The Camera Eye
Rush
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Grim-faced and forbidding Their faces closed tight An angular mass of New Yorkers Pacing in rhythm Race the oncoming night They chase through the streets of Manhattan Head-first humanity Pause at a light Then flow through the streets of the city They seem oblivious To a soft spring rain Like an English rain So light, yet endless From a leaden sky, yeah The buildings are lost In their limitless rise My feet catch the pulse And the purposeful stride I feel the sense of possibilities I feel the wrench of hard realities The focus is sharp in the city Wide-angle watcher On life's ancient tales Steeped in the history of London Green and Grey washes In a wispy white veil Mist in the streets of Westminster Wistful and weathered The pride still prevails Alive in the streets of the city Are they oblivious To this quality? A quality Of light unique to every city's streets Pavements may teem With intense energy But the city is calm In this violent sea I feel the sense of possibilities I feel the wrench of hard realities The focus is sharp in the city
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Written by: Neil Elwood Peart, Gary Lee Weinrib, Alex Zivojinovich
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Concept"The Camera Eye" by Rush is one of the band's few songs to feature a cityscape theme, specifically focusing on New York City and London, and the band's observational experiences from touring in these cities.
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Album InclusionThe song is an integral part of Rush's 1981 album, "Moving Pictures." This album, often hailed as Rush's greatest album, pioneered the band's movement from hard rock to a progressive style.
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Song LengthAs one of the band's longest songs, "The Camera Eye" clocks in at over 10 minutes (10:58). It is also the band's last song to be this long until their 2012 album, "Clockwork Angels."
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Instrument UsageThe song is noteworthy for its extensive use of keyboards, which were becoming increasingly prominent in Rush’s music during this period. Geddy Lee uses a variety of synthesizer textures throughout the track.
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Track ListingDespite its length, "The Camera Eye" is the eighth track on the "Moving Pictures" album, showing that Rush wasn't afraid to include such a lengthy song amidst more conventional-length tracks.
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LyricistThe lyrics to "The Camera Eye" were written by the band's drummer, Neil Peart, who was also the primary lyricist for many other Rush songs.
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Live Performances"The Camera Eye" was performed live by the band during the Moving Pictures tour, but was then left out of the setlists until 2010 and 2011's Time Machine Tour after almost 30 years.
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Song InfluenceThe song's title influenced American author William Gibson in naming his novel "Virtual Light". The term 'Camera Eye' is borrowed from John Dos Passos's U.S.A. Trilogy, which was an influence on the song.
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Literary ReferencesThe song includes direct references to the works of John Dos Passos and T.S. Eliot. This showcases Rush's tendency to incorporate literature into their music, highlighting their unique depth and dimension as a band.
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Music VideoUnlike many other Rush songs, "The Camera Eye" does not have a dedicated music video. However, fans and other artists have created visual interpretations and lyric videos reflecting the song's urban themes.
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Citation
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"The Camera Eye Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/23360391/Rush/The+Camera+Eye>.
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