One of the greatest music influences in my life, Neil Peart, lyricist and drummer for the rock trio RUSH, has died. I attended two Rush concerts in the ’70’s, and loved all of their music. Rush always had a powerful, majestic sound, with intellectually and spiritually vibrant lyrics. This is an incredible loss to the music world, and to me. I was just listening to one of their retrospective albums this morning, while doing a treadmill workout.
Tom Sawyer
A modern-day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today’s Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride
Though his mind is not for rent
Don’t put him down as arrogant
His reserve a quiet defense
Riding out the day’s events
The river
What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist
Catch the myth
Catch the mystery
Catch the drift
The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide
Today’s Tom Sawyer, he gets high on you
And the space he invades, he gets by on you
No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren’t permanent
But change is
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness
Catch the wit
Catch the spirit
Catch the spit
The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide
Exit the warrior
Today’s Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to
The friction of the day
No one will make it this far down, but here is my final statement:
Neil Peart died of a brain tumor, which is an all too common way to die for many of those men that I have loved over the years. I have already lost three great male friends to brain cancer over the past 23 years, and I still feel and hear cancer’s stirring. I still get a sense of cancer’s ongoing dire threat against others, including me. I feel that cancer asks our permission to visit and invade our bodies, to end our life experience, if we remain unconscious or inattentive, and are not spiritually paying careful enough attention to the details of ourselves. And, sometimes the greatest warriors succumb to cancer’s influence anyway, regardless of intentions.
I continue to prepare for the two inevitables, change, and death!
I mourn the loss of a great musical warrior, and friend of the Spirit!
It seems to me
I could live my life
A lot better than I think I am
I guess that’s why they call me
They call me the workin’ man
I could live my life
A lot better than I think I am
I guess that’s why they call me
They call me the workin’ man
Your music is still “workin'”, Neil Peart!
