here, we dissect the oeuvre’s poetic arteries, delving deep into the song’s introspective allegory and its far-reaching significance through imaginative and striking lyrics.
The Priests of the Temples of Syrinx: A Symbol of Ominous Control
The opening verse introduces us to the ‘priests of the temples of Syrinx,’ a metaphorical avatar for omnipotent governance and monolithic institutions. Their proclamation of care evokes a chilling sense of surveillance, an allusion to societies where conformity is compulsory, and creativity is but a relic of times bygone.
Through Rush’s narrative, the listener senses that the utopian unity preached by the priests is a mirage—a veiled dystopian homogeneity enforced by ‘great computers,’ symbolizing systemic suppression and control through technology.
The Discovery of Sound: The Spark of Revolution?
A seismic shift occurs with the discovery of an ancient instrument, portrayed with an almost childlike wonder. It’s a profound symbol of reawakening, an artifactual key to a lost world of emotion and personal expression, forbidden by the Syrinxian priests.
The protagonist’s emotional resonance with the instrument, ‘singing like a sad heart’ and ‘screaming out its pain,’ encapsulates humanity’s intrinsic need for art, reflecting its power to stir souls and challenge the status quo, a clear reflection of Rush’s own musical ethos.
The Individual versus The Collective: A Philosophical Dualism
The visceral response of the priests to the protagonist’s music speaks volumes about the ideological chasm. Their dismissive retorts are emblematic of a society that eschews individualism in favor of ‘the average,’ a cogent narrative on the clash between personal identity and collective uniformity.
The friction teased out in ‘2112’ dissects a timeless conflict, mirrored in historical revolutions and perennial societal debates about the role of the individual against the backdrop of a monolithic ‘plan.’
The Dystopian Dreamer’s Lament:
Amidst the defiance and uproar lies a serrating melancholy, the dreamer’s realization of futility, and the weight of crushing defeat. ‘Carry on this cold and empty life,’ reflects not just the fatigue of the protagonist, but perhaps the weariness of the unheeded visionary in any era.
The journey through ‘astral nights’ and ‘galactic days’ serves as a metaphor for the internal voyage of realization and acceptance, ultimately culminating in the capitulation to the ‘depths of despair’ – a reminder of the human cost of challenging the omnipotence of enforced order.
An Ominous Reprise: ‘We Have Assumed Control’
In a twist of Kafkaesque irony, the epilogue delivered by the Solar Federation through an emphatic thrice-repeated ‘We have assumed control,’ serves as a spine-tingling bookend to the aspirations of liberation that the composition fervently narrates. It’s a brazen statement of the inescapable reach of the antagonist’s hand.
Yet, Rush leaves a cryptic layer beneath this apparent declaration of victory. Is the message a final stamp of authority, or a potential hint of a new ruler? The vagueness of the phrasing invites endless theories, ensuring ‘2112’ resonates as a timeless enigma, continuously agitating the minds of its listeners.
