Album: Moving Pictures (1981)

License This Song 

• Grim-faced and forbidding
  Their faces closed tight
  An angular mass of New Yorkers
  Pacing in rhythm
  Race the oncoming night
  They chase through the streets of Manhattan
  Head-first humanity
  Pause at a light
  Then flow through the streets of the city
  
  They seem oblivious
  To a soft spring rain
  Like an English rain
  So light, yet endless
  From a leaden sky, yeah
  
  The buildings are lost
  In their limitless rise
  My feet catch the pulse
  And the purposeful stride
  
  I feel the sense of possibilities
  I feel the wrench of hard realities
  The focus is sharp in the city
  
  Wide-angle watcher
  On life's ancient tales
  Steeped in the history of London
  Green and Grey washes
  In a wispy white veil
  Mist in the streets of Westminster
  Wistful and weathered
  The pride still prevails
  Alive in the streets of the city
  
  Are they oblivious
  To this quality?
  A quality
  Of light unique to every city's streets
  
  Pavements may teem
  With intense energy
  But the city is calm
  In this violent sea
  
  I feel the sense of possibilities
  I feel the wrench of hard realities
  The focus is sharp in the city Writer/s: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
  Publisher: Anthem Entertainment
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 40

• Chris W from Newcastle-upon-time8:56 is clearly somebody saying hello and the reply is: "Alright, gov?", the gov. being short for governor. It's an English expression, particularly associated with London. It's just another way of saying hello, my friend. Simple as that.
• Bob from New York, LondonSome people have been making some silly guesses about what can be heard in the background at around 8:56.
  But I know Gedy and he told me what it actually said.
  
  So it's
  "I am purchasing bannas at the store, do you want me to get anything for you?"
  Followed by
  "No, I'm OK, I have an apple"
  
  It's so obvious, once you hear you see.
  
  LOL I can't believe some of the silly ideas you people had.
• Philosyphilis from ScThe "outtake" at 8:56 is a mic clicking on and one person saying "Ello?" and then the other saying "Right, Gov", both in an English accent. It's plain as day when listening to only the vocal track, which is readily available by searching for remix stems rush camera eye.
• Jackson from NevadaThis title is directly taken from the John Dos Passos novel and the song is an attempt to use his stream of consciousness style of writing. He is relating his experiences in New York and especially in London where he spent a lot of his early years. The goal was to present those experiences in a universal way that are both unique to the cities themselves as well as something the listener could experience themselves. From Peart's interview with George Stroumboulopoulos.
• Klash from MichiganRecently listened to this song from the MP 30th anniversary DVD with Dolby surround sound 5.1.
  Anybody know the reason for the crazy madman banging away on a mechanical typewriter during the first 60 seconds?
  Clear as day from the right rear speaker on the Dolby mix.
• Justin from Frenchtown, Njhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBejfTRq7HE If you listen to that, you can clearly hear Geddy say "Hello. Morning Gov!"
• Mike from Cold Spring Harbor, NyRegarding 8:56, have a listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCqOkrja1wk (the spot is at 2:23). This is the lead vocal track only. Actually, it must be a take - not what wound up on the record (you can hear the subtle differences in more than one spot). This is your best evidence of what is said at 8:56 which is one person saying "Hello" and another person saying "G'Morn, Gov" - a very contracted and English version of "Good Morning, Governor." As Austin Powers said to his Dad, "Let's talk English English." If you would like another challenge, give a very close listen to the isolated vocal track and see how many spots you can find that are different from what wound up on the record (or CD to you younger guys). One thing is for sure, Geddy has an amazing voice and you can hear the intensity and focus in his delivery during this take.
  
