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SNAKES & ARROWS Released: May 1st, 2007



RIAA Certification N/A

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Highest Billboard Chart Position: 3

Liner Notes



© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States excluding Canada.

Printed in U.S.A. Lyrics reprinted by permission. All Rights Reserved. © 2007 Anthem Entertainment/Lyrics Used by Permission.

Articles

Track Listing

Far Cry

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

Armor and Sword

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

Workin' Them Angels

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

The Larger Bowl

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

Spindrift

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

The Main Monkey Business

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

The Way The Wind Blows

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

Hope

Music: Alex Lifeson

Faithless

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

Bravest Face

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

Good News First

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

Malignant Narcissism

Music: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart

We Hold On

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

Engineered by Richard ChyckiMixed by Richard ChyckiRecorded at Allaire Studios, Shokan NY, November and December, 2006Assistant engineer: Matt SnedecorAdditional recording at Grandmaster Recorders, Hollywood CAAssistant engineer: Andrew AlekelMixed at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood CA, January 2007Assistant engineer: Scott MooreAdditional engineering and mixing by Nick RaskulineczArrangements by Rush and Nick RaskulineczStrings on "Faithless" by Ben MinkPreproduction at Cherry Beach Studios, Toronto, May and September - October, 2006Engineered by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, assisted by Inaam HaqMastered by Brian "Big Bass" GardnerManagement by Ray Danniels, SRO/Anthem, TorontoExecutive Production: Pegi Cecconi, Andy Curran, Lorne WheatonEquipment Supervision: Lorne Wheaton and Russ RyanArt direction, design, and illustrations by Hugh SymeCover paintingby Harish Johari, courtesy of Inner Traditions, Bear & Co."Workin' Them Angels" illustration created by Hugh Syme with the assistance of George EastmanHouse, who supplied the original Lewis Hine photograph on which the illustration is based"Bravest Face" illustration by Hugh Syme and Andrew MacNaughtanBand photograph by Andrew MacNaughtanAll songs composed by Lee and Lifeson, with lyrics by Peart,except "Hope", composed and performed by Lerxst Lifeson, all by his own selfAll songs published by Core Music Publishing (SOCAN/SESAC)would like to thank: Fender Musical Instruments and the Fender Custom Shop, Jim Burgess and Frank Szabo of Saved By Technology, Coll Audio, Tech 21, and Rotosound Bass Strings for their technical contributions, Duke and Ewan for their exceptional canine behavior in a supporting role, and last but certainly not least, my crowd at home: Nancy, Kyla, Julian and Lauren, for their unequivocal and loving support.would like to thank: Hans, Dennis, Paul, and Rudiger at H&K Amplification, Cara and Pat at GMI, Chris and Glen at Garrison Guitars, Dave at Dean Markley, Joel Singer and Audio Technica, Mike and Nina, Jerry, John and Nikki, Stephen Bennett, David Gilmour, Clatty, JP, Rob, Mike, Lukie, and especially Ade, Justin, Michelle, Taylor, and Chuckie.would like to thank: John Good, Don Lombardi, and Garrison at Drum Workshop, Mark Love and Chris Stankee at Sabian, Pat Brown and Kevin Radomski at Promark, Darren Shoepp at Roland, Michelle Jacoby at Remo, Greg Russell at neilpeart.net . Freddie Gruber, Matt Scannell, Lorne "Gump"Wheaton, all my "circle of brothers" (too many to list - you know who you are), and on the home front, Keith, Claudia, Jennifer, Adela. Winston, and - at the heart of it all - Carrie.Our collective appreciation goes to Inaam, Shannon, Carmine, Chris, and David Godfrey Catering at Cherry Beach; Matt, Mark, Susan, Ken, Lisa, Rachel, Annalee, Thorn, Jay, Stephanie, Colby, and Julia at Allaire; Andrew and Jen at Grandmaster; Scott, Kelly, and Jessica at Ocean Way; Barry and Clint at BZ Brokers; and - Ω?Extremely special thanks to our great support group at SRO/Anthem: Ray Danniels, Pegi Cecconi, Sheila Posner, Anna LeCoche, Cynthia Barry, Shelley Nott, Bob Farmer, Andy Curran, and Randy and Frances Rolfe.Brought to you by the letter "sssss"1. Far Cry (5:21)2. Armor and Sword (6:36)3. Workin' Them Angels (4:47)4. The Larger Bowl (4:07)5. Spindrift (5:24)6. The Main Monkey Business (6:01)7. The Way The Wind Blows (6:28)8. Hope (2:02)9. Faithless (5:31)10. Bravest Face (5:12)11. Good News First (4:51)12. Malignant Narcissism (2:17)13. We Hold On (4:13)Pariah dogs and wandering madmenBarking at strangers and speaking in tonguesThe ebb and flow of tidal fortuneElectrical changes are charging up the youngIt's a far cry from the world we thought we'd inheritIt's a far cry from the way we thought we'd share itYou can almost feel the current flowingYou can almost see the circuits blowingWhirlwind life of faith and betrayalRise in anger, fall back and repeatSlow degrees on the dark horizonFull moon rising, lays silver at your feetYou can almost see the circle growingYou can almost feel the planets glowingThe snakes and arrows a child is heir toAre enough to leave a thousand cutsWe build our defenses, a place of safetyAnd leave the darker places unexploredSometimes the fortress is too strongOr the love is too weakWhat should have been our armorBecomes a sharp and angry swordWe hold beliefs as a