Roll the Bones

September 1991 . 14th Studio Recording

Presto 1989 Counterparts 1993

About Roll The Bones

Roll The Bones, the band’s 14th studio record, was recorded once again at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec and McClear Place in Toronto, Ontario. Rupert Hine returned as co-producer, after previously producing Presto.

Roll the Bones has a taste of rap, a bit of funk, and a bigger “groove” than fans expected from Rush at the time. Neil chose to be more straight-ahead, leaving room for Geddy bass playing to be more aggressive.

Geddy, after the recording of the album, said:

“I’m pleased with the way the band has been able to streamline the sound over the past couple of records. I think it’s a positive change. I’m also pleased with the way we’ve been able to utilize a stronger sense of melody and vocal harmony.”

  • Credits
  • Liner Notes
  • Awards/Chart Positions

Credits

Produced by

Rupert Hine and Rush

Arrangements by

Rush and Rupert Hine

Additional keyboards and background vocals

Rupert Hine

Mastering

Bob Ludwig
Masterdisk NYC

Management

Ray Danniels
SRO Management Inc.
Toronto

Executive Production

Anthem Records
Liam Birt

Art Direction and Design

Hugh Syme

Portraits

Andrew MacNaughtan

Photography

Scarpati

Digitals

Joe Berndt

Dreamline

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart

He’s got a road map of Jupiter
A radar fix on the stars
All along the highway
She’s got a liquid-crystal compass
A picture book of the rivers
Under the Sahara

They travel in the time of the prophets
On a desert highway straight to the heart of the sun
Like lovers and heroes, and the restless part of everyone

We’re only at home when we’re on the run
On the run

He’s got a star map of Hollywood
A list of cheap motels
All along the freeway
She’s got a sister out in Vegas
The promise of a decent job
Far away from her hometown

They travel on the road to redemption
A highway out of yesterday — that tomorrow will bring
Like lovers and heroes, birds in the last days of spring

We’re only at home when we’re on the wing
On the wing

WHEN WE ARE YOUNG
WANDERING THE FACE OF THE EARTH
WONDERING WHAT OUR DREAMS MIGHT BE WORTH
LEARNING THAT WE’RE ONLY IMMORTAL —
FOR A LIMITED TIME

Time is a gypsy caravan
Steals away in the night
To leave you stranded in Dreamland
Distance is a long-range filter
Memory a flickering light
Left behind in the heartland

We travel in the dark of the new moon
A starry highway traced on the map of the sky
Like lovers and heroes, lonely as the eagle’s cry

We’re only at home when we’re on the fly
On the fly

We travel on the road to adventure
On a desert highway straight to the heart of the sun
Like lovers and hereos, and the restless part of everyone

We’re only at home when we’re on the run
On the run…