The greatest Rush song ever. One of my favorite songs.

I understand that to song was based of the Ayn Rand story, "Anthem" with the theme being switched from a world w/o freedom to a world w/o music.

This song is about Geddy Lee and his father's drinking problem. It is also about how Geddy and his grandfather used to rustle up black people and drag them behind their pick-up trucks. Alcoholism, and Racism, are my two favorite "-isms" yeah! Rush! *high five*

i'm a new rush fan...this is by far my favorite rush song...led zeppelin and rush...ahhh so good.

how could anyone not like 2112...i've only seen Overture and Temples of Syrinx live and thats enough to make you piss yourself...i hope they play it full length on their next tour

I could never think that any song would be good for 21 minutes and 12 seconds but they did it

2112 is most excellent.. ahh my brother gets to go see Rush in concert this summer because his friend bought him a ticket.. I WANT TO GO!! so sad..

With all reverence to the assessment by Flogging Molly, the fact is that the lyrics to 2112 were written by Neal Peart as a sort of creative response to the critical failure of their previous album, Caress of Steel. While it is now considered a terrific album, at the time, it was nicknamed the 'Down the Tubes Tour' since the band was reduced to playing small clubs instead of the arenas of the Fly-By-Night tour. Neil was actually expressing his discontent for the critics (as he indicated in the 1985 Steve Gett book "Success Under Pressure"). The story is a journey of rebellion. There is no truth to the blantant lie regardiny Geddy or his father. I'm suprised another artist would write such a thing. Jealousy perhaps. Geddy Lee, from suburban Toronto, is a known supporter of equality, not prejudice. That sentiment is in all their work. Of course, as a copmlete work, 2112 stands alone for it's maturity of writing, both lycically and musically. For 'a bunch of kids' (Geddy was about 20 when this album was produced), the music well developed. Neal's writing style was far from the under-developed, over-efforted sentiment of Caress of Steel. Truly, this is one of the finest of the great rock operas. Amazingly, their work has only gotten better through the yers. Nice job!

I agree with Frank - fantastic band, my favorite hands down. I must say, however, that Caress is a great album. The necromancer and the Fountain are great songs - great guitar work, good storyline (the fountain is based on an Ayn Rand book of the same name about a quest for the fountain of youth). Bastille day is great, and lakeside park is fun and reminiscent. In comparison to 2112, and to may of their other albums, Caress is not a staple. But the album as a standalone is a good piece of work. I think I'm going bald is rockin' and funny as well, a refreshing departure from the typical deep thinking tune.

This is a fucking good song, amazing lyrics.

I thought this song was absed on the Ayn Rand story Fountainhead not Anthem

In regards to Frank Perk's post -

First, it's "Neil" not "Neal".

Second, regarding the lyrics being a response to the failure of Caress of Steel, while this may be true, Neil explicity gives credit to Ayn Rand for inspiring him in the liner notes of the 2112 album.

Third, I'm pretty sure "FloggingMolly" was joking when he posted that...but even if he wasn't, any idiot can tell that it isn't true.

The Soliloquy portion of this song OWNS! Geddy gives some of the most intense vocals I've ever heard and Alex Lifeson absolutely commands his guitar during the solo. I can't listen to that portion of the song on anything less than full blast. Absolute ROCK!

2112 seems to be about Communism in Soviet Russia, and how it failed.

"I lie awake, staring out at the bleakness of Megadon. City and sky become one, merging into a single plane, a vast sea of unbroken grey. The Twin Moons, just two pale orbs as they trace their way across the steely sky. I used to think I had a pretty good life here, just plugging into my machine for the day, then watching Templevision or reading a Temple Paper in the evening.


"My friend Jon always said it was nicer here than under the atmospheric domes of the Outer Planets. We have had peace since 2062, when the surviving planets were banded together under the Red Star of the Solar Federation. The less fortunate gave us a few new moons.
I believed what I was told. I thought it was a good life, I thought I was happy. Then I found something that changed it all..."

This bit of text reveals that the main character of this rock epic, let us call him Boris for the sake of argument, lives in a highly industrial city where something dealing with a temple has quite a bit of influence. He is complacent because he does not know any better than what he has.
This directly relates to the life of the average Soviet, because they were kept in the dark about how the rest of the world lived. Since they had nothing to compare their standard of living to, they could not have an outright complaint other than they lacked basic consumer goods the bulk of the time. Also, Soviets had a tendency to make large, industrial cities (e.g. Magnitogorsk) in order to bolster their economy (except, on the whole, these were horrid failures). And just as a bit of an easter egg for those who knew it, the Red Star was included in this text, an allusion to Communist (Red) Russia.

I. Overture

"And the meek shall inherit the earth..."

This is taken from the Bible, right around the Beatitudes. Jesus says "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
The text here can be taken as just something Rush threw in for no reason other than to put it in, or as a bit of foreseight, saying that the meek (the common man of Russia) would one day take their land back from their Red dictator Stalin.

II. The Temples of Syrinx

The Temples of Syrinx is filled with all kinds of hints that this is indeed Communist Russia being spoken of in a metaphor. The preists of the Temples are the elite members of the Communist party who controlled Russia and all that occurred there.

"It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why.

Look around at this world we've 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."

They had "taken care of everything," or provided the citizens of their nation with everything one needs to survive, as Russia attempted to do. The preists believed in equality, the good of the whole rather than the individual, as the Soviets did as well. The preists boast of their accomplishment, the nice, contented world that all was to be in awe of. The Soviets also bragged about their grand accomplishments, though those were usually an understatement or not even that grand. It can be safe to assume that the preists also lied about their accomplishments. Last, the Red Star is once again mentioned, this time as a rallying point. Perhaps they speak of the military, a duty fulfilled by the common man of the Soviet Union, or just as taking pride in one's nation. The Soviets encouraged pride in being Russian, whether one was Russian or not, because it unified them and stripped away even more individuality, making them easier to control.