consolationA way to take us out of ourselvesMeditation, or medicationA comfort, or a promised rewardSometimes that spirit is too strongOr the flesh is too weakSometimes the need is just too greatFor the solace we seekThe suit of shining armorBecomes a keen and bloody swordConfused alarms of struggle and flightBlood is drained of colorBy the flashes of artillery lightNo one gets to their heaven without a fightThe battle flags are flownAt the feet of a god unknownNo one gets to their heaven without a fightSometimes the damage is too greatOr the will is too weakWhat should have been our armorBecomes a sharp and burning swordDriving away to the east, and into the pastHistory recedes in my rear-view mirrorCarried away on a wave of music down a desert roadAll my lifeI've been workin' them angels overtimeRiding and driving and livingSo close to the edgeWorkin' them angels - OvertimeRiding through the Range of Light to the wounded cityFilling my spirit with the wildest wish to flyTaking the high road to the wounded cityAll this timeI've been working them angels overtimeRiding and driving and flyingJust over the edgeWorkin' them angels - OvertimeDriving down the razor's edge between the past and the futureTurn up the music and smileGet carried away on the songs and stories of vanished times(a pantoum)if we're so much the same, like I always hearwhy such different fortunes and fates?some of us live in a cloud of fearsome live behind iron gateswhy such different fortunes and fates?some are blessed and some are cursedsome live behind iron gateswhile others see only the worstsome are blessed and some are cursedthe golden one or scarred from birthwhile others only see the worstsuch a lot of pain on the earththe golden one or scarred from birthsome things can never be changedsuch a lot of pain on this earthit's somehow so badly arrangedsome things can never be changedsome reasons will never come clearit's somehow so badly arrangedif we're so much the same, like I always hearAs the waves crash inOn the western shoreThe wind blows fierce from the eastWavetops torn into flying spindriftAs the waves crash inOn the western shoreIt makes me feel uneasyThe spray that's torn awayIs an image of the way I feelAs the sun goes downOn the western shoreThe wind blows hard from the eastIt whips the sand into a flying spindriftAs the sun goes downOn the western shoreIt makes me feel uneasyIn the hot dry rasp of the devil windsWho cares what a fool believes?InstrumentalNow it's come to thisIt's like we're back in the Dark AgesFrom the Middle East to the Middle WestIt's a world of superstitionNow it's come to thisWide-eyed armies of the faithfulFrom the Middle East to the Middle WestPray, and pass the ammunitionSo many people think that wayYou gotta watch what you sayTo them and them, and others tooWho don't seem to see things the way you doNow it's come to thisHollow speeches of mass deceptionFrom the Middle East to the Middle WestLike crusaders in unholy allianceNow it's come to thisLike we're back in the Dark AgesFrom the Middle East to the Middle WestIt's a plague that resists all scienceIt seems to leave them partly blindAnd they leave no child behindWhile evil spirits haunt their sleepWhile shepherds bless and count their sheepInstrumentalI've got my own moral compass to steer byA guiding star beats a spirit in the skyAnd all the preaching voices -Empty vessels ring so loudAs they move among the crowdFools and thieves are well disguisedIn the temple and marketplaceI don't have faith in faithI don't believe in beliefYou can call me faithlessBut I still cling to hopeAnd I believe in loveAnd that's faith enough for meI've got my own spirit level for balanceTo tell if my choice is leading up or downAnd all the shouting voicesTry to throw me off my courseSome by sermons, some by forceFools and thieves are dangerousIn the temple and marketplaceI like that songAbout this wonderful worldIt's got a sunny point of viewAnd sometimes I feel it's trueAt least for a few of usI like that worldIt makes a wonderful songBut there's a darker point of viewThat's sadly just as trueFor so many among usIn the sweetest child there's a vicious streakIn the strongest man there's a child so weakIn the whole wide world there's no magic placeSo you might as well rise, put on your bravest faceI like that showWhere they solve all the murdersThat heroic point of viewIt's got justice and vengeance tooAt least, so the story goesI like that story -Makes a satisfying caseBut there's a messy point of viewThat's sadly just as trueFor so many among usIn the softest voice there's an acid tongueIn the oldest eyes there's a soul so youngIn the shakiest will there's a core of steelOn the smoothest ride there's a squeaky wheelThe best we can agree onIs it could have been worseWhat happened to your oldBenevolent universe'You know the one with starsThat revolve around youBeaming down full of promisesTo bring good newsThe worst thing about it allIs that you might have been rightAnd I'm still not really sureWhat started that fightBut I still get this feelingThere's more trouble aheadSo never mind the bad newsLet's have the good news insteadInstrumental"Usually a case of malignant narcissism brought on during childhood."How many timesDo we tire of all the little battlesThreaten to call it quitsTempted to cut and runHow many timesDo we weather out the stormy eveningsLong to slam the front doorDrive away into the setting sunHow many timesDo we chafe against the repetitionStraining against a fateMeasured out in coffee breaksHow many timesDo we swallow our ambitionsLong to give up the same old wayFind another road to takeHow many timesDo we wonder if it's even worth itThere's got to be some other wayTo get me through the days