The Meaning Behind The Song: The Way the Wind Blows by Rush

Rush, the legendary Canadian rock band, is known for their thought-provoking lyrics and complex musical arrangements. “The Way the Wind Blows,” from their 2007 album “Snakes & Arrows,” is a song that tackles the theme of societal turmoil and the impact of blind adherence to beliefs.

The song opens with the lines, “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.” These lyrics portray a sense of regression and a return to a time marked by ignorance and irrationality. Rush highlights how these issues are not limited to a specific region but are pervasive worldwide.

The chorus, “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,” suggests that we are at the mercy of external forces and circumstances. The metaphor of the wind blowing represents the uncontrollable nature of life and how we must adapt and change accordingly. The line “In our elemental war” emphasizes the constant struggle we face in navigating the unpredictable currents of our existence.

Throughout the song, Rush alludes to the division caused by contrasting belief systems. The lyrics, “So many people think that way, You got to watch what you say, To them and them, and others too, Who don’t seem to see to things the way you do,” touch on the need for caution and the challenges of engaging with individuals who hold opposing viewpoints. It reflects the polarized nature of society and the difficulty in finding common ground.

The second verse mirrors the first, delivering similar themes of mass deception and resistance to scientific progress. Rush compares the current state of affairs to the dark ages, implying that societal advancements have been halted by ignorance and dogma. The line “It seems to