Rush: Natural Science: One universe begets another... If nature had to start somewhere it surely had to start, there in the dark cosmos.
Today, I wanted to share with you some thoughts on my favourite Rush song, Natural Science
Whilst settling down to write this, I was simply
overwhelmed with thoughts and ideas on what to write.
The ideas that come to mind are infinite. I could
probably write a lot more about this amazing song, and probably will. You could
delightfully ponder over the enlightening, educating, and deep lyrics written
by the late author, Master drummer and percussionist, and lyricist Neil Peart,
of Rush for many seasons and more.
We enter this symphonic arrangement with seagulls. Bringing
to mind Johnathan Livingston Seagull from the same named book, written by Richard
Bach. Originally published in 1970. It is from that sky dweller's view that we the
Rock Pool.
As a child, did you visit the seashore and gaze into rock pools looking for crabs? I think a lot of us did. We picked them up and inspected them. Hopefully,
most of us returned them to their world. We found all sorts of things in those pools of
life before us.
If we take time to look back to ancient Greece, we
find the NAIADES (nymphs) gazing into these
inner worlds, created by the forces of nature. Did they stare in wonder at the magnificence
before them? The retreating sea leaves pools of eternal life. It still pleases
and entertains the curious mind today.
"When the ebbing tide retreats along the rocky
shoreline
It leaves a trail of tide pools in a short-lived
galaxy
Each microcosmic planet, a complete society
A simple kind of mirror to reflect upon our own
All the busy little creatures chasing out their
destinies
Living in their pools, they soon forget about the
sea" Neil Peart
Geddy Lee’s
voice appears. He is a Godly narrator in this entry to another world. His echoing
tones resonate over the opening bars, and hypnotically draw us in.
When you think of natural science, what
images come to mind?
Have you
ever looked at song lyrics and it has had the effect of
opening you up to a new way of thinking through the author's life-enhancing
discourse?
In line with the watery theme, Geddy’s
uplifting tone and lessons in nature sway us into the aromatic sea chanty. We
are treated to this from one of the world's finest Rock bands. We will not end
up with a tale of gentle ebb and flow though, it will develop into more.
This brings
to mind how we, just like that shoreline, in the first line, all have our
edges, the outer regions that we are contained in. Our skin, our shell, or the
extent of our everyday lives and how far or close that extends.
Do we ebb
and flow, back and forth along this rocky shoreline we experience called human
existence?
If so, do
we form patterns? Symmetry in this piece reflects the duality of nature. For,
within the perfect beat of the song with symmetrical patterns the alternating beat and asymmetrical reply highlight the music
array. The disorder and order of nature carefully play out through the
underpinning of the harmony. A quietude is simultaneously held throughout the
song, which of course serves to highlight the multiple lines of sound within
this symphony.
Natural Science
does what is expected and more. For it is somehow beyond this busy noisy world.
We settle into contemplation whilst listening. Yet, as we move through the
song, we are within that pool of life that reflects our world. We hear the
transformations, the disturbance of a ripple, and the movement of a crab maybe.
If nature
had to start somewhere it surely had to start, there in the dark cosmos. One
universe begets another...When we think of the word world, do we
think of worlds within worlds, because that is what nature, the universe, has
provided somehow? The patterns and symmetry of nature connect through what some
might see as chaos, music, space, and that tiny rock pool.
If there
are such things as gods that look down on us (which many believe still exist),
do they wonder what all the little creatures are up to below them? Could it be
that as we look into a rock pool, we are ourselves contained in one? And so on…
Worlds
within worlds within...
Images:
https://unsplash.com/@martinbennie
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