Chemistry by Rush - Songfacts

Album: Signals (1982)

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This is basically about how chemistry is defined, precise in it's own nature. When you add one thing to another it's ALWAYS the same. In contrast, when human individuals connect it's always a different outcome.
In a 1986 issue of Guitar for the Practicing Musician, Alex Lifeson said: "Very often the guys will have worked out something musically and made a tape of it for which they have nothing particular in mind. 'Grand Designs,' on the last album, was done that way. They had the musical ideas laid out and just made a little tape for me with guitar, keyboards and drum machine, and I had that. So, again, if I'm stumped on something that I've been working on, I pull out that tape and try to close my mind off for a minute and listen to the tape. 'Chemistry' was a true collaboration between the three of us. The other guys had a couple of key phrases they wanted to express, so they gave me the music. That was easy because all the groundwork was done. Playing with words comes so much easier than having to dream up the whole thing." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2
While most Rush songs are written solely by drummer Neil Peart, the lyrics and music on this song are credited to Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart. This is the last song that either Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson are given credit for lyrics. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Matthew Daubert - Mequon, WI

Comments: 9

Rooty74 from LaVery underrated and overlooked song, musically and lyrically, one of Alex’s best. One must not overlook the clever placement of this song in between Analog Kid and Digital Man
Taizo from Mercato San Severino, ItalyOne,two,three Add without subtraction...It sounds like Single, couple,family. It happened to me.
Paul from Fredericksburg, VaAfter having strayed away from RUSH for a very long time, Clockwork Angels came along and it made me hunger to re-discover this band's music. It made me realize there are few truths in this world. One of them is RUSH is truly something to behold and to appreciate. I smile everytime I hear an intro to any RUSH song. What is truly wonderful is when you trip upon a forgotten classic; which is any song by RUSH that isn't in "heavy rotation" on the radio. That seems to be their etire library these days, but I tripped upon this and I got the S--t Eating grin on my face and couldn't stop smiling for hours.
Elias from Buffalo, Nyi have always interpreted this number as a love song, disguised as an extremely cerebral, scientific piece of art describing what makes relationships between 2 people (or elements) work..'signal transmitted, message received'...'emotion transmitted, emotion received'....the chorus is all metaphor and poetic, never gave me a full feeling that i was in lab class, more like trying to impress my chick, in a nerdy rush like way...the question is then asked 'Oh, but how do we make contact with one another?' ' electricity? biology?' ...that sounds sexual in nature, but the writers respond with... 'seems to me it's chemistry'...the electricity and biology are easy just like sex, but without the chemistry between the two lovers, they cannot coexist together.
Jim from Mburg, PaThis was a really cool song to see live during the '83 Signals tour. When I saw them play it, Alex did the taurus pedal part while playing guitar ("Eye to eye...") and it truly blew me away because I'd never seen a band do that before, plus I always wondered how they did it on the album.
Eric from Bend, OrI always thought it was interesting that Rush did a song about science (and specifically, chemistry). But I've always enjoyed Rush's thoughtful lyrics.
John from Asheville, NcI've always enjoyed this one from Signals.
Jesse from L.a., CaI always thought that the lyrics to this song should be in every science classroom!
David from Reading, EnglandThat reads like it's a quote by Neil Peart, lyricist and drummer, rather than by Alex Lifeson.

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