Earlier this year, Rush released a new CD, Snakes and Arrows. The Canadian rock band's latest album of thirteen songs again make the willing listener think. One song in particular will even educate a little if the listener reads the lyrics sheets and has a modicum of curiosity.
The song is "The Larger Bowl". The title came to lyricist Neil Peart (according to his website) during a dream he had while recovering from dysentary during a cycling trip across Africa several years ago.
The song is written in a form of a Pantoum. (See the link for a description of this form of poetry.) By the way -Pantoum would be a great name for a sailboat - Dibs on the name!
The lyrics are available here.
In part because of this song, and in part because of some discussions of poetry in Patrick O'Brian's works, an interest in the mechanics of prosody has awakened in me. Probably a passing interest, since I have no skills at writing verse, I'm sorry to say. But, I've developed more of an appreciation for it at least. And perhaps that's the first step in education - developing an appreciation for something as opposed to simply dismissing it.
With each album, Rush has always introduced me to new ideas and concepts. So I'd say they are an educational rock band, which is almost an oxymoron. No wonder they aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are too cool for it.
Posted by Bob at October 14, 2007 09:49 AM