A Passage To Bangkok

by

Rush

Album: 2112     Released: 1976

UK Chart: 41

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This song is about the travails of using marijuana and opium, which is grown in Bangkok).

In the book Contents Under Pressure: 30 years of Rush by Martin Popoff, Alex Lifeson admits to smoking hashish (a high-grade form of marijuana) after some dental work in the early seventies. In the book Traveling Music: The Soundtrack To My Life And Times by Neil Peart, he admits to using recreational drugs including marijuana and LSD as a youth. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2)

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Comments:

One of my favorite Rush songs.
- Amber , San Francisco, CA

Rush is one of americas greatest bands ever. This is the best song about a ferrari ever made.
- Matt , Washington Township , NJ

Rush is one of americas greatest bands ever. This is the best song about a ferrari ever made.
- Matt , Washington Township , NJ

RUSH is amazing. I love the guitar at the beginning of this song.
- Trey , Kalamazoo, MT

The whole 2112 album was written by Neil Peart, Heavy,Very Heavy!The best album to date! IronHawg.com
- Matt , Hometown, PA

If I were President of the United States, I would legalize weed and send everyone 18 and over a HEMPconomic stimulus dimebag. After all we need to support the HEMPconomy. Oh yeah, and a pack of wraps(rolling papers) too!
- Jason , Denver, CO

Rush... never been known to use illegal substances? lol.
- Jeff , Chicago, IL

I love it. A song about getting stoned on some good smoke! Excellent! lol
- Malicious Matt , Squatney, -

the song is about taking the old hippe trails that led down into bangkok, it is heavilly influenced by drugs, "the fragrence of afganistan" being an obvious lyric. I do prefer the stage left one, maily due to the cowbells at the beginning :)
- dan , london, United Kingdom

I love this song, probably the strongest on 2112. I much prefer this to the title track...(and most of side 2 for that matter). Really love the riff...the vocal melody, etc. Still enjoy it when they dig this one up and play it live.
- John , Asheville, NC

Drugs? I thought the only thing Geddy snorted was helium! :o
- Gregg , Coralville, IA

I agree with Jesse, the stage left version of this song is freakin awesome. i was curious about that sound and how it was produced as my friend and i have been trying to replicate it for years but couldnt get that deep resonance that geddy is filling into alex's solo..great call man thanks! RUSH IS
- william , Twin Falls, ID

Yes, that 'songfact' about Coleridge using LSD really does need to be changed. Also, opium was commonly used in Coleridge's day and no one thought twice about it. As "laudanum" which is a small amount of opium mixed with water, it was used the way we would use aspirin to cure a headache or back pain, or as a sleep aid. Bet you won't have dreams like that on Lunesta!
- Ekristheh , Halath, United States

"Xanadu," which is based on a poem written by a poet who was on LSD at the time. (thanks, James - Los Angeles, CA) No, dumbass. It was written by samuel Taylor Coleridge, an 18th/19th century poet who was addicted to opium. LSD was invented in 1938.
- ryan , Seattle, WA

I have to agree with Jesse. The version on Exit Stage Left sounds better than the studio version. The other highlight of that polished up live album is the drum solo on YYZ.
- Ruben Rodriguez , miami, FL

I remember driving down the road with my friend in his 86 mustang back in the day. And we were listening to this song on the radio while getting high and realized at the same time 'this is about drugs!'. Needless to say, he decided that it was wise to slow down from the 80 mph he was doing at the time. Best Regards, CHOW
- CHOW , Saint Louis, MO

Xanadu is based on the Poem "Kubla Kahn", By Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who died over 100 years before LSD was invented. The poem by his own admission was written after having fallen asleep after reading "The Travels of Marco Polo" and having an Opium induced Dream.
- Kyle , Lancaster, PA

Love the Exit Stage Left version of this song. During the live performances of this song Geddy Lee provided backing guitar during the guitar solo, using his Moog Taurus Pedals to supply the bottom end.
- Jesse , L.A., CA

About a comment above, marijuana is not grown right in Bangkok (though a it's a big city--how could say 100% for sure...) I'll admit Bangkok has certainly changed dramatically over the years. No doubt, Bangkok (and Thailand in general) was mentioned in the 60s and 70s as a dope-smoker's paradise, but things have changed. Now it's a huge modern city, and like a true Rush nerd, as I was taking a train toward their recently, I had to slap on THE SONG for my arrival "aboard the Thailand Express."
- Brian , Taipei, Taiwan

The poem referred to above is called "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. However, the poet was not under the influence of LSD. It is a matter of speculation that he dreamed of this poem during a drug-induced/influenced sleep. If true, the drug was laudanum (an opiate derivative). He was an addict.
- Jeffrey , San Antonio, TX

If you listen closely, just before the guitar solo in the middle of the song, Geddy takes a long hard haul on a super-joint!!!!
- Domenic , Brantford, Canada

In the book, "Contents Under Pressure: 30 years of Rush" by Martin Popoff, Alex Lifeson admits to smoking hashish (a high-grade form of marijuana) after some dental work in the early seventies. In the book "Traveling Music: The Soundtrack To My Life And Times" by Neil Peart, Neil Peart admits to using recreational drugs including marijuana and LSD as a youth.
- Mike , Mountlake Terrace, Washington

The term "Midnight Oil" does indeed refer to hashish, and later inspired the name of the Australian hard-rock act Midnight Oil, who had a massive hit with "Beds Are Burning" in 1990.
- Dave , Cardiff, Wales

Yup, this song is about colombian and mexican weed (acapulco gold) "sweet jamaican pipe dreams" refers to jamaicas #1 export=weed and the "oil" that they are burining is hashish.
- Jason , monterrey, Mexico

It's About traveling the world and smoking drugs from different countries.
- Bill , Sacramento, CA

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