Now it's come to this
It's like we're back in the Dark Ages
From the Middle East to the Middle West
It's a world of superstition

Now it's come to this
Wide-eyed armies of the faithful
From the Middle East to the Middle West
Pray, and pass the ammunition

So many people think that way
You gotta watch what you say
Oh, to them and them and others too
Who don't seem to see things the way you do

We can only grow the way the wind blows
On a bare and weathered shore
We can only bow to the here and now
In our elemental war

We can only go the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow

Now it's come to this
Hollow speeches of mass deception
From the Middle East to the Middle West
Like crusaders in unholy alliance

Now it's come to this
Like we're back in the Dark Ages
From the Middle East to the Middle West
It's a plague that resists our science

It seems to leave them partly blind
And they leave no child behind
While evil spirits haunt their sleep
While shepherds bless and count their sheep

We can only grow the way the wind blows
On a bare and weathered shore
We can only bow to the here and now
In our elemental war

We can only grow the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow

We can only grow the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow

We can only grow the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow

Like a solitary pine
On a bare, wind blasted shore
We can only grow the way the wind blows
In our elemental war

We can only grow the way the wind blows
We can only bow to the here and now
Or be broken down blow by blow


Lyrics submitted by stephanierush07

The Way the Wind Blows Lyrics as written by Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson

Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Way The Wind Blows song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Seems to be written from Neil Pearts Objectivist Philosophy which veiws all religons as evil because they require self sacrifice and often are used as systems of control. Because you can't logically argue one way or the other the existance of God on sensory data. He has a point the mystics of the spirit are the ones who are bringing back a war from the dark ages onto the heads of the modern world.

    PCS153on September 10, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    One adendum for any who didn't know much of Rush's music is inspired by the works and philosphy of Ayn Rand.

    PCS153on September 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Neil at his most scathing.

    Just glorious words, absolutely glorious.

    BMaloneyon May 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There is no doubt that this song is an admonishment of the war in Iraq as well as George bush. At the same time it equally condemns the middle east philosophy.

    first verse - we are back to a time pre-enlightenment. a world based on superstition and fear, this is true for the west as well as the east.

    2nd verse - both sides have eager soldiers ready to defend their cause, they pray to their god and ready there weapons of death

    bridge - there are many who follow that path of superstition and war but some of us see things differently, believing in more peaceful alternatives as well as not blindly following religion and superstitions. And we have to be careful about our different points of view as both sides will flog us for it.

    chorus - Those of us that see things differently are forced to sit and watch the destruction proceed and can do nothing about it. If we try we will be broken down by both sides by not following in step.

    3rd verse - perhaps the most telling. now it's come to this - our leaders give speeches to the masses that are not grounded in fact. rather they mislead us to serve "the" agenda. Both sides are both fighting in the name of their perceived god - Allah and Jesus (how many times has Bush rallied about God and religion and talked of a "crusade" "against the evil doers". So in that way both sides are like crusaders, but are in fact unholy for the death and destruction they bring.)

    4th and 5th verse - the science line is also an interesting one , of which an entire paper could be written. Both sides are fueld by their religion and not by rational thought. Also, Bush's refusal to except science over religion (evolution?) This refusal to base their thinking in rational thought leaves them blinded. "they leave no child behind" is a direct assault on Bush, infamously known among other things for passing the No child left behind act which has taken almost as much critiscm as the war itself. In this is a paradox - the same people that claim to care and want to leave no child behind are the same ones that are casing death and destruction to innocent people and, in fact, leaving them behind. The next two lines of evil spirits and sheperds is another religious reference.

    -Excellent song and my personal favorite off of the new album "Snakes and Arrows"

    thunderoad02on May 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is an awesome song, and i love theyre new album, goin to see them in october = ]

    metal-monkeyon July 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song is about human beings fighting for a cause, and that thats all we can fight for or our own country will tear us down. It talks about the suicide bombers fighting from the east "wide eyed armies of the faithfull" and talks about soldiers from the west, fighting for no religion "crusaders...unholy alliance". this song is awesome and should be a revolutionary song amongst young people of today. "speches of mass deception", i think this talks of the television and propaganda that tells us that we are right and the east are evil, when infact we are killing inicent men, women, and children as are the east. This song is an eye opener. Rush are an awesome band, one of my favourites and this song is one of my favourite rush songs. 10 out of 10

    metal-monkeyon August 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree about all thunderoad02 said. Especially ''Hollow speeches of mass deception.'' That George Bush is using our religion against us to go to war. THEY ARE STILL AWESOME!

    rushpwnsxon April 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the dangers of the rising tide of religious fundamentalism in the world, be it Muslim (the Middle East) or Christian (the Middle-West). The song lashes out at the atmosphere of intolerance and war-mongering that inevitably results from fundamentalism.

    gravitonon September 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The intro and solo have Alex playing with a passion and blues feel I don't think I've heard before from him. Anniversary of my first Rush show, Moving Pictures Tour 12/21/81 Byrne Arena<, E Rutherford NJ. Still my favorite band.

    mattmanzon December 22, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.