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Freewill Lyrics
There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance. A planet of playthings, We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot conceive. "The stars aren't aligned Or the gods are malign"- Blame is better to give than receive. You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice. If you choose not to decide, you still haven't made a choice. You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill; I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose Free Will. There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand, The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in lotus-land. All preordained- A prisoner in chains- A victim of venomous fate. Kicked in the face, You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate. Each of us- A cell of awareness- Imperfect and incomplete. Genetic blends With uncertain ends On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet. |
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11-20-2008
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11-14-2008
Actually, if you look at the context of the song, I believe that “you still haven’t made a choice” is much more fitting and clever than “you still have made a choice”.
When you look at it, the lyrics all come from the perspective of describing the determinist. In the line above it he says, “You (the determinist) can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice”. Then followed by, “If you (the determinist) choose not to decide, you (the determinist) still haven’t made a choice”, meaning that your “choice” was predetermined, or that you had no “choice” in making your “choice to not choose”.
When the two lines are combined into a single thought it states that; whether or not you decide on some sort of heavenly guide, your choice was predetermined. This illustrates the perspective of the determinist, and fits with the fundamentals of the song. If the lyric were “still have made a choice” it would not fit appropriately with the rest of the song.
This is why I think that the lyrics as originally printed, “If you choose not to decide, you still haven't made a choice”, with the album are correct and much more meaningful in the context of the song.
12-17-2008
Stop being such a damn fool, and look at the contents of the post and the context of the song, instead of jumping all over a slight mistake, while yourself providing nothing of value. In my opinion (for the reasons I've stated), it needs to be in the negative to fit.
A courteous "hey it's cannot, not haven't" would have sufficed.
On that note, I would like your reference on Neil switching the lyrics from the printed liner notes. As all the commentary from Neil Peart that I have found state the contrary.
This interview with Neil Peart is transcribed on various sites....
(In "Freewill" which lyrics are correct (the ones on the album sleeve or the ones Geddy sings)?
Neil Peart (Rush Backstage Club newsletter, December 1985): "That's a funny question. I've had a few lately from people who are so sure that what they hear is correct, that they disbelieve what I've put in the lyric sheets! Imagine! People have quoted me whole verses of what they hear, as opposed to what's printed, sure that they are right and the cover (me) is wrong. Scary stuff, these egocentric individuals. I assure you, other than perhaps dropping an "and" or a "but," we take great care to make the lyric sheets accurate.")
Perhaps you should heed your own words and refrain from stating your opinions as fact...
11-20-2008
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10-26-2008
Is really about agnostic beliefs. Some will say that they are spiritual that they believe in a creator, but don't adhere to one religion. They are chosing not to believe and yet they are making a choice.
Aethiesm is the only belief system where free will is the only guide. I myself am Agnostic.
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09-10-2008
I always giggle at those who ponder the questions of "A. Free will" and "B. Predestination". More often than not they miss the multiple choice nature of the solution which is "C. Both A and B".
Consider the parent who says, "You can wear your red shirt or your blue shirt. Which do you want to wear?" By way of predestination going shirtless is not an option. By way of free will, the child is able to wear either shirt s/he chooses. Will a child wear a shirt? Yes. Which shirt will the child choose? By way of her/his own free will, the parent has deliberately chosen not to intervene because s/he wants the child to learn how to think on her/his own.
Apply to God and man.
05-18-2009
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06-17-2008
05-18-2009
hey thanks alot for the reminder!
11-14-2008
Actually, if you look at the context of the song, I believe that “you still haven’t made a choice” is much more fitting and clever than “you still have made a choice”.
When you look at it, the lyrics all come from the perspective of describing the determinist. In the line above it he says, “You (the determinist) can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice”. Then followed by, “If you (the determinist) choose not to decide, you (the determinist) still haven’t made a choice”, meaning that your “choice” was predetermined, or that you had no “choice” in making your “choice to not choose”.
When the two lines are combined into a single thought it states that; whether or not you decide on some sort of heavenly guide, your choice was predetermined. This illustrates the perspective of the determinist, and fits with the fundamentals of the song. If the lyric were “still have made a choice” it would not fit appropriately with the rest of the song.
This is why I think that the lyrics as originally printed, “If you choose not to decide, you still haven't made a choice”, with the album are correct and much more meaningful in the context of the song.
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04-25-2008
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03-14-2008
What Neil is saying is that you don't have to be what you're born into. Basically he says that at one point in your life, you must choose whether to believe in what people tell you. I always thought it would be a religion you were born into that your parents told you to believe in.
Neil isn't atheist by the way, he's agnostic.
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03-06-2008
Through personal observation I've noticed that people who do not believe in locus of control, that is, and control over their fate, as well as religious people, are those who are more often immoral. This isn't my knock on religion, but it seems easy for people to take refuge in a concept that they are out of control.
That said, this song does knock religion at least a little. "A planet of playthings, we dance on the strings of powers we cannot conceive" kinda gives that away.
Still, basically regardless of one's religious affinity, this song preaches locus of control, that people are in control of their destiny, and actions.
On a final conclusion, I don't care what anyone chooses to believe, but as a psychology major, validated studies have shown that people with strong locus of control, tend to be much healthier, both physically, and mentally. Food for thought; awesome song.
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03-06-2008
Through personal observation I've noticed that people who do not believe in locus of control, that is, and control over their fate, as well as religious people, are those who are more often immoral. This isn't my knock on religion, but it seems easy for people to take refuge in a concept that they are out of control.
