Album: Power Windows (1985)

License This Song 

• It's not how fast you can go
  The force goes into the flow
  If you pick up the beat
  You can forget about the heat
  More than just survival
  More than just a flash
  More than just a dotted line
  More than just a dash
  
  It's a test of ultimate will
  The heartbreak climb uphill
  Got to pick up the pace
  If you want to stay in the race
  More than blind ambition
  More than simple greed
  More than a finish line
  (More than a finish line)
  Must feed this burnin' need
  (Must feed this burnin' need)
  In the long run
  
  From first to last
  Peak is never passed
  Somethin' always fires the light
  That gets in your eyes
  One moment's high
  And glory rolls on by
  Like a streak of lightning
  That flashes and fades
  In the summer sky
  
  Your meters may overload
  You can rest at the side of the road
  You can miss a stride
  But nobody gets a free ride
  More than high performance
  More than just a spark
  More than just the bottom line
  Or a lucky shot in the dark
  In the long run
  
  From first to last
  Peak is never passed
  Somethin' always fires the light
  That gets in your eyes
  One moment's high
  And glory rolls on by
  Like a streak of lightning
  That flashes and fades
  In the summer sky
  
  You can do a lot in a lifetime
  If you don't burn out too fast
  You can make the most of the distance
  First you need endurance
  First you've got to last
  
  From first to last
  Peak is never passed
  Somethin' always fires that light
  That gets in your eyes
  One moment's high
  And glory rolls on by
  Like a streak of lightning
  That flashes and fades
  In the summer sky
  
  From first to last
  Peak is never passed
  Somethin' always fires the light
  That gets in your eyes
  One moment's high
  And glory rolls on by
  Like a streak of lightning
  That flashes and fades
  In the summer sky Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Geddy Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
  Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Darren from UkI've seen Rush everytime they've been to the UK for the past 30 years. What a group, my favs. Recently I lost my job, racing around to get back into work, had a complete meltdown, lost weight, but now I am on a good recovery pattern. What a song. Don't keep rushing and racing around, although life puts you against it at times. The moral of the jibberish: life's a MARATHON not a sprint. Enjoy your life and take it as a MARATHON.
• Deron from Clifton Hts, PaI was a runner 25 yrs ago and now I'm trying to get back in my prime shape and this song helps a lot. Plus I'm building a race car for 1/4 mile track it's a (73 Plymouth Road Runner)and it is my Red Barchetta.But anyway this song makes me push everything to the limit weather it be me or my cars. Deron,West Brook park PA.
• Rufus from Wheeling, WvLove the bass line(s) on this one; love the version from A Show of Hands.
• Parvez from San Francisco, CaThe lyric "At first, to last" is a phrase used by one of Napolean's generals. I can't remember the French.
• Jaakko from Pudasjärvi, FinlandThis is one of my favourite Rush songs. Dunno what else to say, it's just brilliant.
• Chen from Yichang, ChinaChinese proverb: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
  
  yeah，its "千里之行,始于足下"
• Mike from Escondido, CaThe middle instrumental part of "Marathon" is wonderful. One of the best the band has ever done!
• John from Asheville, NcI've always like this song. Love how the pace reflects the lyrical theme. Love the warm keyboard splashes during the chorus. Song has a feeling of triumph to it without being overly dramatic in the keyboards...which a lot of 80s tunes suffer from. Rush always knows when to use their instruments as accents and rarely overdoes it. Nice temperment here too.
• Reed from Cincinnati, OhI'm 16 years of age, have run only track and cross country as sports for the past 5 years, love the song... Also my warm up song... I always thought Getti said "from first to last, the week kids never past"
• Aaron Edward Sarka from Seward, Aki'm a cross-country runner, this is my warm-up song
• David from Peterborough, Canadasweet son, has real meaning like keep oing to achieve your goals.
• David from Port Hawkesbury, CanadaI was at a track and field meet a couple weeks ago, and I'm in high jump, and you always get that feeling that maybe youre gonna hit the bar, or something will go wrong, I think this song says that perfectly.

More Songfacts:

Eternal FlameBangles

The Bangles song "Eternal Flame" was inspired by a display at Graceland that honored Elvis Presley.

StayLisa Loeb

"Stay" by Lisa Loeb was the first #1 hit by an unsigned artist. It got a boost from Ethan Hawke, who got it into a movie he starred in called Reality Bites.

I Walk The LineJohnny Cash

In "I Walk The Line," Johnny Cash hums before each verse. He did this to get his pitch, as the song changes key several times.

Livin' La Vida LocaRicky Martin

"Livin' La Vida Loca" is a Latin pop landmark, but "la vida loca" are the only Spanish words in the lyric - "mocha" is English.

MachineheadBush

An Allen Ginsberg line from his poem Howl inspired "Machinehead" by Bush: "Machine says I saw the best minds of my generation."

Money For NothingDire Straits

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler got the idea for "Money For Nothing" after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV.

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?