Closer to the Heart

Rush

About Closer to the Heart

"Closer to the Heart" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush. It was released in October 1977 as the lead single from their fifth studio album A Farewell to Kings. It was the first Rush song to feature a non-member as a songwriter in Peter Talbot, a friend of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. It was Rush's first hit single in the United Kingdom, reaching number 36 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1978. It also peaked at number 45 in Canada and number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on March 28, 2010. A live version of the song was released as a single in 1981 as the lead single from their live album, Exit... Stage Left which peaked at number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The band's frontman, Geddy Lee, said of the song:I remember when we had to bring it back into the set for the Rio shows, as there was such a demand to hear it and we'd stopped playing it for a while. It's always resonated with people for some reason, and it was a hit as far as we've ever had a hit. It got us on the radio, the kinds of radio that would never normally associate with us, so it was as close as we ever came to a pop song, especially at that point. Over here in the UK it had that effect, and in the US too. 


Year:
1977
2:53
315 
#3

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And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the heart 
Closer to the heart

The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Closer to the heart 
Yes closer to the heart

Philosophers and plowmen
Each must know his part
To sow a new mentality
Closer to the heart 
Yes closer to the heart, yeah, oh

Whoa whoa
You can be the captain
And I will draw the chart
Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart
Well closer to the heart, yeah
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart
I said closer to the heart
Well closer to the heart, yeah
Closer to your heart
Closer to your heart, whoa

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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, Geddy Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart, Peter Henry Talbot, Alex Zivojinovich (pka Alex Lifeson)

Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Closer to the Heart" is a song recorded by the Canadian rock band Rush, which was formed in August 1968.
Album Release
The song was included in their fifth studio album, 'A Farewell to Kings," released in 1977.
Genre
Standing somewhere between progressive rock and hard rock, the song showcases Rush's gradual shift from long, conceptual pieces to more concise and Radio-friendly songs.
Chart Success
"Closer To The Heart" is one of Rush's most commercially successful songs — it peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart and number 76 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Lyrics and Theme
Lyrically, the song advocates for societal change and urges people to create a world 'closer to the heart.'
Single Release
It was released as a single in October 1977 and quickly became a radio staple and fan favorite.
Live Performances
"Closer to the Heart" is one of Rush's most performed songs, appearing in most of their live concerts.
Canadian Heritage
The song was among the first 100 songs inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.
Record Store Day Release
In 2017, 40 years after its original release Philip Wilke to celebrate Record Store Day, a 7-inch vinyl version of "Closer To The Heart" was put out.
Television Appearances
The song was performed by Rush in a trailer park boys' television episode, marking the song's first performance on television.
Charity Version
In 2005, Rush recorded a version of "Closer to the Heart" with Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys for a charity project to aid the Canadian victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake.
Songwriters
The song was written by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, and Peter Talbot, marking one of Rush's few collaborations with outside writers.

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    Closer to the Heart

    4.8M
    25,799     711

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1982

    Billboard #69


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