Presto

November 1989 . 13th Studio Recording

A Show of Hands 1989 Roll the Bones 1991

The Pass Lyrics

Available on Presto

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart

proud swagger out of the schoolyard
waiting for the world’s applause
rebel without a conscience
martyr without a cause

static on your frequency
electrical storm in your veins
raging at unreachable glory
straining at invisible chains

and now you’re trembling on a rocky ledge
staring down into a heartless sea
can’t face life on a razor’s edge
nothing’s what you thought it would be

All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor’s edge
Don’t turn your back
And slam the door on me

it’s not as if this barricade
blocks the only road
it’s not as if you’re all alone
in wanting to explode

someone set a bad example
made surrender seem all right
the act of a noble warrior
who lost the will to fight

and now you’re trembling on a rocky ledge
staring down into a heartless sea
done with life on a razor’s edge
nothing’s what you thought it would be

no hero in your tragedy
no daring in your escape
no salutes for your surrender
nothing noble in your fate

Christ, what have you done?