Grand Designs

Rush · Other Songs - Rush

A to B
Different degrees.

So much style without substance
So much stuff without style
It's hard to recognize the real thing
It comes along once in a while.

Like a rare and precious metal
Beneath a ton of rock
It takes some time and trouble
To separate from the stock
You sometimes have to listen to
A lot of useless talk.

Shapes and forms, against the norms
Against the run of the mill
Swimming against the stream
Life in two dimensions
Is a mass production scheme.

So much poison in power
The principles get left out
So much mind on the matter
The spirit gets forgotten about.

Like a righteous inspiration
Overlooked in haste
Like a teardrop in the ocean
A diamond in the waste
Some world views are spacious
And some are merely spaced.

Against the run of the mill
Static as it seems
We break the surface tension
With our wild kinetic dreams.

Curves and lines
Of grand designs
Against the run of the mill
Swimming against the stream
Life in two dimensions
Is a mass production scheme.

Against the run of the mill
Static as it seems
We break the surface tension
With our wild kinetic dreams.

Oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Grand Designs

Rush's "Grand Designs" stands as a quintessential example of the band's progressive rock prowess, blending complex time signatures with soaring melodic lines. Recorded during the late 1970s, the track exemplifies the era's shift toward more intricate compositions while maintaining the band's signature dual-guitar harmonies and Neil Peart's driving drumming. The song features the iconic "Grand Designs" riff, a melodic hook that became a staple of their live performances and a defining characteristic of their discography. It showcases the band's ability to weave technical proficiency with emotional depth, creating a recording that remains a cornerstone of their catalog and a favorite among fans of classic progressive rock.