Songfacts®:

• Clockwork Angels is a concept album about a young man's quest to follow his dreams, in which he travels across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk, alchemy and lost cities. Real world history inspired drummer and lyricist Neil Peart as he developed the tale. "The Seven Cities of Gold always fascinated me," he told Rolling Stone. "Southwestern US history especially fascinates me. The whole spur of the Spanish exploration of the Southwestern US was the search for these mythical Seven Cities of Gold. The Spanish ones would go back to Mexico City and say, 'I saw it! I saw it! I just couldn't get to it, but I could see this city of gold in the distance!' They kept believing it and sending expeditions."
• Producer Nick Raskulinecz discussed his production work on this song with MusicRadar.com. He said: "There's a lot going on, so as a producer, I want to make sure that we don't lose the song. I love the way it builds up, coming out of this chaotic funk, and then you have Neil just slamming. It makes me want to drive fast.
  
  We created a lot of spacey stuff in the middle section," he continued. "For his solo, Alex (Lifeson, guitar) played live off the floor. We put him out in the room with his headphones on, and he was right in front of his amp. We wanted to get the screaming feedback coming at him. I think he nailed it in one take. I'm so privileged to have witnessed it - and many moments like it."