  
  
• Dusty from St. Louis, MoMike! Yes they did!!!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!
• Byron from Paragould, Ar, ArOne of the band's true masterpieces and one of the finest rock songs ever written
• José Mauro from Recife, BrazilThe 8:56 voice is "Boa Tarde". Means "Good afternoon" in portuguese. I'm absolutely sure about it. When the album was realesed all my friends called my attention for that. Ask to a native speaker...It's clear to any hears.
• Rufus from Wheeling, WvGoing to the show in Pittsburgh in September and I can't wait to hear this live.
• Mike from Daie, Flthey're performing it live on the time machine tour!
• Callum from Dorchester , United KingdomIt is blatantly obvious that the background noise at 8 minutes and 56 seconds is Geddy Lee trying to portray a Londoners accent (saying: "ellow, alright/morning Gov"(Governor)).Thereby establishing a street ambiance reinforcing the "hustle and bustle" of London during this segment of "The Camera Eye".
  
  Click on this link to hear this clearly:
  
  http://www.musicintheabstract.org/rush-oddities/audio/the-camera-englishmen.mp3
  
  It is by no means flatulence or belching, do you really think Rush would include such material in their music?
  
  Any back ground noise would have surely been edited out!(Moving pictures was recorded digitally)
• Philip from Spokane, WaSo I just listened to the 8:56 part several times with some high end in-ear monitors and what i interpret from it is some sort of burp or fart (doesn't sound like a real word to me) then "Gross alex" but the mind hears what it wants to hear... Until we have some solid proof from either Geddy, Alex, or Neil I believe that it will remain inconclusive.
• Mary from Phoenix, AzI listened to it several times, and I agree with Sherman, in Alaska. Although to me, it DOES sound like a burp, and then "mornin', Duff".
• Tim from Colorado Springs, CoSherman mentions that "Duff" is a Scotish slang for dark-haired, but I learned that "Duff" (in the UK) is slang for someone who is considered lazy. Someone that doesn't "get off their duff to do anything."
• Glenn from San Jose, Ca"The Camera Eye" to me is a song about vision. It serves me so much in 2 ways, in my overall day gig and in my other world as a musician.
  
  In business, I am constantly looking for new ideas, and every so often I have to remind myself to analyze risks too. That's what "strength of possibilities/wrench of hard realities" means to me. It's both optimistic and realistic. There's a tension in between that keeps me going and also tells me to pause and reflect.
  
  Musically, the song uses this technique called half-stepping. It first happens at "They seem oblivious to a soft spring rain." The guitar plays 3 notes at a time; in one part the first 3 start on F the next time the first 3 start on G-flat. The distance between F and G-flat (or F-sharp) is a half step. It's such a simple thing to do and also creates beautiful tension. I do this on keys, and it always gets a reaction yet it's so easy. (I love it when non-musicians ask me "what was that?" and I attribute it to Rush!)
  
  
• Joe from Manchester, Njat 8:56 there actualy somebody saying "Ello, Gov" i know this by two ways: 1. in the game rock band this song is downloadable as dlc and when singing it say that phrase and in the cd there are lyrics and it say it in there
• Weston from Atlanta, InRush are so great at creating imagery withing their songs both musically and lyrically. "An angular mass of New Yorkers, pacing in rhythmn, race the oncoming night.Pavements may teem with intense energy, but the city is calm in this violent sea." Amazing.
• Matt from St. Louis, MoOne of the best bass lines i've ever heard! =]
• Matt from St. Louis, MoNo at 8:56, Neil hit himself with a drumstick and Geddy said, "Hey, are you ok?".
• Tom from Buffalo, NyOn 8:56, I recall hearing an interview with the boys about this. As I recall, the first "word", is actually Alex farting. Then, Geddy comes on and says "Gross, Alex". Sorry I don't have the exact reference, but I kid you not, this is what was presented.
• Melanie from Seattle, WaGeddy Lee's voice is absolutely amazing when he sings "They chase through the streets of Manhattan." Actually it's amazing the whole way through but I just LOVE that part. This is a great song.
• Matt from Grand Rapids, MiThe guy that wrote wikipedia claims to know the answer to the illusive "saying" at 8:56. Here is the link:
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Camera_Eye
  
  The imagry of this song as well as others by Rush is amazing (The Analog Kid). I still marvel more than 25 years later just how talented these guys are. I try to compare their music to other bands and you just cannot.
  
