# Force Ten (song)

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1987 single by Rush

"Force Ten" Promotional single by Rush from the album Hold Your Fire Released September 1987 Recorded 1987 Genre Rock new wave Length 4:33 Label Mercury Songwriters Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson Neil Peart Pye Dubois Producers Peter Collins Rush

"**Force Ten**" is a song written, produced and performed by [Canadian](/source/Canadians) rock band [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)), released as a [promotional single](/source/Promotional_single) from their album *[Hold Your Fire](/source/Hold_Your_Fire)*.[1] It was the last song written for the album. The song has been critically positively received, and peaked at number 3 on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Mainstream Rock Tracks](/source/Mainstream_Rock_Tracks) chart.

## Writing and composition

According to [Peart](/source/Neil_Peart), the song describes the "storms of life," using storm level in the [Beaufort wind scale](/source/Beaufort_scale) as an analogy.[2] Peart, a self described "weather fanatic", makes references to "the eye of the storm" and circling hurricanes in the lyrics. He also "express[es] appreciation" for the disproportionally small number of female fans at Rush shows "singing along, or air-drumming, or even dancing" in the lyric "cool and remote like dancing girls".[3]

"Force Ten" was written in three hours on December 14, 1986, the last day of pre-production for *[Hold Your Fire](/source/Hold_Your_Fire)*.[4][5] With nine songs already written, producer [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(record_producer)) felt it was important to have one more song for the album.[5] [Pye Dubois](/source/Pye_Dubois), who previously worked with Rush on their song "[Tom Sawyer](/source/Tom_Sawyer_(song))", had sent [Neil Peart](/source/Neil_Peart) some lyrics for the song, and Peart would add more verses to it.[5]

Musically, "Force Ten" is composed in [A minor](/source/A_minor), with changes into [A major scale](/source/A_major) occurring in the song. The song is set in [common time](/source/Common_time) at a fast rock tempo.[6] Peart has said that [Geddy Lee](/source/Geddy_Lee) and [Alex Lifeson](/source/Alex_Lifeson) were "trying to explore some musical areas that we hadn't covered yet," when writing the music for the song.[7] Lee performed bass chords in the song, inspired to do so by his friend [Jeff Berlin](/source/Jeff_Berlin).[8] The song was described by [The Cavalier Daily](/source/The_Cavalier_Daily) as "intense".[9]

## Release and reception

"Force Ten" was released in the [United States](/source/United_States) by [Mercury Records](/source/Mercury_Records) as a 12" [vinyl](/source/Gramophone_record) one-track [promotional single](/source/Promotional_single) in 1987.[1] It is the opening track of Rush's [studio album](/source/Studio_album) *[Hold Your Fire](/source/Hold_Your_Fire)*, and the song later appear on [compilation albums](/source/Compilation_album) such as *[Chronicles](/source/Chronicles_(Rush_album))*, *[Retrospective II](/source/Retrospective_II)*, *[The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987](/source/The_Spirit_of_Radio%3A_Greatest_Hits_1974-1987)*, *[Gold](/source/Gold_(Rush_album))*, *Icon*, and *Sector 3*.[10] The song received a favorable critical reception, with [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic) calling it "the band's [Rush] most immediate number in years," rating the song an AMG pick track.[11] The song would make it on the [Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) [Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks](/source/Hot_Mainstream_Rock_Tracks), peaking #3.[12]

## Live performance

Force Ten was a staple of Rush’s live performances, and was played from the [Hold Your Fire Tour](/source/Hold_Your_Fire_Tour) until the [Counterparts Tour](/source/Counterparts_Tour), as well as the [R30](/source/R30%3A_30th_Anniversary_World_Tour) and [Clockwork Angels](/source/Clockwork_Angels_Tour) tours[13]

