Red Barchetta

Rush

About Red Barchetta

"Red Barchetta" is a song by the Canadian rock band Rush, from their 1981 studio album Moving Pictures.


Year:
2006
6:09
52 
#1

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My uncle has a country place
That no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm
Before the Motor Law
And now on Sundays I elude the eyes
And hop the turbine freight
To far outside the wire where my
White-haired uncle waits

Jump to the ground as the turbo slows
To cross the borderline
Run like the wind as excitement shivers
Up and down my spine
But down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me
An old machine
For fifty-odd years
To keep it as new
Has been his dearest dream

I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant Red Barchetta
From a better vanished time
We'll fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime

Wind 
In my hair 
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge

Well-oiled leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air

Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware

Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air-car
Shoots towards me two lanes wide
Oh, I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase

Ride like the wind
Straining the limits
Of machine and man
Laughing out loud with fear and hope
I've got a desperate plan

At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded
At the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle
At the fireside

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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 Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart

Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Inspiration
"Red Barchetta" was inspired by a futuristic short story "A Nice Morning Drive" written by Richard S. Foster in 1973. The story revolves around a future government's restriction on motor vehicles.
Album Recognition
The song is part of Rush's "Moving Pictures" album, which is their highest selling album in the United States. The album was certified quadruple platinum in 1995.
Interpretation
The song features a young man in a future where high-speed motor vehicles are prohibited. In spite of that, he discovers his uncle's preserved Red Barchetta sports car and defies the law to take joy rides.
Genre Classification
"Red Barchetta" reflects the progressive rock music style that Rush is known for. The song features complex compositions and virtuosic musicianship.
Song Structure
Unlike traditional songs that follow a verse-chorus structure, "Red Barchetta" follows a narrative path with various musical sections reflecting the flow of the story.
Musical Recognition
In 2011, "Red Barchetta" ranked 5th in the list of "50 Greatest Prog Rock Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone Magazine.
Notability
Despite being released in 1981, "Red Barchetta" remains a firm fan favorite and is frequently included in the band's live performances.
Execution
John Rutsey, the original drummer for Rush wrote and performed the drum part for "Red Barchetta". His intricate performance is often praised for doing justice to the fast-paced narrative of the song.
Preservation
Neil Peart, the band's drummer, and lyricist once spoke about the song as preserving the freedom of movement, and emphasizing the sense of joy and exuberance that automobiles can provide.
Lyrics Version
In the initial draft version of the song lyrics, Rush's lyricist named the car featured in the song using different brand names, but later opted for 'Barchetta', which means 'little boat' in Italian.

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