Rush has always been one of my favorite bands. The combination of soulful lyrics, catchy memorable tunes and amazing musicianship never failed to delight. Back in the eighties, I wrote a series of extra lyrics to Closer to the Heart. This week I rediscovered them tucked in an old song book. As a tribute to the band, and the tragic loss of Neil Peart to cancer in January, I thought I would share them for the Rush fans out there.
I have included the introduction and the chords for closet guitarists out there:
Intro: finger pick (A(add B) A Amaj7) repeat 4x
The intro riff finger pics this chord moving the high e string note from the 7th to the 5th fret.
Then there is a run down the scale playing 5th, 4th fret on high e sting followed by the 7th and 5th fret on the B string.
G6 D(add E) Fmaj7 (slide 123 fingering above down fret board to the 3rd fret, 1st fret and 0th fret)
(Asus2 Asus4 A) A (Asus2 Asus4 A) A
Closer to the Heart (Rush)
Music: Alex Lifeson / Geddy Lee Original Lyrics: Neil Peart / Peter Talbot (in bold)
Extra verses: David Boris (not in bold)
A G D G A
And the men who hold high places Must be the ones who start
A G D A G D A G
To mold a new reality Closer to the heart Closer to the heart
A G D G A
The blacksmith and the artist Reflect it in their art
A G D A G D A G
They forge their creativity Closer to the heart, Yes, Closer to the heart
A G D G A
Philosophers and plowmen Each must know his part
A G D A G D A G
To sow a new mentality Closer to the heart Yes closer to the heart
A G D G A
yeah, oh Whoa, whoa You can be the captain And I will draw the chart
A G D A G D A G
Sailing into destiny Closer to the heart Closer to the heart
A G D G A
The black man and the white man each must do his part
A G D A G D A G
To sow a new morality Closer to the heart closer to the heart
A G D G A
The justices and the president must act as a rampart
A G D A G D A G
To hold the constitution Closer to the heart Closer to the heart
A G D G A
The officers and the citizens each must not depart
A G D A G D A G
From a grounded sense of right and wrong Closer to the heart closer to the heart
A G D G A
The teacher and the physicist each will make a mark
A G D A G D A G
To open up our universe and bring it Closer to the heart closer to the heart
A G D G A
You may be the driver and I will push the cart
A G D A G D A G
Rolling toward to tommorow Closer to the heart Closer to the heart
A G D G A
You may make a precedent if you’re the one to start
A G D A G D A G
To bring your own community Closer to the heart closer to the heart
A G D G A
You may lead the government if you’re the one to chart
A G D A G D A G
A pure and simple covenant Closer to the heart closer to the heart
D A G D A G D A G
Well Closer to the heart, yeah, Closer to the heart Closer to the heart
D A G D A G
I said Closer to the heart, Well Closer to the heart , yeah
D A G D A G
Closer to your heart, Closer to your heart , whoa
© Closer To The Heart lyrics © Ole Media Management
1977
Atheist to Elder 