Marathon
by Rush

Album: Power Windows (1985)
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  • It's not how fast you can go
    The force goes into the flow
    If you pick up the beat
    You can forget about the heat
    More than just survival
    More than just a flash
    More than just a dotted line
    More than just a dash

    It's a test of ultimate will
    The heartbreak climb uphill
    Got to pick up the pace
    If you want to stay in the race
    More than blind ambition
    More than simple greed
    More than a finish line
    (More than a finish line)
    Must feed this burnin' need
    (Must feed this burnin' need)
    In the long run

    From first to last
    Peak is never passed
    Somethin' always fires the light
    That gets in your eyes
    One moment's high
    And glory rolls on by
    Like a streak of lightning
    That flashes and fades
    In the summer sky

    Your meters may overload
    You can rest at the side of the road
    You can miss a stride
    But nobody gets a free ride
    More than high performance
    More than just a spark
    More than just the bottom line
    Or a lucky shot in the dark
    In the long run

    From first to last
    Peak is never passed
    Somethin' always fires the light
    That gets in your eyes
    One moment's high
    And glory rolls on by
    Like a streak of lightning
    That flashes and fades
    In the summer sky

    You can do a lot in a lifetime
    If you don't burn out too fast
    You can make the most of the distance
    First you need endurance
    First you've got to last

    From first to last
    Peak is never passed
    Somethin' always fires that light
    That gets in your eyes
    One moment's high
    And glory rolls on by
    Like a streak of lightning
    That flashes and fades
    In the summer sky

    From first to last
    Peak is never passed
    Somethin' always fires the light
    That gets in your eyes
    One moment's high
    And glory rolls on by
    Like a streak of lightning
    That flashes and fades
    In the summer sky Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Geddy Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
    Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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.
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