Rush’s Geddy Lee Got So Sick of Hearing “Tom Sawyer” That He Almost Left It off the Album

“Tom Sawyer” is not only one of the most recognizable Rush songs. The song is one of the most recognizable classic rock songs in general. Within seconds, listeners are swept into the ride the song takes them on. Neil Peart’s drum fills are iconic, and it’s difficult for any drummer not to play some air drums. Alex Lifeson’s riffs and licks are better than ever on 1981’s Moving Pictures. Along with Geddy Lee’s incredible bass and keyboard contributions to the track, his vocals are among the best of his career. It’s a standout track for the band at their peak. Moving Pictures peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200, as well as the UK Albums chart. “Tom Sawyer” peaked at No. 8 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, released as the album’s third single. Instantly becoming a staple of the band’s live shows, it’s a shock to learn that the track almost didn’t make the album.

In December 2023, Geddy Lee spoke on the track on NPR’s The World Cafe. In the interview, Lee states, “It was a very difficult song to record. Every turn, something was going wrong. When we came to mix it, there were all these technical problems because we were using one of the first computerized mixing consoles in North America at the time.”

The Song Kept Remixing Itself Due to the Use of New Recording Technology

Rush’s Geddy Lee went on to further explain, “That was in 1980, right? ’79, ’80. There was a grounding problem, and the song kept mixing itself; it kept remixing itself. So it was just…nothing was working. And, at one point, I thought, ‘Maybe we just forget this song and move on.’” Due to a mixing issue, the group had to listen to the track countless times. It truly is one of the most grueling aspects of recording that many don’t consider. The artist has to listen to the track thousands of times to ensure that fans hear the best version on their first listen. Geddy Lee said he was “so sick” of hearing “Tom Sawyer” during mixing that he nearly scrapped one of Rush’s best tracks.

“There I was, on the verge and even accepting the idea that maybe our most popular song ever would end up in the trash can.” Thankfully, the band finished the song and released one of their signature tracks. It’s hard to imagine a world where drummers couldn’t air-drum to “Tom Sawyer”.