Know your place in life is where you want to be
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward, no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down

Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought

Live for yourself, there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will
Only cry out for more

Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yet it was for me, not you, I
Came to write this song



Lyrics submitted by shed27

Track duration: 04:22

"Anthem" as written by Deruyter/scheffers/janssen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Anthem song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Best lyrics in rock history
    Flag JamesLoveon January 15, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:32 seconds into the song, and Neil Peart has established that he effing means business.
    Flag chuckofalltradeson October 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The lyrics "Know your place in life is where you want to be" refers to the fact that everybody with a fully functioning mind is exactly who what and where they are socially, economically, in fact in every facet of life, because in the end that is truly where they want to be.
    An overweight person chooses that extra jelly donut because they place more value on the pleasure of the moment rather than having an excellent physique. Yet they bemoan their undesireable current circumstance and say that life is not fair. They are exactly where they are because that is truly where they want to be, and their actions reflect that fact. They are unwilling to do the more difficult thing for the long term benefit. If they are in an impoverished state due to lack of employment and subsequently money, they exist in that state because it is acceptable to them given the alternative of working for extra money to have a better life yet they complain that life is not fair and they are unlucky, the fact is they are unwilling to do the more difficult thing and improve their value to the marketplace by improving themselves through education or whatever is necessary to bring them more money. You are who you are and what you are because in the end that is truly where you want to be.
    Flag lethalfirestormon September 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:@ Brat Moj: I might be as staunch a fiscal liberal as anyone I know, but I can still keep an open mind, I can get behind a lyric like "Know your place in life is where you want to be" or "Live for yourself -- there's no one else/More worth living for".
    Flag ColeYoteon June 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Actually I think you can put Ted Nugent in the libertarian camp as well.
    Flag JamesLoveon September 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Neil is probably the only libertarian in rock.

    Long Hair Country Boy is another good libertarian song from CBD.
    Flag JamesLoveon September 06, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:"Brat Moj - what's your alternative? "

    My guess would be Marxism. So many idiots these days seem to be going down that idiotic road.
    Flag zaqwert777on April 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:they are in the Canada rock hall of fame genius
    but fuck yeah
    this song was the start to the first of many albums that include the brilliance of neal peart
    Flag By-Toron January 19, 2008   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:Brat Moj - what's your alternative?
    Flag goldsacon November 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can't believe this band isn't in the rock and roll hall of fame already because they are one of the most surreal rock acts of the 1970s and 80s. People ignore anything that comes from Canada unless it's Neil Young, Joni Mitchell or The Band. Being a Canadian myself this really disturbs me. Anyways this song has a spectacular rhythm especially in the intro where Neal Peart plays along with the guitars perfectly. Rush's record label is also called "Anthem" but i'm not sure if the song was made before they signed with anthem. I'd need some confirmation. RUSH FOREVER!
    Flag Nolesy101on November 01, 2006   Link

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