Natural Science Guitar Tab

Different Stages (Disc 2) Tabs:

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"Natural Science"
                                  by Rush
                            from Permanent Waves
                            Lyrics by Neil Peart
                     Music by Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson
 
Transcription by Paul Bryant (pbryant@hawk.cs.ukans.edu)
 
Song begins in 4/4
 
LEGEND:      means slide down the neck toward headstock
           !  means play staccato
 
NOTE:  Before you get your hopes up, alas, I did not transcribe the solos.
       Sorry, I'm just not fast enough.  The rest is pretty accurate,
       though, and a pleasure to play even without the solos.
 
I.  Tide Pools
 
Figure A:
 
|-2---2-2--0--|-0---0--0-0-|-3---3-3--5-|-5---5--5-5-|
|-2---2-2--0--|-0---0--0-0-|-3---3-3--5-|-5---5--5-5-|
|-4---4-4--2--|-2---2--2-2-|-5---5-5--7-|-7---7--7-7-|
|-4---4-4--2--|-2---2--2-2-|-5---5-5--7-|-7---7--7-7-|
|-2---2-2--0--|-0---0--0-0-|-3---3-3--5-|-5---5--5-5-|
|-------------|------------|------------|------------|
                                                         
Repeat Figure A - "When the ebbing tide retreats"
Repeat Figure A - "Along the rocky shorelines"
Repeat Figure A - "It leaves a trail of tidal pools"
Repeat Figure A - "In a short-lived galaxy"
 
Figure B: 
 
"Each microcosmic planet"                     
|-4---4-4-----|------------|-2----------|-4----------|
|-4---4-4-----|------------|-5----------|-7----------|
|-6---6-6-----|------------|-4----------|-6----------|
|-6---6-6-----|------------|-2----------|-4----------|
|-4---4-4-----|------------|-2----------|-4----------|
|-------------|------------|------------|------------|
 
Repeat Figure B - "A complete society"
 
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|--0-0--0-0-0-|
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|--0-0--0-0-0-|
|-4--4--4--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|-4--4--4--2-|--2-2--2-2-2-|
|-4--4--4--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|-4--4--4--2-|--2-2--2-2-2-|
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|--0-0--0-0-0-|
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|--0-0--0-0-0-|
 
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|                               
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|                              
|-4--4--4--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|                             
|-4--4--4--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|                            
|-2--2--2--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|                           
|-2--2--2-----|-------------|                            
 
Repeat Figure A - "A simple kind of mirror  to re-"
Repeat Figure A - "flect upon our own  all the"
Repeat Figure A - "busy little creatures  chasing"
Repeat Figure A - "out their destinies"
                                            
 "Living in their pools ... about the sea"    Hold
|-4--4--4--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|------------|
|-4--4--4--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|------------|
|-6--6--6--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|-4--4--4--2-|------------|
|-6--6--6--6--|--6-6--6-6-6-|-4--4--4--2-|------------|
|-4--4--4--4--|--4-4--4-4-4-|-2--2--2--0-|------------|
|-------------|-------------|-2--2--2--0-|------------|
 
Figure C:
 
|-----------------|------------------|
|-----0-----------|-3----------------|
|---4-------0---2-|-------0---0---0--|
|-2-------0---0---|-----0------------|
|-------3---------|---2-----3---5----|
|-----------------|------------------|
 
Repeat Figure C:  "Wheels within wheels in a"
Repeat Figure C - "spiral array  a"
Repeat Figure C - "pattern so grand and com-"
Repeat Figure C - "plex."
Repeat Figure C - "Time after time we lose"
Repeat Figure C - "sight of the way  our"
Repeat Figure C - "causes can't see their ef-"
Repeat Figure C - "fects"
 
Add Distortion                                                              
 
Repeat Figure C 
Repeat Figure C
Repeat Figure C
                     Hold (w/ echo effects)
|-----------------|------------------|
|-----0-----------|-(3)--------------|
|---4-------0---2-|------------------|
|-2-------0---0---|------------------|
|-------3---------|------------------|
|-----------------|------------------|
 
II.  Hyperspace
 
7/8 Time
 
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------2-|---------------|-------------2-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
                                                               
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------3-|---------------|-------------3-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
                                                               
4/4 Time
 
       "A "
       "Com-"
|---------|
|---------|
|-5-4-2---|
|-------5-|
|---------|
|---------|
 