That said, this song does knock religion at least a little. "A planet of playthings, we dance on the strings of powers we cannot conceive" kinda gives that away.
Still, basically regardless of one's religious affinity, this song preaches locus of control, that people are in control of their destiny, and actions.
On a final conclusion, I don't care what anyone chooses to believe, but as a psychology major, validated studies have shown that people with strong locus of control, tend to be much healthier, both physically, and mentally. Food for thought; awesome song.
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02-02-2008
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01-02-2008
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12-20-2007
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." You chose not to decide; that was a choice. Years before this song was written, one of my teachers said, "Choosing not to decide is deciding not to choose." SSDD.
Foggs -
I think that it is "kindness that can cure" and not "kill"
It's "kill." It rhymes with free "will."
johnpauljones86 -
Basically in the song Freewill means atheism. Well that's what I got out of it.
addseale2 -
It's an atheists's song.
As john_does mentioned (below), Free Will vs. Determinism is a debate separate from the debates about various religions, including atheism (more below).
john_does -
You can be Christian, atheist, etc. Free will vs. destiny is a separate argument.
Even if you believe in a higher power you can believe that you have the choice to follow the directions given. Do you choose to follow God's commandments for example (free will)...
The Rat -
'Belief' in a god ... is without any direct evidence, no compelling inferred evidence (at least to me), and therefore is based entirely on faith.
ArtRockFan -
[Agnosticism is] the only form of religous beliefs that can actually be proven correct.
goldsac -
The song's about refusing to make conclusions without any backing.
As I understand agnosticism, it's the argument (the fact, according to ArtRockFan) that humans are incapable of proving or disproving the existence of God; therefor, all religions are based on faith / belief rather than fact.
That's not to say that fact is necessarily better than faith. For example, Newtonian physics were taken as fact for centuries, and they are correct in everyday life; Einstein showed that we need more than just Newtonian physics to explain atoms, etc.
Another example: each day we wake up and believe that life will be much as it was the day before; on 9/11/2001, that belief vanished.
BTW, I said that atheism - the belief that God does not exist - is a religion because we can't prove or DISPROVE God's existence.
Agnosticism takes no position on religion; it simply states that we can't prove what is believed (at least up to this point in human history).
tobintax -
[T]he universe is ... a collection of atoms and molecules which strictly conform to the physical laws of the universe. In turn, this means that we are made up of the same thing, so the atoms and molecules of our beings must conform to those same laws as well - over which we of course have no control. In this view then, free will disappears.
I agree that we're made up of atoms, etc. and that they must conform to the laws of physics (as we understand them today). On the other hand, choosing between eggs and cereal for breakfast has nothing to do with physics; choosing to believe in God also has nothing to do with physics. I'm not trying to end the Free Will vs. Determinism argument here; I'm saying that your argument seems flawed.
2112Rush2112 -
And all three instruments just go absolutely nuts in the solo, and it sounds perfect. Nothing out of place; fits together great. How do they do it?
Practice, practice, practice! Plus talent.
10-06-2009
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11-14-2007
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choioce"
To me, that line is about a choice concerning the existence of a higher power (or any metaphysical problem, really). The song's about refusing to make conclusions without any backing. All we have is our own perception to bank off of, so follow it truly as you can.
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10-12-2007
The first line spells it out: "There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance". Life is nothing left to chance means that whatever happens to you is destiny. You have little or no control over the outcome.
The second stanza starts with "You can choose" and ends with "I will choose free will". In other words, you make your own decisions and your life is not pre determined. In other words, you make your own choices.
You can be Christian, atheist, etc. Free will vs. destiny is a separate argument.
Were you given you current path from day one? Do you have little influence on your inevitable outcome(destiny).
Do you make your own decisions and choose to follow or not follow a given path (free will)?
Even if you believe in a higher power you can believe that you have the choice to follow the directions given. Do you choose to follow God's commandments for example (free will)...
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08-18-2007
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08-12-2007
from songfacts.com
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07-06-2007
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06-03-2007
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12-12-2006
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09-17-2006
I know someone probably posted this already but I noticed that many people were talking about the atheist themes to this song but in fact Neil Peart is agnostic which in my eyes is really the only form of religous beliefs that can actually be proven correct. What this song is about is that there are so many rules and beliefs in all these religons that there really is not a clear path. So Neil is just saying that I won't get mixed in with all this mess but I do believe in freewill.
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08-22-2006
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07-18-2006
they say its like a fifth grade choosing the right lesson in prog rock for
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05-15-2006
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05-01-2006
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02-26-2006
I have a friend who also doesn't agree with the concept of 'free will', and I tend to agree with him. So I look at it the way I look at the words 'believe' or 'belief'. There is a 'big B belief' and a 'little b belief'. Example - I get on the subway near where I live, and I believe it will transport me down to the Blue Jays game (Can't wait for opening day!). Now, maybe there will be a problem with the train, or there could be a power failure, or a jumper, but based on all the evidence of my past experience I have every reason to 'believe' that I will get there for the first pitch.
Contrast that with 'Belief' in a god. It is without any direct evidence, no compelling inferred evidence (at least to me), and therefore is based entirely on faith, a different type of belief altogether, a big B.
So we can look at us as having 'free will', the ability to make our own choices about our lives based on our experiences and desires, or having 'Free Will', meaning, well..., ah screw it, you work it out!
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