# Freewill (song)

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1980 song by Rush

"Freewill" Song by Rush from the album Permanent Waves Released January 18, 1980 (1980-01-18) Recorded September–October 1979 Studio Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Quebec Genre Progressive rock hard rock Length 5:24 Label Mercury Composers Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson Lyricist Neil Peart Producers Rush Terry Brown

"**Freewill**" is the second track on the 1980 album *[Permanent Waves](/source/Permanent_Waves)* by Canadian [progressive rock](/source/Progressive_rock) band [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)). The song's music was composed by [Geddy Lee](/source/Geddy_Lee) and [Alex Lifeson](/source/Alex_Lifeson), and its lyrics written by [Neil Peart](/source/Neil_Peart).[1] In a 2016 review of Rush discography for Ultimate Classic Rock, Eduardo Rivadavia described "Freewill" as a "cerebral but remarkably radio-friendly" song.[2] Lee has stated that the final verse of "Freewill" is at the highest part of his vocal range.[3]

Despite never being released as a single, "Freewill" has been included in several of the band's [compilation albums](/source/Compilation_album), including *[Retrospective I](/source/Retrospective_I)*,[4] *[The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987](/source/The_Spirit_of_Radio%3A_Greatest_Hits_1974%E2%80%931987)*,[5] *[Gold](/source/Gold_(Rush_album))*,[6] and *Time Stand Still: The Collection*.[7] It is now a staple of [album-oriented rock](/source/Album-oriented_rock) stations.[8] It was one of six songs in Rush's set for the [Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto](/source/Molson_Canadian_Rocks_for_Toronto) (colloquially referred to as "SARStock").[9][a]

## Production

In mid-July 1979, the band began writing songs for *Permanent Waves*,[10] with "Freewill" completed within the first few days.[11] An early version of the song was first performed at [Varsity Stadium](/source/Varsity_Stadium) in [Toronto](/source/Toronto) on 2 September 1979.[1] This version was mostly complete, but its "familiar melody" had not yet been written.[1] It was introduced to attending concertgoers as a song planned for the band's upcoming album, along with "[The Spirit of Radio](/source/The_Spirit_of_Radio)", both of which the band was testing before recording.[12] The songs were performed three weeks later at a concert in [Stafford](/source/Stafford), [England](/source/England), before the band went to [Le Studio](/source/Le_Studio) in [Morin Heights](/source/Morin_Heights), [Quebec](/source/Quebec), to record *Permanent Waves*.[13] It was the first time Rush had performed a song in concert before recording it in studio.[14]

## Composition and structure

Lifeson says the [guitar solo](/source/Guitar_solo) in the song is a "really hard solo to play", describing it as "frenetic and exciting" and "one of the most ambitious pieces of music Rush has ever done".[15] In his book *Rush, Rock Music and the Middle Class: Dreaming in Middletown*, Chris McDonald describes Lifeson's play as a "searing, rapid-fire" guitar solo.[16]

The song was also the last time Lee would sing with the piercing vocals in a studio recording.[16] This represented a significant change in Rush's sound, as the strained "shrieking high range" of Lee's vocals were characteristic of the band's style from the 1970s.[17] McDonald states that the song's last [verse](/source/Song_structure#Verse) featuring Lee's high-pitched vocals is a "farewell to Rush's early style".[17]

The song increases in complexity as it progresses.[18] It features odd [time signatures](/source/Time_signature), with most of the song using **13** **4**[19] (6+7), but also employing **15** **4** (4+4+4+3) in parts.[20] The [interlude](/source/Bridge_(music)) with the bass and drums and subsequent guitar solo both have a **12** **8** time signature,[18] and other parts of the song use **4** **4**.[19]

### Lyrics

The song's lyrics deal with the subject of [free will](/source/Free_will); in a December 1989 interview on *[Rockline](/source/Rockline)*, Lee stated that "the song is about freedom of choice and free will, and you believing in what you decide you believe in".[21] In a 2015 article for *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*, Brian Hiatt describes "Freewill" as an "explicitly atheistic" song that mocks those who believe in a god, exemplified by the lyrics "choose a ready guide in some celestial voice".[22] The libertarian and individualistic themes common to "Freewill" and "[Tom Sawyer](/source/Tom_Sawyer_(song))" are noted in *The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World*.[20] According to Brett Barnett, "Freewill" more explicitly explores the theme of individualism than earlier works of Rush such as "[Closer to the Heart](/source/Closer_to_the_Heart)", particularly with respect to an individual's control over destiny.[23] Peart stated that in reality, exercising free will may not lead to [self-determination](/source/Self-determination) in some circumstances.[24]