7/8 Time
 
 "Quantum leap forward             in time and space"
 "puterized clinic                 for superior cynics"
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------2-|---------------|-------------2-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
 
 "The universe learned to expand"
 "who dance to a synthetic band"
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------3-|---------------|-------------3-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
 
             "The"
             
|---------------|
|---------------|                                   
|-5-4-2---------|
|-------5-4-2---|                                 
|-------------5-|
|---------------|                                  
 
 "mess and the magic          triumphant and tragic            a"
 "In their own image          their world is fashioned         No"
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------2-|---------------|-------------2-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
                                                                   
 
 "mechanized world out of hand"
 "wonder they don't understand"
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------2-|---------------|-------------2-|
|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|-4-2-4-2-4-2-0-|-4-2-4-2-4-5---|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
 
4/4 Time
 
  [First Time]       
|----------------|    
|----------------|    
|----------------|  
|-5-4-2----------|    
|-------5-4------|    
|-----------5---|    
 
  [Second Time]             [Drum Fill]
|----------------|---------------|--------------|
|----------------|---------------|--------------|
|----------------|---------------|--------------|
|-5-4-2----------|---------------|--------------|
|-------5-4------|-2-------------|--------------|
|-----------5---|---------------|--------------|
 
|----------|----------|----------|----------|
|----------|----------|----------|----3--3--|
|----4-444-|----2-222-|----------|----2--2--|
|-4--4-444-|-2--2-222-|----5--5--|----0--0--|
|-2--------|-0--------|-5--5--5--|----------|
|----------|----------|-3--------|-2--------|
 
|----------|----------|----------|----------|
|----------|----------|----------|----3--3--|
|----4-444-|----2-222-|----------|----2--2--|
|-4--4-444-|-2--2-222-|----5--5--|----0--0--|
|-2--------|-0--------|-5--5--5--|----------|
|----------|----------|-3--------|-2--------|
 
|----------|----------|----------|---2-222--|
|----------|---2-222--|----------|---2-222--|
|----6-666-|---1-111--|----2-222-|----------|
|-6--6-666-|----------|-2--2-222-|-4--------|
|-4--------|-2--------|-0--------|----------|
|----------|----------|----------|-4--------|
 
|----------|----------|----------|---2-222--|
|----------|---2-222--|----------|---2-222--|
|----6-666-|---1-111--|----2-222-|----------|  [1st Time - Repeat Hyperspace]
|-6--6-666-|----------|-2--2-222-|-4--------|
|-4--------|-2--------|-0--------|----------|  [2nd Time - Guitar solo 1]
|----------|----------|----------|-4--------|
 
Repeat Figure C:  "Wheels within wheels in a"
Repeat Figure C - "spiral array  a"
Repeat Figure C - "pattern so grand and com-"
Repeat Figure C - "plex."
Repeat Figure C - "Time after time we lose"
Repeat Figure C - "sight of the way  our"
Repeat Figure C - "causes can't see their ef-"
Repeat Figure C - "fects"
 
Add Distortion                                                              
 
Repeat Figure C 
Repeat Figure C
Repeat Figure C
 
                   2/4 Time   4/4 Time
|-----------------|----------|------------|-2----------|
|-----0-----------|-3--------|-3----------|-3----------|
|---4-------0---2-|-------0--|-0----------|-2----------|
|-2-------0---0---|-----0----|-2----------|-0----------|
|-------3---------|---2------|-3----------|------------|
|-----------------|----------|------------|------------|
 
III.  Permanent Waves
 
  !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !
|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-0--0--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--4--4-|-0--0--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-1--1--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-2--2--2--2-|
|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-2--2-------|
|------------|------------|------------|
 
  !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !
|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-0--0--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--4--4-|-0--0--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-1--1--2--2-|
|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-2--2--2--2-|
|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-2--2-------|
|------------|------------|------------|
 
                      !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !   !  !  !  !
           |-0--0-0-|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-0--0--2--2-|---0---0-0-| 
           |-2--0-0-|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--4--4-|-0--0--2--2-|---2---0-0-|  
[1st time] |-2--1-1-|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-1--1--2--2-|---2---1-1-|
   Only    |-2--2-2-|-4--4--4--4-|-2--2--2--2-|-2--2--2--2-|---2---2-2-|
           |-0--2-2-|-2--2--2--2-|-0--0--0--0-|-2--2-------|---0---2-2-|
           |----0-0-|------------|------------|------------|-------0-0-|
 
