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HEMISPHERES Released: October 24th, 1978



Certified Gold by RIAA: December 14, 1978

Certified Platinum by RIAA: December 1, 1993

View All Album Certifications



Highest Billboard Chart Position: 47

Liner Notes

Articles

Track Listing

Cygnus X-1 Book Two: Hemispheres

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson / Lyrics: Neil Peart

I. Prelude

II. Apollo Bringer of Wisdom

III. Dionysus Bringer of Love

IV. Armageddon The Battle of Heart and Mind

V. Cygnus Bringer of Balance

VI. The Sphere A Kind of Dream

Circumstances

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson / Lyrics: Neil Peart

The Trees

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson / Lyrics: Neil Peart

La Villa Strangiato

(An Exercise in Self-Indulgence)

Music: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart

- Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, Taurus pedals- Drums, orchestra bells, bell-tree, tympani, gong, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimes, crotales- Bass guitar, Mini-Moog, Oberheim polyphonic, Taurus pedals, vocalsProduced by Rush and Terry BrownArrangements by Rush and Terry BrownRecorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales, during June and July 1978Engineered by Pat MoranVocals recorded at Advision Studios, LondonEngineered by Declan O'DohertyMixed at Trident Studios, Soho, London, August 1978Engineered by Terry Brown with invaluable assistance from John BrandTape Operators (Trident): Simon Hilliard, Mike Donegoni, and Reno RuoccoMastered at Trident by Ray Staff(Remastered by Bob Ludwig and Brian Lee atGateway Mastering Studios, Portland Maine)Graphics by Hugh SymeArt Directions by Hugh Syme and Bob KingCover photography by Yosh InouyeInner sleeve and poster photography by Fin CostelloThis album was processed through the Duffoscope!Management by Ray Danniels, SRO Management Inc., TorontoExecutive Production: Moon RecordsRoadmaster and Lighting Director: Howard (Herns) UngerleiderConcert Sound Engineer and Crew Co-ordinator: Major Ian GrandyStage Manager: Michael (Lurch) HirshStage Right technician: Liam (Leaf) BirtStage Left technician: Skip (Slider) GildersleeveCentre Stage technician: Larry (Shrav) AllenGuitar and synthesizer maintenance: Tony (Jack Secret) GeraniosConcert sound by National Sound and Electrosound (U.K.)Concert Lighting by See FactorConcert visuals produced by Rush and Nick PrinceProjectionist: Harry (keep the change) DilmanThose daring drivers!: Bruce (The Pin) Aldrich (Howdy howdy!), Jwerg (Ah think Ah see the problem!) Hoadley, Mike (Say Guy!) Morrison, and Tom (Zig-Zag) WhittakerThe Wonderful Persons List: Austen Fagen, Abe Schon, The UFO'S, the Max Websters, the Pat Travers Band, the Monks, Bert the driver, Fin Costello, Ruke Bernstein, Joe Bombase, Young Ward, Jerry Mickelson, Arny Granat, Bubble and Squeak, all at SRO and all at Rockfield, Advision, and Trident© 1978 Mercury Records © 1978 Anthem Entertainment1. Cygnus X-1 Book Two: Hemispheres (18:05)2. Circumstances (3:41)3. The Trees (4:46)4. La Villa Strangiato An Exercise in Self-Indulgence (9:35)When our weary world was youngThe struggle of the ancients first beganThe gods of Love and ReasonSought alone to rule the fate of ManThey battled through the agesBut still neither force would yieldThe people were divided,Every soul a battlefield...'I bring truth and understanding,I bring wit and wisdom fair,Precious gifts beyond compare.We can build a world of wonder,I can make you all aware''I will find you food and shelter,Show you fire to keep you warmThrough the endless winter storm.You can live in grace and comfortIn the world that you transform''I bring love to give you solaceIn the darkness of the nightIn the Heart's eternal lightYou need only trust your feelingsOnly Love can steer you right''I bring laughter, I bring Music,I bring joy and I bring TearsI will soothe your primal fearsThrow off those chains of ReasonAnd your prison disappears'The Universe dividedAs the Heart and Mind collidedWith the people left unguidedFor so many troubled yearsIn a cloud of doubts and fearsTheir world was torn asunder into hollow hemispheresSome fought themselves, some fought each otherMost just followed one anotherLost and aimless like their brothersFor their hearts were so unclearAnd the truth could not appearTheir spirits were divided into blinded hemispheresThen all at once the chaos ceasedA stillness fell, a sudden peaceThe Warriors felt my silent cryAnd stayed their struggle, mystifiedApollo was astonishedDionysus thought me madBut they heard my story furtherAnd they wondered, and were sadLooking down from OlympusOn a world of doubt and fearIts surface splintered intoSorry hemispheres.They sat a while in silenceThen they turned at last to me'We will call you CygnusThe God of Balance you shall be'We can walk our road togetherIf our goals are all the sameWe can run alone and freeIf we pursue a different aimLet the truth of Love be lightedLet the love of truth shine clearSensibilityArmed with sense and libertyWith the Heart and Mind unitedIn a single perfect sphereA boy alone, and so far from homeEndless rooftops from my windowI felt the gloom of empty roomsOn rainy afternoons.Sometimes in confusionI felt so lost and disillusionedInnocence gave me confidenceTo go up against realityAll the sameWe take our chances,Laughed at by Time,Tricked by circumstancesPlus ça change,Plus c'est la même chose,The more that things changeThe more they stay the sameNow I've gained some understandingOf the only world that we seeThings that I once dreamed ofHave become realityThese walls that still surround meStill contain the same old meJust one more who's searching forThe world that ought to beThere is unrest in the ForestThere is trouble with the treesFor the Maples want more sunlightAnd the Oaks ignore their pleas.The trouble with the Maples(And they're quite convinced they're right)They say the Oaks are just too loftyAnd they grab up all the lightBut the Oaks can't help their feelingsIf they like the way they're madeAnd they wonder why the MaplesCan't be happy in their shade?There is trouble in the ForestAnd the creatures all have fledAs the Maples scream 'Oppression!'And the Oaks, just shake their headsSo the Maples formed a UnionAnd demanded equal rights'The Oaks are just too greedyWe will make them give us light'Now there's no more Oak oppressionFor they passed a noble lawAnd the trees are all kept equalBy hatchet,Axe,And saw...I. Buenas Noches, Mein Froinds!II. To sleep, perchance to dream...III. Strangiato ThemeIV. A Lerxst in WonderlandV. Monsters!VI. Danforth and PapeVII. The Waltz of the ShrevesVIII. Never turn your back on a Monster!IX. Monsters! (Reprise)X. Strangiato Theme (Reprise)XI. A Farewell to Things