Circumstances
by Rush

Album: Hemispheres (1978)
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  • A boy alone, so far from home
    Endless rooftops from my window
    I felt the gloom of empty rooms
    On rainy afternoons
    Sometimes in confusion
    I felt so lost and disillusioned
    Innocence gave me confidence
    To go up against reality

    All the same, we take our chances
    Laughed at by time
    Tricked by circumstances
    Plus ca change
    Plus c'est la meme chose
    The more that things change
    The more they stay the same

    Now I've gained some understanding
    Of the only world that we see
    Things that I once dreamed of
    Have become reality
    These walls that still surround me
    Still contain the same old me
    Just one more who's searching for
    A world that ought to be

    All the same, we take our chances
    Laughed at by time
    Tricked by circumstances
    Plus ca change
    Plus c'est la meme chose
    The more that things change
    The more they stay the same

    All the same, we take our chances
    Laughed at by time
    Tricked by circumstances
    Plus ca change
    Plus c'est la meme chose
    The more that things change
    The more they stay the same Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
    Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 15

  • Kirk from Santa CruzLove the last chord Alex plays with that repeating echo!
  • Kirk from Santa CruzThis did get "some" airplay in California. I first heard it heard it on the school bus, back to back, with The Trees. I bought tickets for that tour shortly after for the album Hemispheres. Probably my favorite Prog track ever, despite the lack of a guitar solo from Alex.
  • Rufus from Wheeling, WvOkay, maybe this is my least favorite Rush album, though Circumstances and La Villa Strangiato save it.
  • Billy from Brick, NjI Believe "Plus ca change
    Plus c'est la meme chose" translates to: "The more that things change
    The more they stay the same."

  • Bob from Nipomo, CaWhat does the french passage mean?
  • Olivier from Alma, QcI like the french passage...Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...
  • John from Asheville, NcI love the prog at work here....and Geddy's vocal delivery. Very good song. Was glad to hear this live last tour. Really strong album....strong song.
  • Mike from Columbus, OhP.S. I went to see a cousin in the early 80's and she hadn't heard of Rush. I thought she was out of her mind. She liked rock but I guess they weren't in playlist rotation in Savannah, GA. back then.
  • Mike from Columbus, OhThis song gets good airplay on our "classic" radio station in columbus. Most people I know that like RUSH are fairly educated, it seems. It's hard to compare any other band to the one and only Rush! They are mega-inspirational to me.
  • Brad from Chicago, IlIf he didn't sing in French...it would've gotten airplay in America.
  • Wil from Milwaukee, WiI agree...one of my favorite Rush songs. I think it is a better tune than The Trees, which is played often.
  • Paul from Spring, TxI agree with Peter, I never understood why I never heard this on the radio. I guess I just don't understand what makes a song "worthy of radio time"
  • Peter from Newark, NyI always thought that this song was hit material, or at least should have gotten some airplay.
  • Mike from Philadelphia, PaI love the lyrics. This is a powerful song.
  • Jesse from L.a., CaThe simple keyboard part Ged plays in the middle of this song is sooo cool!
see more comments

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