"Science, like Nature must also be tamed"
"Art as expression not as market cam-paigns"
 
|-2------0--0--0--|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|-------------0--|
|-3------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-3--3--3-3-2-0--|
|-2------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2-2-0--|
|-4------0--0--0--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2---0--|
|-5------0--0--0--|-2-2--2--2----2----|-----------2-2--|
|-----------------|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|----------------|
 
"with a view to - wards its preservation"
"will still capture our imagination"
 
|-2--3--5-3-----|-2------0--|-2-----3--|-0--------------|
|-3--3--2-3-----|-3------2--|-3-----0--|-0--------------|
|-2--2--2-2-----|-2------2--|-4-----0--|-1--------------|
|-0--0--2-0-----|-4------2--|-4-----0--|-2--------------|
|-------0-------|-----------|-2-----2--|-2--------0-2-4-|
|---------------|-----------|-------3--|-0--0-2-3-------|
 
"Given the same state of integrity"
"Given the same state of integrity"          
 
|-2------0--0--0--|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|-------------0--|
|-3------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-3--3--3-3-2-0--|
|-2------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2-2-0--|
|-4------0--0--0--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2---0--|
|-5------0--0--0--|-2-2--2--2----2----|-----------2-2--|
|-----------------|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|----------------|
 
"it will surely serve us well"
"It will surely help us along"
 
|-2--3--5-3-----|-2------0--|-2-----3--|-0--------------|
|-3--3--2-3-----|-3------2--|-3-----0--|-0--------------|
|-2--2--2-2-----|-2------2--|-4-----0--|-1--------------|
|-0--0--2-0-----|-4------2--|-4-----0--|-2--------------|
|-------0-------|-----------|-2-----2--|-2--------0-2-4-|
|---------------|-----------|-------3--|-0--0-2-3-------|
 
Repeat III. Permanent Waves
 
Guitar Solo 2
 
"The most endangered species, the honest man"
 
|-2------0--0--0--|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|-------------0--|
|-3------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-3--3--3-3-2-0--|
|-2------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2-2-0--|
|-4------0--0--0--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2---0--|
|-5------0--0--0--|-2-2--2--2----2----|-----------2-2--|
|-----------------|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|----------------|
 
"will still survive annihilation"
 
|-2--3--5-3-----|-2------0--|-2-----3--|-0--------------|
|-3--3--2-3-----|-3------2--|-3-----0--|-0--------------|
|-2--2--2-2-----|-2------2--|-4-----0--|-1--------------|
|-0--0--2-0-----|-4------2--|-4-----0--|-2--------------|
|-------0-------|-----------|-2-----2--|-2--------0-2-4-|
|---------------|-----------|-------3--|-0--0-2-3-------|
 
"Forming a world, state of integrity"
 
|-2------0--0--0--|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|-------------0--|
|-3------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-3--3--3-3-2-0--|
|-2------2--2--2--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2-2-0--|
|-4------0--0--0--|-0-0--0--0-0--0-0--|-2--2--2-2---0--|
|-5------0--0--0--|-2-2--2--2----2----|-----------2-2--|
|-----------------|-3-3--3--3-2--3-2--|----------------|
 
"sensitive, open and strong"
 
|-2--3--5-3-----|-2------0--|-2-----3--|
|-3--3--2-3-----|-3------2--|-3-----0--|
|-2--2--2-2-----|-2------2--|-4-----0--|
|-0--0--2-0-----|-4------2--|-4-----0--|
|-------0-------|-----------|-2-----2--|
|---------------|-----------|-------3--|
 
Figure D:
 
|--0-----3--|--2----3-3-2--|
|--0-----3--|--3----3-3-3--|
|--1-----0--|--2----0-0-2--|
|--2-----2--|--0--------0--|
|--2-----3--|-------2-2----|
|--0--------|--------------|
 
Repeat Figure D
Repeat Figure D
Repeat Figure D
Repeat Figure D
Repeat Figure D
 
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7---|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7---|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
 
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7--|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7--|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
 
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|-6--6-6-6---|-4--4-4-4---|-9--9-9-9---|-11--11-11----|
|-6--6-6-6---|-4--4-4-4---|-9--9-9-9---|-11--11-11----|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|------------|------------|------------|--------------|
 
