Tom Sawyer Lyrics-Who Wrote What?

[Agharta1975]

I thought this would be fun, Tom Sawyer is arguably Rush’s most well known song, but not many people know the lyrics were a collaboration, and even fewer know who wrote what. This is pure speculation on my part but I think I've managed to highlight Neil Peart and Pye Dubois' contributions.

I have no "credentials" other than the fact I’ve enjoyed their lyrics in both of their respective bands and thought it would be fun to see if I could highlight their contribution.

I’d love to hear opinions on this and more intriguingly has anyone ever seen Pye’s original lyrics?

First a little back story on the creation of the lyrics from Wikipedia:

The song was written by Lee, Peart, and guitarist Alex Lifeson in collaboration with Canadian lyricist Pye Dubois (the lyricist of Max Webster), who also co-wrote other Rush songs such as "Force Ten," "Between Sun and Moon," and "Test For Echo." "Tom Sawyer" came about during a summer rehearsal holiday that Rush spent at Ronnie Hawkins' farm outside Toronto. Peart was presented with a poem by Dubois named "Louis the Lawyer" (often cited as "Louis the Warrior") that he modified and expanded. Lee and Lifeson then helped set the poem to music. In the December 1985 Rush Backstage Club newsletter, drummer and lyricist Neil Peart said:
“ Tom Sawyer was collaboration between me and Pye Dubois, an excellent lyricist who wrote the lyrics for Max Webster. His original lyrics were kind of a portrait of a modern day rebel, a free-spirited individualist striding through the world wide-eyed and purposeful. I added the themes of reconciling the boy and man in myself, and the difference between what people are and what others perceive them to be - namely me I guess."

Tom Sawyer
Lyrics-Neil Peart & Pye Dubois-Music-Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

Neil Peart:

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day's events

Pye Dubois:

The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Neil Peart:

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

Pye Dubois:

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide


Neil Peart:

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to
The friction of the day

Let's discuss!

 

[Estring]

What about Mark Twain?

 

[Agharta1975]

What about Mark Twain?

Well, since Rush didn't credit him neither did I.

 

[spideyjack]

i think maybe some Oak trees ghost wrote some of it

 

[Permanent Waves]

It is the quintessential Rush song imo, and as Ged has said himself. But I'm not actually sure who wrote what (I don't pay attention to trivia like that). You'd find the answer on any respectable Rush forum though filled with Rust nuts. My guess would be it is a true collaboration with neither writing distinct sections. Since it started off as a Pye song, Neil obviously changed it, probably mostly to his own words. That is, he took the original meaning and lyrics and molded them into his own. Probably no specific lines should actually be attributed to Pye, more the original idea which Neil thus gave him credit for. Speculation here though.

I do know that these lyrics have resonated with me for 20 years now:

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant

No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government

Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is


Nothing really profound there, but easily memorable and succinct statements nonetheless.

 

[parman]

It's the only Rush song I like so I guess whatever they did worked.

 

[michaelhigh]

I have "Ghost Rider", Neil's memoirs of a motorcycle trip across Canada and through the States, down through Mexico into Central America IIRC. Great read, if you can find it. I got mine at GW for a buck. I love rock biographies and finding good hard backs like this.