The Wreckers
by Rush

Album: Clockwork Angels (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Clockwork Angels is a concept album about a young man's quest to follow his dreams, in which he encounters pirates during his travels across an alternative world. Drummer and lyricist Neil Peart told Rolling Stone how a Daphne Du Maurier story inspired this melancholy song. "This Daphne Du Maurier novel Jamaica Inn describes these people called 'The Wreckers' on the coast of the Cornwall in Britain." he explained. "They would not would not only plunder shipwrecks, but they would actually put up a fake light and attract the ships in a storm to crash on their shores so they could loot them. It's just a shocking example of inhumanity, and it happens to be a true story. I wove it all of that into the story of this album."
  • Guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist Geddy Lee switched instruments for the writing of the song, but they went back when it was time to get serious. Producer Nick Raskulinecz told MusicRadar.com: "The song didn't exist until we were in the studio – there was no demo of it. Geddy was in the writing room, playing guitar, and Alex came in and picked up the bass. So the song was written with the two of them playing what aren't their main instruments.

    It's probably what gives it such a different feel," he continued. "I tried to get the two of them to switch for the tracking - Alex on bass and Geddy on guitar - but they decided to stick to their designated instruments."
  • At first Lifeson struggled with the part Lee wrote for him. Said Raskulinecz to MusicRadar: "The tune is so big, it's got such bounce and swing, but it took some effort. The guitar part in the verse was probably the hardest thing on the record for us to find. Alex had some difficulty playing the part Geddy had written - it was great, but it didn't feel right to him. He had to search for the right part, and it took all day with me going, 'Nope, that's not it… Nope, that's not it.' Finally, he stumbled onto a picking figure, and Geddy and I just stood up and went, 'That's it! That's the part.' The tune came together real fast after that."

Comments: 1

  • Moosehead from Sclove this one. and if you do too, check out everday glory. very similar from counterparts.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.