  The album Moving Pictures was way ahead of its time. That album could easily have passed for debuting in the 90's. Many things have come and gone in my life over the years but I can always come back to this album.
• Avlight from Anytown, NcI read in an article that the cityscape at the first part of the song was actually sampled from the first Superman movie and the end is in fact Big Ben.
  
  This song is a masterpiece and I hope they start playing it in concert again like they finally did with Natural Science.
• Sherman from Summerside, AkActually, with a bit rate of 320, @ 8:56 I hear "Ello", then "Mornin Duff" Duff is actually a scottish nickname for someone with dark hair or skin, makes sense. Do we have a winner?
• Sherman from Summerside, AkYes, this song is more than a song, it is a timeless materpiece, Im sure the reason Rush has omitted this from thier concerts is the fact that it is what it is, a masterpiece, never easily replicated and possibly near impossible to do live. As for the saying, I believe first lad says "Ello", next one says "Mornin' bub" Keep on Rockin with Rush!
• Matt from Grand Rapids, MiThis song has been a personal favorite since the 10th grade. Two equal parts, one about Manhattan and then it 'starts over' to talk about Westminster.
  
  The greatest line is "Pavements may teem with intense energy, But the city is calm in this violent sea"'
  
  At 8:56 I believe the second guy says "look, i've" almost like they are arguing a little.
  
  This is one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard.
• Chris from New Britain, CtAt 8:56, I believe one person says, "'Ello" and the other says "Goin' golfin'" I've listened many many times and that's what I hear. But, I'm a golfer so I'm a little biased.
• Eric from Beaverton, OrI was thinking about this song recently, and it occurred to me that this song would be a good tribute to those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 and in the London terrorist attacks.
• Brad from Topeka, KsI've never been a Rush fan, but this is one of the greatest songs I have ever heard. Definitely a song to crank up!
  I love how the song begins with the sounds of New York traffic, and ends with the tolling of Big Ben.
  In my opinion, the album 'Moving Pictures' was a musical masterpiece.
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesI've often wondered if Rush wrote this song intending it to be interpreted from the viewpoint of someone staniding at the window of a very tall building looking down at the busy city streets below, which, while there is always a lot of activity going on, seem really peaceful from such a viewpoint?
• Rob from Vancouver, CanadaGreat song....they really pull it off live.
• James from Westchester, EnglandI'm no musician, but I would think this would be a very difficult song to play live.
• Rich from Knoxville, TnThis is one of the last Rush songs to be truly multipart in melodic phrasing...an element of Progressive Rock.
• John from Round Rock, TxWe also had endless debates about what was said at the 8:56 mark of the sone when we were kids. I was always partial to "Gross b*stard" myself. Rush geeks unite!
• Jesse from L.a., CaThis song is a long one, but the music is mind-boggling... When the drums come in real loud in the beginning I always have to blare it. One of my faves!
• Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScGreat song1 One of the best on the album!
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesI really like the way that this song demonstrates the massive cultural differences between two cities that otherwise very much alike with their limitless pace and bustle
• Brad from Streator, Ilmike that is so amazing that someone else has mentioned the 8:56 voice,my buddies and i have for years each had our own enterpretation of what is actually being said .i truly appreciate anyone who studies rush that close.

More Songfacts:

Me And Bobby McGeeJanis Joplin

"Me And Bobby McGee" was written by Kris Kristofferson and first recorded by Roger Miller. Janis Joplin's famous version turned Bobby into a boy.

Let's Stay TogetherAl Green

Al Green's commitment classic "Let's Stay Together" launched Tina Turner's comeback when she covered the song in 1983.

1901Phoenix

The Phoenix song "1901" is about Paris. Their lead singer Thomas Mars said: "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris."

Hey NineteenSteely Dan

Steely Dan's engineer, Roger Nichols, built one of the first drum machines, which they used on "Hey Nineteen."

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz is from the perspective of Jesus Christ: "I am the chosen I'm the one."

Blame GameKanye West

Chris Rock appears on the Kanye West track "Blame Game."

Editor's Picks

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.