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|-6--6-6-6---|-4--4-4-4---|-9--9-9-9---|-11--11-11----|
|-6--6-6-6---|-4--4-4-4---|-9--9-9-9---|-11--11-11----|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-7--7-7-7---|--9---9--9----|
|------------|------------|------------|--------------|
 
 "Wave after wave           will flow with the tide  and"
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7---|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7---|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5---|
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
 
 "bury the world           as it does"
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7--|
|-4--4-4-4---|-2--2-2-2---|-5--5-5-5---|-7--7-7-7--|
|-2--2-2-2---|-0--0-0-0---|-3--3-3-3---|-5--5-5-5--|
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
 
 "Tide after tide          will flow and recede leaving"
|-4--4--4-4--|-2--2--2-2--|-7--7--7-7--|--9---9--9-9---|
|-4--4-------|-2--2-------|-7--7-------|--9---9--------|
|-6--6-----6-|-4--4-----4-|-9--9-----9-|-11--11-----11-|
|-6--6-------|-4--4-------|-9--9-------|-11--11--------|
|-4--4-------|-2--2-------|-7--7-------|--9---9--------|
|------------|------------|------------|---------------|
 
 "life to go on as it was"
 
|-4--4--4-4--|-2--2--2-2--|-7--7--7-7--|--9---9--9-9---|
|-4--4-------|-2--2-------|-7--7-------|--9---9--------|
|-6--6-----6-|-4--4-----4-|-9--9-----9-|-11--11-----11-|
|-6--6-------|-4--4-------|-9--9-------|-11--11--------|
|-4--4-------|-2--2-------|-7--7-------|--9---9--------|
|------------|------------|------------|---------------|
 
|-2--2--2--4----4-4--|------4-4-------4-4--|
|-2--2--2--4---------|---------------------|
|-4--4--4--6---6---6-|-----6---6-----6---6-|
|-4--4--4--6---------|-6---------6---------|
|-2--2--2--4---------|---------------------|
|--------------------|---------------------|
 
|-2--2--2--0----0-0--|------0-0-------0-0--|
|-2--2--2--0---------|---------------------|
|-4--4--4--2---2---2-|-----2---2-----2---2-|
|-4--4--4--2---------|-2---------2---------|
|-2--2--2--0---------|---------------------|
|--------------------|---------------------|
 
|-2--2--2--4----4-4--|------4-4-------4-4--|
|-2--2--2--4---------|---------------------|
|-4--4--4--6---6---6-|-----6---6-----6---6-|
|-4--4--4--6---------|-6---------6---------|
|-2--2--2--4---------|---------------------|
|--------------------|---------------------|
 
|-2--2--2--0---------|-0---------0---------|
|-2--2--2--0---------|-0---------0---------|
|-4--4--4--2---------|-2---------2---------|
|-4--4--4--2---------|-2---------2---------|
|-2--2--2--0---------|-0---------0---------|
|--------------------|---------------------|
 
                        Hold and Fade
|-0--0--2--4---------|---------------------|
|-0--0--2--4---------|---------------------|
|-2--2--4--6---------|---------------------|
|-2--2--4--6---------|---------------------|
|-0--0--2--4---------|---------------------|
|--------------------|---------------------|
 
Whew!
 
Now find a good drummer and have some fun with this song!

Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net

Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/r/rush/.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Manu Professional Badass	#1 by Manu at Dec 3, 1982 at 6:31 AM EST
	This song over the past few months has increasingly grown on me. I think Permanent Waves is Rush’s most impressive, artistic, and meaningful album to date. While others will say Moving Pictures or 2112 I have to stick by Permanent Waves because of the themes it crosses and the amazing lyrics present in every single song…especially in Natural Science. Musically, Natural Science is genius. Lyrically it’s beyond genius. Part 1: Tide Pools The first two stanzas Geddy Lee has soft, slow, and quiet vocals. Lifeson strums his acoustic guitar slowly…nothing too advanced or complicated. Peart isn’t even in this part as there is no presence of drums. Listening to this song you’re not sure if this is actually a Rush song because of everything it encompasses and everything it doesn’t encompass. The first two stanza’s set up the philosophical lyrics as well. The analogy between the tide pools as microcosms to the sea as the wider universe. The concept is quite interesting and extremely true when you think about it. Because those small little creatures “chasing out their destiny” (living their life) are not aware of anything outside their environment. They are not aware or “forget” about the big picture, about our big world, our society. The most essential line in the first two stanza’s is “living in the pools, they soon forget the sea”. Here we have the main focus of this song. And not only is this about the tiny little creatures and their own microcosms but as well as the human race and our world. Then all of sudden it cranks up and within 5 seconds, Geddy’s real voice is back. Neil’s drums kick in and Alex is given another guitar. It is heavier and more alive. This is the Rush we know. Lyrically, this is another important part to the song. Our life is hectic… “wheels within wheels”…it never stops. It keeps going and going. Time passes and we are not sure about the magnitude of our causes. We just allow the world to move as it is without thinking exactly what were doing. Part 2: Hyerspace. Musically, there is a bit of special effects. A nice uitar rift by Alex is added and it sounds like there are other voices in the background. All of those weird, unique sounds in the background add to create a deeper meaning to this song; the theme that is so prevalent in Permanent Waves becomes clear with this track. The meaning is quite scary and eerie: our would has expanded and become a “mechanized world out of hand”. This part continues on with the last part of part 1 concluding that this, in fact, is about the human race. That our world, our society is out of hand. The lyrics of “their world is fashion. no wonder they don’t understand” shows that we are not in it for the right reasons. We have forgotten about the real reasons and have filled our minds with essentially nonsense aka fashion. The repeat of “wheels within wheels” forces more stress with what Neil Peart is saying. Time is passing and we are losing site of the way. The right way. This concludes this part well since the above stanzas of Part 2 are all examples of how we are losing the way. And how were aren’t paying attention to what our causes are doing to the grand scheme of the things (our world, our society) Part 3: Permanent Waves Here it is. This is the most important part (lyrically) in the whole song. Here we understand the tone, the attitude, and what is going in Neil Peart’s mind. While the first part introduced the song, and the second part created an eerie and scary feeling for the future and what has happened in our society, the third part shouts out a sense of optimism. Maybe we do have a chance…? There is hope for the human race. First we get the lines shouted by Geddy… “science like nature must also be tamed”…stating we must watch what were doing. We must be aware of our surroundings and what is happening in order to secure our futures. Not only must we be aware but must have integrity. And there it goes with that word, integrity, it’s in a lot of Rush songs. Must be an important word for Neil. The next stanza also says a lot. “Art as EXPRESSION, not as market campaign”. It’s the same as Spirit of Radio…creating art for money even if it’s a job is not for the right reasons. Do it for yourself, what makes YOU feel good…not just to appeal to the masses. And again integrity is used restating that integrity “will surely help us along”. The third stanza is great to understand where Neil is coming from. Simply the first line says how few “honest men” there are. However, they are the ones that will survive the destruction and can help our society, our world. Saying to form a new world, that of a descriptive purpose; a word state that has “integrity” (not surprised by this word), and is “sensitive, open and strong” The last two lines are the most thought-provoking and confusing as the audience is left to wonder the fate of the human race. Time passes and the waves go on as it was. It’s permanent in that sense. Permanent Waves. It’s always happening. The last lines are “leaving life to go on as it was…”. Maybe it’s in our nature to lose our way and then find ourselves in the end…? Honestly I believe that last two lines are up for interpretation. I think the “…” in the end and the sound effects of water prove that it left to your own interpretation. Like to believe in the optimistic ending.

No Picture Ben Rhythm Player	#2 by Ben Formica at May 24, 1993 at 12:11 PM EST
	It has been pointed out that the lyrics in this song summarize a lot of the ideas of political philosopher/economist Friedrich Hayek. Hayek saw a danger in using science in forming social models because of the complexity involved ("Our causes can't see their affects.") Many have used Hayek's ideas and theories as a defense for free-market capitalism and a rejection of socialism and collectivism.

No Picture anthony Average	#3 by anthony clark at Oct 6, 2007 at 4:34 AM EST
	apettytheif, im not sure what you're talking about. this song wasnt on vapor trails. this was on permanent waves.

No Picture sephiroth Average	#4 by sephiroth at Oct 17, 2007 at 7:27 PM EST
	I cna't believe no one has posted on this yet. I think this song is the ultimate relax music, not like their other stuff, but Live in Rio and Vapour Trails both show this song as a balld almost sung to the sciences. I think the meaning of it is more at 'back off investigating the world, learn to love it' naturist-type dal, but it's inherently felt and has as much passion behind it as the harder-core RUSH songs.