Lyrics for Subdivisions as interpreted by MasterDuncan03

Subdivisions Lyrics
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone

Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone

Subdivisions -
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions -
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth

Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night

Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight

Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights...

Subdivisions -
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions -
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth



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MasterDuncan03
05-26-2002

 Rated  0 
I think it is rather obvious what this song is about, so I won't go into my own thoguhts, beyond that this is probably my favorite song right now.

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shed27
06-22-2003

 Rated  0 
one of my favorite rush songs...talks about conformity

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poohbluesky
06-30-2003

 Rated  +1 
only a band like rush could make a song like this. so deep and it just rocks.

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masterofpuppets80
05-16-2004

 Rated  0 
one of their best synth-based songs. Alex smokes on that solo, its one of his best.

its about outsiders in high school (which is what i was, probably expalins why i like the song so much).

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Zlpempleh
05-19-2004

 Rated  0 
This song might describe me right now better than any song out there!!!

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xl5ron
06-03-2004

 Rated  0 
another great song from a great band! my favorite cd is 'signals'. all the songs on that cd are fantastic !

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subdivided
10-06-2004

 Rated  0 
Being in highschool I totally relate to this song. The synth solo is amazing, and I saw it live on the R30 Tour!

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TwistedSmile
11-11-2004

 Rated  0 
To me being an out sider in high school isn't as much the meaning of the song as it is an example being used. It's really more like they are telling about being outcasted in life and how forms of popular society are taught to neglect the abstract and different.

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lerxstgk
11-19-2004

 Rated  0 
A look into the background from which a lot of people belong? Suburban life can often lend itself to a desire to head for the "bright lights" and somewhere where there is a bit more life. I am English, but am sure it's the same everywhere!

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mkg
11-21-2004

 Rated  +1 
It's interesting for me to read how the High School age interpret this song. Being a fan of Rush since the beginning, it's good to get a different perspective on Rush and their lyrics.

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1 Reply  · 
johnnya2
12-16-2004

 Rated  0 
Its a song about non-conformity and how society tries to make people into a conforming drone. This is particularily bad in most cities suburbs where homes are built exactly the same by the same builder, and high school is all about being part of the crowd. This song is of significance to me as a gay man who never felt part of the cliques in high school.

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johnnya2
12-16-2004

 Rated  0 
Its a song about non-conformity and how society tries to make people into a conforming drone. This is particularily bad in most cities suburbs where homes are built exactly the same by the same builder, and high school is all about being part of the crowd. This song is of significance to me as a gay man who never felt part of the cliques in high school.

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xkmail
04-12-2005

 Rated  0 
This song seems to be about growing up in suburbia, all houses the same, streets the same, and how it sucks compared to growing up in the countryside. It also goes into whats cool and what isn't, peer pressures,and also how you don't have to be a subdivision like homes, be an artist, or a painter, or whatever you want.
"Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided "
It can also be looked at how media and the press try to push the norm, and stuff like 60's shows daddy knows best, and my three sons,

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hsingarajah
07-17-2005

 Rated  0 
For those who are wondering, on the RUSH FAQ it says Neil Peart Says "Subdivisions" in the chorus of the studio recorded song. However this is wrong. It's actually newscaster/reporter Mark Dailey from City TV/MuchMusic (Those who live in the Greater Toronto Area know who he is).

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Brat Moj
07-22-2005

 Rated  0 
The song is about the need for conformity and mass consumerism in the capitalist society we live in. Modern capitalism cannot function without it. When I listen to it, I hear an amazingly written eulogy for society by Neil. I also think it represents Neil falling away a bit from his earlier beliefs, as he's mentioned he had.

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DeanN
12-24-2005

 Rated  0 
There is nothing inherently wrong with suburbia or living in it, if that is what someone desires. A lot of people don't have the desire to go to "the bright lights." This song is clearly more about conformity, which can be found anywhere: the suburbs, in the city, or "the far unlit unknown." In my opinion, the only flaw in this song is the focus on suburbia as the only place where conformity can be found. Popular opinion has been manipulated to belive that The Suburbs are the worst place for conformity. Conformity also occurs when many people seek the same thing, including excitement in The Bright Lights (Everyone else is doing "the cool thing", so why shouldn't I?). That being said, Subdivisions is my favorite Rush song, and the best synth song ever.

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floydfan87
01-08-2006

 Rated  0 
About conformity and life in the suburbs as in the early 80's was when people started moving out to York, Halton, Peel Region or wherever from Toronto.

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Sozluk
05-10-2006

 Rated  0 
I have always interpreted this song as a look at modern living from the perspective of a young social outcast.Moreover, I have Never seen it as being exclusively about high school, when it says "in the basement bars, in the backs of cars" well teenagers certainly cannot usually get into bars(in the US)! So I take that to mean that it doesnt end with graduating from High School-it continues into your 20s.

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Cortman
06-30-2006

 Rated  0 
I use to play this song everyday on my synth cuz it sounds so good. Wish I had an OB-X and a Minimoog though. Non conformity is great to a point. Just dressing up like Goths and Emos is a bit extreme. Just don't do everything on the account of everyone else.

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Cortman
06-30-2006

 Rated  0 
By the way dressing up Goth isn't being a non conformist. Technicaly you're conforming to the world's view of a Non-Conformist.

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harmonicaplayer
07-15-2006

 Rated  0 
the song speaks for itself....

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chino69
08-01-2006

 Rated  0 
Now this is a song I love to play on the drums. Great Drumming on this song...

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7oolRush
08-06-2006

 Rated  0 
Great song. Considering others' posts, seems like the song focuses on the conformity and superficiality of suburbs.

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Planeswalker817
08-07-2006

 Rated  0 
What does this song mean to me? Why, less conformity than freaking AWESOME Rush music. Tied with Limelight for my favorite Rush song, because it's so intricate and complex. It's amazing just three guys do this.

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handiman22
08-08-2006

 Rated  0 
Exellent song that describes one of the classic paradoxes of life for many of us- As youth we often feel constrained by our boring suburban lives where parents and guidance counselors have everything figured out for us. "Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided" As a result, we develop a strong desire to break free and do something exciting, go to the bright big city and find our future- "Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action" So often then many souls get caught up in the great pursuit of fame and fortune only to realize later in life that what they now want is the peaceful serenity and order of suburban life- "Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight

Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights...

I'm 41 years old as I write this and I can really relate

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2 Replies  · 




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