## Charts

Chart Peak position US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 3

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Discogs_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Discogs_1-1) [Rush - Force Ten (Vinyl)](http://www.discogs.com/Rush-Force-Ten/release/3891653). [Discogs.com](/source/Discogs.com). Accessed from June 21, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Philosophy_2-0)** Jim Berti, Durrell Bowman (2011). *Rush and Philosophy: Heart and Mind United*. Open Court Publishing. p. 185. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0812697162](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0812697162).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Peart, Neil. (2006). *Roadshow : landscape with drums : a concert tour by motorcycle* (1st ed.). Cambridge, MA: Rounder. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-57940-142-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-57940-142-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [71643376](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/71643376).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Contents_under_Pressure_4-0)** Popoff, Martin (2004). [*Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away*](https://archive.org/details/contentsunderpre0000popo). [ECW Press](/source/ECW_Press). p. [134](https://archive.org/details/contentsunderpre0000popo/page/134). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1770901418](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1770901418).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rush_Visions_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rush_Visions_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Rush_Visions_5-2) Banasiewicz, Bill (1997). *Rush Visions*. Omnibus Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0711911622](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0711911622). Info from book adapted by the [Rush Vault](http://rushvault.com/2011/01/11/force-ten-background/). Accessed from June 24. 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sheetmusic_6-0)** [Force Ten Sheet Music](http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/force-ten-p241662.aspx). onlinesheetmusic.com. Accessed from June 21, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MakingofHoldYF_7-0)** [Peart, Neil](/source/Neil_Peart). [Firework: The Making of "Hold Your Fire"](http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFtourbook.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224121/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFtourbook.htm) 2013-10-04 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). 2112.net. Accessed from June 22, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bass_Player_8-0)** Tolleson, Robin (November/December 1988). [Geddy Lee: Bass Is Still The Key](http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19881100bassplayer.htm). Bass Player. Accessed from June 24, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cavalier_Daily_9-0)** Arnold, Dave (October 8, 1987). [Lost urgency, strained vocals mark latest Rush LP](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HvMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2nEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504,1622034&dq=hold+your+fire+rush&hl=en). [The Cavalier Daily](/source/The_Cavalier_Daily). Accessed from June 18, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Allmusissong_10-0)** [Force Ten - Rush](http://www.allmusic.com/song/force-ten-mt0001033626). [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Accessed from June 24, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Allmusic_11-0)** Rivadavia, Eduardo. [Hold Your Fire - Rush](http://www.allmusic.com/album/hold-your-fire-mw0000192905). [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Accessed from June 21, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HotMainstreamRock_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HotMainstreamRock_12-1) [Rush - Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks](https://www.billboard.com/artist/rush/chart-history/mainstream-rock-tracks). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard.com)*. [Prometheus Global Media](/source/Prometheus_Global_Media). Accessed from June 21, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Tours"](https://www.rush.com/tour/). *Rush.com*. Retrieved 2024-05-25.

v t e Rush Alex Lifeson Geddy Lee Jeff Jones John Rutsey Neil Peart Studio albums Rush (1974) Fly by Night (1975) Caress of Steel (1975) 2112 (1976) A Farewell to Kings (1977) Hemispheres (1978) Permanent Waves (1980) Moving Pictures (1981) Signals (1982) Grace Under Pressure (1984) Power Windows (1985) Hold Your Fire (1987) Presto (1989) Roll the Bones (1991) Counterparts (1993) Test for Echo (1996) Vapor Trails (2002) Snakes & Arrows (2007) Clockwork Angels (2012) Live albums All the World's a Stage (1976) Exit... Stage Left (1981) A Show of Hands (1989) Different Stages (1998) Rush in Rio (2003) R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) Grace Under Pressure Tour (2009) Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2013) R40 Live (2015) Live videos Exit... Stage Left (1982) Grace Under Pressure Tour (1986) A Show of Hands (1989) Rush in Rio (2003) R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) Rush Replay X 3 (2006) Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland (2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2013) R40 Live (2015) Compilations Rush Through Time (1979) Chronicles (1990) Retrospective I (1997) Retrospective II (1997) The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 (2003) Gold (2006) Retrospective III: 1989–2008 (2009) Working Men (2009) Video compilations Through the Camera Eye (1985) Chronicles (1990) Box sets The Studio Albums 1989–2007 (2013) Extended plays Feedback (2004) Cygnus X-1 (2017) Singles "In the Mood" "Fly by Night" "Lakeside Park" "The Twilight Zone" "Making Memories" "Closer to the Heart" "Circumstances" "The Trees" "The Spirit of Radio" "Entre Nous" "Limelight" "Tom Sawyer" "Vital Signs" "New World Man" "Subdivisions" "Countdown" "Red Sector A" "Afterimage" "The Big Money" "Mystic Rhythms" "Time Stand Still" "Show Don't Tell" "The Pass" "Dreamline" "Roll the Bones" "Ghost of a Chance" "Stick It Out" "Nobody's Hero" "Test for Echo" "Half the World" "Driven" "One Little Victory" "Secret Touch" "Summertime Blues" "Far Cry" "Caravan" "Headlong Flight" Other songs "Working Man" "Before" and "After" I. "Into the Darkness" "Didacts and Narpets" "2112" "A Passage to Bangkok" "Tears" "Xanadu" "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" (II. "Apollo Bringer of Wisdom" and III. "Dionysus Bringer of Love" IV. "Armageddon The Battle of Heart and Mind" VI. "The Sphere A Kind of Dream") "Freewill" "Red Barchetta" "YYZ" "Witch Hunt" "The Analog Kid" "Between the Wheels" "Marathon" "Manhattan Project" "Force Ten" "Mission" "Lock and Key" "Second Nature" "Heresy" "Animate" "Cold Fire" "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" Tours Hemispheres Tour (1978–1979) Moving Pictures Tour (1980–1981) Exit... Stage Left Tour (1981) Power Windows Tour (1985–1986) Hold Your Fire Tour (1987–1988) Presto Tour (1990) Roll the Bones Tour (1991–1992) Counterparts Tour (1994) Test for Echo Tour (1996–1997) Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007–2008) Time Machine Tour (2010–2011) Clockwork Angels Tour (2012–2013) R40 Live Tour (2015) Fifty Something Tour (2026–2027) Related articles Discography Songs Awards Instrumentals Victor My Favourite Headache A Work in Progress Anatomy of a Drum Solo Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road Hugh Syme Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Working Man – A Tribute to Rush Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Force Ten (song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Ten_(song)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Ten_(song)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.