All posts by bradbirzer

By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.
Republic of Letters

Rush: Between the Wheels

To live between a rock and a hard place
In between time
Cruising in primetime
Soaking up the cathode rays
To live between the wars in our time
Living in real time
Holding the good time
Holding on to yesterdays

You know how that rabbit feels
Going under your speeding wheels
Bright images flashing by
Like windshields towards a fly
Frozen in the fatal climb
But the wheels of time
Just pass you by

Wheels can take you around
Wheels can cut you down
We can go from boom to bust
From dreams to a bowl of dust
We can fall from rockets’ red glare
Down to “Brother, can you spare…”
Another war, another wasteland
And another lost generation

It slips between your hands like water
This living in real time
A dizzying lifetime
Reeling by on celluloid
Struck between the eyes by the big-time world
Walking uneasy street
Hiding beneath the sheets, got to try and fill the void

You know how that rabbit feels
Going under your speeding wheels
Bright images flashing by
Like windshields towards a fly
Frozen in that fatal climb
But the wheels of time
Just pass you by

We can go from boom to bust
From dreams to a bowl of dust
We can fall from rockets’ red glare
Down to “Brother, can you spare…”
Another war, another wasteland
And another lost generation

Wheels can take you around
Wheels can cut you down
Fall from rockets’ red glare
Down to “Brother, can you spare…”
Another war, another wasteland
Another lost generation

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Geddy Lee / Alex Lifeson / Neil Peart

Between the Wheels lyrics © Ole Core Music Publishing, Anthem Core Music Publishing

Republic of Letters

The Fixx: Deeper and Deeper

Talking about stealing the show no one would know
Talking about stealing the show when they’re all letting go
Take a look at the witch see the twitch in her eye tell me
What did she feel

Is this the way of the world take a boy and a girl show them
Lying is real
Then I see t he edge I look I fall
Deeper and deeper

The more I see the more I fall there’s no place to hide
You better take the call
Deeper and deeper
Is it the smell of the oil the sweat and the toil that makes

Living unreal
The yuppie in the suit the man with a flute what did he steal
It’s beginning to break there is a mistake nowhere to go
A fool and his blood in the wrong neighborhood what price

Does he pay
The further I see
I see the edge I look I fall
The further I see the further I fall
There’s no place to hide anymore

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Cyril Curnin / James West-Oram

Deeper and Deeper lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Republic of Letters

The Fixx: Built for the Future

Some say a trick, some say a look
It’s just a way of thinking after all
From underneath something concrete
It’s just a way of coping with it all
Some with revolt, some will obey
Who attains perfection and who’s to say
A criminal, a cardinal
Both frightened of angels
It doesn’t mean much now
It’s built for the future

For some a walk, to some a dance
It’s just a form of motion one and all
Without dispute the least aware
Will no doubt see the ragings of a fool
First we look then we spy
The man who has a vision wants it all
A sin so clean rule supreme
The power to undermine
It doesn’t mean much now
It’s built for the future

First a glance, then a chance
To make a simple gesture worth it all
A conquer all, a desert stall
That serves a drink to people under sun
At last the place, now where’s the time
To take in all the other points of view
Some are inert but one exists
To build a bridge
It doesn’t mean much now
It’s built for the future

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Adam Woods / Cyril Curnin / James West-Oram / Peter Greenall

Built For The Future lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Republic of Letters

OAK: Paperwings

I’m lighting fires behind closed doors
Coming down hard passing eleven floors
Raised in shame and then of truth bereft
Adrenaline, sorrow and two seconds left

I wash the darkness from your bright eyes
I’m on my knees digging up old lies
No thoughts, take aim, fire and reload
Cut off the air and let the world explode

I’m a hollow shell, I’m glowing
I’m the light in empty buildings
I break promises, I break free
I’m all you wanted and not what you need
I am the debt you need to pay
Made out in silver coins and shame
There’s nothing lеft and we got lost
I’m out of words and everyonе’s gone
So I lie

The fading light refuse to die
Retrace your steps to find the way out
The smoke is rising as the lights go out
Through sixty feet of starless night
The coward comes down shining silver grey
On paper wings of hope

Republic of Letters

OAK: Claire de Lune

A pale moon shines upon our home
Will you come out and forgive him
They took his name to their cold steel
And spread the word with his sickle

Stone face weeping
Weeping face stoned

Open arms brought you down
Killing fields of stolen gold
Staring down barren eyes
Mercy fled so long ago
Reading lines of bleeding lies
Say the words and be done
Rest my child, never hide
Until the world is gone

Upon our house shines a black sun
Malignant rays on our bare skin
A cold star on its end run
Staring you down to be let in

Behind the curtain is our endscene [sic]
A perfect edit on the big screen
A voice saying what we all mean
Unveiled story of the unclean

Open arms brought you down
Killing fields of stolen gold
Staring down barren eyes
Mercy fled so long ago
Reading lines of bleeding lies
Say the words and be done
Rest my child, never hide
Until the world is gone

Republic of Letters

Radiohead: Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Rows of houses all bearing down on me
I can feel their blue hands touching me
All these things into position
All these things we’ll one day swallow whole
And fade out again and fade out

This machine will, will not communicate
These thoughts and the strain I am under
Be a world child, form a circle
Before we all go under
And fade out again
And fade out again

Cracked eggs, dead birds
Scream as they fight for life
I can feel death, can see its beady eyes
All these things into position
All these things we’ll one day swallow whole
And fade out again
And fade out again

Immerse your soul in love
Immerse your soul in love

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Colin Charles Greenwood / Edward John O’Brien / Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood / Philip James Selway / Thomas Edward Yorke

Street Spirit lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Republic of Letters

Radiohead: How to Disappear Completely

That there
That’s not me
I go
Where I please

I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey
I’m not here
This isn’t happening
I’m not here
I’m not here

In a little while
I’ll be gone
The moment’s already passed
Yeah, it’s gone
And I’m not here
This isn’t happening
I’m not here
I’m not here

Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes
I’m not here
This isn’t happening
I’m not here
I’m not here

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Colin Charles Greenwood / Edward John O’Brien / Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood / Philip James Selway / Thomas Edward Yorke

How to Disappear Completely lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc