Red Sector A

Rush

About Red Sector A

"Red Sector A" is a song by Rush that provides a first-person account of a nameless protagonist living in an unspecified prison camp setting. "Red Sector A" first appeared on the band's 1984 album Grace Under Pressure. Lyricist Neil Peart has stated that the detailed imagery in the song intentionally evokes concentration camps of the Holocaust, although he left the lyrics ambiguous enough that they could deal with any similar prison camp scenario. The song was inspired in part by Geddy Lee's mother's accounts of the Holocaust.  


Year:
2011
5:10
65 

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All that we can do is just survive
All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive

All that we can do is just survive
All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive

Ragged lines of ragged grey
Skeletons, they shuffle away
Shouting guards and smoking guns
Will cut down the unlucky ones

I clutch the wire fence until my fingers bleed
A wound that will not heal, a heart that cannot feel
Hoping that the horror will recede
Hoping that tomorrow, we'll all be freed

Sickness to insanity
Prayer to profanity
Days and weeks and months go by
Don't feel the hunger, too weak to cry

I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gate
Are the liberators here, do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late
But I must help my mother stand up straight

Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?

Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?

I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gate
Are the liberators here, do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late
But I must help my mother stand up straight

Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?

Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?

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Rush

Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist and backing vocalist Alex Lifeson, and drummer, percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their iconic lineup when Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first United States tour. Rutsey's departure stemmed primarily from health concerns regarding his diabetes. In 2015 the band played their final show due to Peart's declining health. more »

17 fans

Written by: ALEX LIFESON, GEDDY LEE WEINRIB, NEIL PEART

Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Inspiration
"Red Sector A" was inspired by the experiences of Geddy Lee's mother, who was a Holocaust survivor.
Album Release
The song was part of the band's 10th studio album, "Grace Under Pressure," which was released in 1984.
Signature Synths
It showcases some of Rush's characteristic use of synths, becoming a standout track in the era of the band's synthesizer-driven sound.
Personal Connection
"Red Sector A" is deeply personal for Geddy Lee as it provides a graphic depiction of the conditions in a concentration camp, set to a sparse, haunting melody.
Live Performances
Despite being a heavy song, "Red Sector A" has been a mainstay on the band's live shows. It was even performed during their 40th Anniversary tour in 2015.
Track Narrative
The song tracks the ordeal of witnessing other prisoners' executions, the desolation and despair felt by the inmates, and the spark of hope at the potential sight of liberators.
Lyrics Inspiration
The title "Red Sector A" was reportedly inspired by the designation of one of the sections in the Belsen concentration camp where Lee's mother was held.
Song Length
The song's duration is 5 minutes and 10 seconds long, a fairly average length for a Rush song.
Music Video
A live music video was produced for "Red Sector A," which exposed the raw emotions of the song to the audience.
Collaborative Effort
Like most Rush songs, the lyrics to "Red Sector A" were written by drummer Neil Peart, while the music was composed by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.

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