I couldn’t imagine a better band to have playing on your wedding day. Combine Niel Peart’s next level drum beats with Geddy Lee’s mind bending bass lines and captivating lyrics, and you’re immediately sent into another dimension. If that’s not enough, add Alex Lifeson’s soaring guitar licks, filled with emotion and feeling lead to a place of pure bliss and beauty. It’s no wonder you want to add some of Rush’s magic into your wedding day. Here we’ve picked out some of our favorite Rush songs that riff on the theme of love.
Ghost Of A Chance
The first song that comes to mind is “Ghost of a Chance.” The theme of the song is instantly recognizable, but perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this song is the lyrical inspiration. The song talks about all the paths in life, and how each choice can lead us to so many different places. The protagonist in the song expresses their incredulity that there is a “guiding hand of fate” or some predetermined path that we are destined for. Yet somehow they still believe that through determination and the “ghost of a chance” they can “find someone to love and make it last.”
Entre Nous
Entre Nous is another brilliant love song from Rush, and perfect for playing during the wedding party. The song talks about how each person is a completely unique mix of experience and perspective. It speaks of how it’s practically impossible to see the world from someone else’s eyes and that we are all “strangers to each other.” Yet somehow, despite our differences, we still orbit around one another, especially someone we love. The song gives us an idea of what trying to understand someone more deeply might look like. This is best put in the lyric: “the spaces in between leave room for you and I to grow.”
This is the crux of a marriage. Differences in character are opportunities for learning and deeper understanding. After all, who wants to embark on a journey that is predictable, or a path so clearly charted that there is no room for development? Entre Nous sets the stage for a marriage aimed at bringing personal growth, wisdom and understanding.
Dreamline
If your relationship is defined by excitement and adventure, Dreamline is the perfect song for your wedding reception. It paints a picture of two young lovers setting off on an exciting journey. The energy of the song is upbeat and colorful – vividly painting a picture of two people on a relentless search to discover what life is all about. They understand that time and youth are limited. They want to use their lives “wandering the face of the earth” and figuring out what their “dreams might be worth.” It seems like they will never settle down, and that wanderlust will lead them “straight to the heart of the sun.” The song gives the vibe of a wild romance – perfect for the wedding shaped by a whirlwind love story.
Time Stand Still
This classic from the 1987 “Hold Your Fire” Album, is sure to be a hit with everyone at the wedding party. Especially on wedding day, it might feel as if time is slowing down. It’s a surreal moment when all your favorite people gather together to celebrate love and the beauty of building family, community and connections. There’s no better song than Time Stands Still to capture this feeling of awe and appreciation for the beauty of life. This line sums up the song pretty well: “I’m not looking back, but I want to look around me now. (Time stand still). See more of the people and the places that surround me now.”
A wedding is the perfect time to reflect on the importance of all your relationships. To look around and appreciate all the people who have come with you on the journey of finding love. There’s no better time than your wedding to be present, drink every single moment, and watch “experience slip away.”
Prime Mover
Although you might not initially recognize it as a love song, Prime Mover could be the perfect catch to play during your celebration. Also from ‘Hold Your Fire,’ this rhythmic masterpiece inspires the listener to think about all the possibilities in life. It speaks of the chain reaction of so many events in the universe and that from the “point of ignition” or the “point of conception….anything can happen.” From that initial spark when two people meet for the first time, to the exchange of wedding vows, and eventually a life of possibilities, love is very much like this dynamic machine. One of the most captivating lines is “The point of the journey is not to arrive.” Similarly, marriage is not some sort of destination, but rather a “point of ignition.”
Although there are definitely more Rush songs that might be great for your wedding day, hopefully this was a good place to start. Good luck on putting together a rockin’ playlist for your big day!
-Bernard Paul