Album: Power Windows (1985)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Neil Peart told Canadian Composer, April 1986, that "Marathon" is about "the triumph of time and a kind of message to myself (because I think life is too short for all the things that I want to do)." He added: "There's a self-admonition saying that life is long enough. You can do a lot - just don't burn yourself out too fast trying to do everything at once. 'Marathon' is a song about individual goals and trying to achieve them. And it's also about the old Chinese proverb: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
• In the April 1986 issue of Guitar Player magazine, Alex Lifeson was asked if any tracks on the album were specially difficult to cut. He replied: "It's funny. There's always one song that you're terrified of doing. You think it's going to be really tough, and Marathon was the one. We wrote it and thought, 'This song is going to be like pulling teeth once we get in the studio.' Of course, we get into the studio and it's a breeze. And a song like Emotion Detector, which we thought would be a breeze, was the killer. It was very, very difficult to get the mood right. I'm still not really sold on that song. It never ended up sounding the way I had hoped it would. But the Marathon solo was probably the easiest of all the solos to do." >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2

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:

Take Me HomePhil Collins

Phil Collins' "Take Me Home" is about a patient in a mental institution and was inspired by the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Last NightGood Charlotte

Good Charlotte's video for "Last Night" reconstructs the TV show "Family Double Dare," complete with host Marc Summers.

Man On the MoonR.E.M.

"Man On The Moon" by R.E.M. is about the comedian Andy Kaufman, who often seemed like he was from another planet.

Red Red WineUB40

UB40's cover of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" was a minor hit when first released in 1983, but it went to #1 five years later when radio stations in Phoenix started playing it.

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

You're BeautifulJames Blunt

The James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" is not romantic: it's a about a creepy subway encounter with an ex.

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.