Second Nature
by Rush

Album: Hold Your Fire (1987)
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  • A memo to a higher office
    Open letter to the powers that be
    To a God, a King, a head of state
    A captain of industry
    To the movers and the shakers
    Can't everybody see?

    It ought to be second nature
    I mean, the places where we live
    Let's talk about this sensibly
    We're not insensitive
    I know progress has no patience
    But something's got to give

    I know you're different
    You know I'm the same
    We're both too busy
    To be taking the blame

    I'd like some changes
    But you don't have the time
    We can't go on thinking
    It's a victimless crime

    No one is blameless
    But we're all without shame
    We fight the fire
    While we're feeding the flames

    Folks have got to make choices
    And choices got to have voices
    Folks are basically decent
    Conventional wisdom would say

    Well, we read about
    The exceptions
    In the papers every day

    It ought to be second nature
    At least, that's what I feel
    "Now I lay me down in Dreamland"
    I know perfect's not for real
    I thought we might get closer
    But I'm ready to make a deal

    Today is different
    And tomorrow the same
    It's hard to take the world
    The way that it came

    Too many rapids
    Keep us sweeping along
    Too many captains
    Keep on steering us wrong

    It's hard to take the heat
    It's hard to lay blame
    To fight the fire
    While we're feeding the flames Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
    Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Mr Mobius from The UniversePatrick from Bedford TX should dive head first into a wood chipper.
  • Patrick from Bedford, Tx...I meant Second Nature, not Prime Mover. So, a weak-ass 80s pop song aggrandizing a high school sophomore's s--tty opinions? I am not nearly high enough for this. Time to remedy that, then onto Prime Mover!
  • John from Asheville, NcI like this song a lot from Hold Your Fire. The lyrics always have a renewed relevance....as things can always be better. I love that the song is a plea for common sense. Really nice (though benign) musical melody behind it. Definitely lyrically and melody driven.
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