III. Discovery

Boris finds a guitar, a creation of the Elder Race. He is overjoyed by it, and decides to bring it to the preists.

The guitar, as you may have guessed it, symbolizes freedom and ideas. Progress on an economic and social standpoint was more or less at a stand-still in Soviet Russia, while their military bulked up and their missile systems were upgraded. Boris has found some new idea that comes from the West, the free world, and plans on telling his leaders about it.

IV. Presentation

"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."

The upper members of the Communist party were not ones who enjoyed much change. When too much change occurred under Mikhail Gorbachev, the Communist elite attempted to overthrow him in a coup.
The preists are upset because this common man has found a guitar. This could directly translate into an average Communist discovering an idea from the West, telling a superior about it, and being looked down upon because it doesn't "fit the plan." The preists dismiss it as a "silly whim" and a "waste of time" because what they see is Change, and as Rush has said before "the changes aren't permanent, but Change is." Allowing one change to the plans of the preists/Communists could easily send it headlong to the death of their way of life. Both of these styles of life, which are in essense one and the same, require no change at all.

V. Oracle: The Dream

Boris has a vision that the world was once different, and has now "moved on" as Stephen King has put it. He sees that there is another way of life, a superior way of life, that was blotted out by the Federation when it came to power.

Russia was a monarchy before it became pseudo-Communist, so this is probably not the superior way of life they speak of here. Rather, it is democracy that they turned away from, since it is the polar opposite of true Communism. Boris has seen evidence of another way of life, something from the West no doubt, and sees how it is superior to his own way of living. He also sees that the "Elder Race" (Capitalism is a much older form of economic governing than Communism) is strong, and they plan to tear down the Temples. This means that he sees the power of the Elder Race (possibly just the U.S. this time), how powerful they are, and how they plan on destroying Communism.

VI. Soliloquy

Boris has seen the other side. He knows how the West lives, and cannot bear to return to the humble, poor conditions he was once happy in. He thinks of how his life could have been if he was only born on the other side of the Iron Curtain and finds it too much to bear. He cannot bear to live this way any longer.

"My lifeblood spills over"
This either means that he kills himself because he can't endure his way of life, or that he tries to escape to freedom, and is killed in the process.

VII. The Grand Finale

"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."

The United States has won. The Cold War is over. Mikhail Gorbachev has begun to dissolve the Soviet Union. "We" (democracy) has assumed control of the former U.S.S.R.

-K
12/5/04

1 Reply

Nice thought except the USSR had not fallen when the song was written

Nice thought except the USSR had not fallen when the song was written

The song was released in 1976 and the U.S.S.R. fell in the period of time between 1989 and 1991.

That's why I said that it seems like a bit of hopeful foreseight on the part of Neil Peart.

-K

u guys r all fuckin retarded...its obviously bout the dude bangin him self in the ass...

hey this is an awesome song, i have to agree, i just bought the albun today. have you ever thought of this? when the voice says Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation We have assumed control, he says the first part three times, which is equal to 21 words, and he says the 2nd part 3 times which is equal to 12 words.......just wanted to point this out

It is spot on inspired by Ayn Rands short story Anthem.
http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/books/rand/anthem/
A one of the absolute best songs EVER G_d bless RUSH

In 1999, in the same spirit that discovered "The Dark Side of the Rainbow" (playing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" while watching "The Wizard Of Oz"), it was a similar strain of serendipity that uncovered "Willy Wonka's 2112" - playing the "2112" CD, beginning at a point near the entrance into the factory. Specific instructions and instances of synchronicity can be found online at

http://home.i1.net/~bytor/willywonka2112.html


- taken from wikipedia.com

Absolutely my favourite song by Rush, no question. Incredible lyrics and music, perfect blend of hard and soft guitar, great singing, brilliant ideas.

Great performance of this at the concert in Toronto this past summer, by the way.

POSSIBLEY THE GREATEST SONG EVER WRITTEN!!!

From my understanding, 2112 is a science fiction rock opera about a civilization in the year 2112, where all forms of art have been extinct. The main character finds an old guitar, like a fossil, and begins to play. He is very excited and shows it to his leaders, known as the priests. The priests quickly put it down, stating that a creative form of art such as music is a waste of time. The man becomes very depressed from this. After which he has an encouraging dream about a revolution of artists and thinkers that share the same ideas as he. After the man wakes from the dream, he realizes he cannot live on in the same world that he has lived. A battle then breaks out. The dream the man had was actually true. A revolution attempts to over-throw the priests but they are unsuccessful. The story ends on a dark note, not far from the reality we live today.

First off, excellent song.

To: lfc_73, you've got the literal side of the song spot on, except the ending.

These lines:
"My spirits are low in the depths of despair
My lifeblood...
...spills over..."

Suggest that the persona commits suicide. Emphasized by his fading consciousness shown with "...". Now, in a Romeo and Juliet like tragic ending, his dream is realised just after he takes his life. I would say it's safe to assume that those taking over are not the priests mentioned earlier, as they are referring to multiple planets. Although I guess this is still up in the air. I see it as an outside power taking control of the federation and most likely, in an tragic-ironic ending, plan to restore life to something similar of the personas dreams. Of course you still may be right, the last lines are quite vague, but I would say the fact that different styles of singing were used between the persona and the priests indicates that this third different voice must be from a source unseen earlier in the song.

After all, it is often described as a ‘space opera’. To me this tragic-ironic ending fits very well with such a title.