The band has received questions from fans asking which version of the lyrics is correct: those on the [album sleeve](/source/Record_sleeve), or those recited by Lee during concerts. Peart stated that the two are the same, with the band taking "great care to make the lyric sheets accurate", but that fans sometime mis-hear the lyrics and believe the printed lyrics are incorrect.[25] It was later discovered that the US printing of the album sleeve lyrics were incorrect, but that the Canadian printing contained the correct lyrics.[26]

## See also

- [List of songs recorded by Rush](/source/List_of_songs_recorded_by_Rush)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** The setlist was "[Tom Sawyer](/source/Tom_Sawyer_(song))", "[Limelight](/source/Limelight_(Rush_song))", "[Dreamline](/source/Dreamline)", "[YYZ](/source/YYZ_(instrumental))", "Freewill", "[Closer to the Heart](/source/Closer_to_the_Heart)", and "[The Spirit of Radio](/source/The_Spirit_of_Radio)". The band had opened their set with a jazzy cover version of the [Rolling Stones](/source/Rolling_Stones) song "[Paint It Black](/source/Paint_It_Black)".[9]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201570_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201570_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201570_1-2) [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 70.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERivadavia2016_2-0)** [Rivadavia 2016](#CITEREFRivadavia2016).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEButtner_3-0)** [Buttner](#CITEREFButtner).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux2015170-171_4-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 170-171.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux2015192_5-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 192.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux2015204_6-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 204.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux2015225_7-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 225.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDowning_8-0)** [Downing](#CITEREFDowning).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPopoff2004217_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPopoff2004217_9-1) [Popoff 2004](#CITEREFPopoff2004), p. 217.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201568_11-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 68.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201569_12-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 69.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPopoff200481_13-0)** [Popoff 2004](#CITEREFPopoff2004), p. 81.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELemieux201570–71_14-0)** [Lemieux 2015](#CITEREFLemieux2015), p. 70–71.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPeart_15-0)** [Peart](#CITEREFPeart).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBosso2009_16-0)** [Bosso 2009](#CITEREFBosso2009).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMcDonald2009134_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMcDonald2009134_17-1) [McDonald 2009](#CITEREFMcDonald2009), p. 134.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMcDonald2009134-135_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMcDonald2009134-135_18-1) [McDonald 2009](#CITEREFMcDonald2009), p. 134-135.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHal_Leonard_Corporation2015Freewill_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHal_Leonard_Corporation2015Freewill_19-1) [Hal Leonard Corporation 2015](#CITEREFHal_Leonard_Corporation2015), Freewill.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPopoff200476_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPopoff200476_20-1) [Popoff 2004](#CITEREFPopoff2004), p. 76.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMoskowitz2015575_21-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMoskowitz2015575_21-1) [Moskowitz 2015](#CITEREFMoskowitz2015), p. 575.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKaelber200576:_What_is_"Free_Will"_about?_22-0)** [Kaelber 2005](#CITEREFKaelber2005), 76: What is "Free Will" about?.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHiatt2015_23-0)** [Hiatt 2015](#CITEREFHiatt2015).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBarnett201611_24-0)** [Barnett 2016](#CITEREFBarnett2016), p. 11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMack199257_25-0)** [Mack 1992](#CITEREFMack1992), p. 57.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKaelber200577:_In_"Freewill"_which_lyrics_are_correct_(the_ones_on_the_album_sleeve_or_the_ones_Geddy_sings)?_26-0)** [Kaelber 2005](#CITEREFKaelber2005), 77: In "Freewill" which lyrics are correct (the ones on the album sleeve or the ones Geddy sings)?.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKaelber200578:_But_I'm_*sure*_that_what_the_lyric_sheet_says_isn't_what_Geddy_sings!_27-0)** [Kaelber 2005](#CITEREFKaelber2005), 78: But I'm *sure* that what the lyric sheet says isn't what Geddy sings!.

### References

- Barnett, Brett A. (2016). ["Rush's Lyrical Rhetoric of Oppression and Liberation: Extending "Freedom Songs" into the Progressive Rock Genre"](http://www.relevantrhetoric.com/RhetoricofOppressionandLiberation.pdf) (PDF). *Relevant Rhetoric*. **7**. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- Bosso, Joe (4 February 2009). ["Rush's Alex Lifeson: "My 3 Best Solos""](http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/rushs-alex-lifeson-my-3-best-solos-194741). [MusicRadar](/source/MusicRadar). Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- Buttner, Christopher. ["Geddy Lee – Vapor Trail Afterglow"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081016003840/http://www.echoesofoldapplause.com/features/bassin.htm). PR That Rocks Agency. Archived from [the original](http://www.echoesofoldapplause.com/features/bassin.htm) on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 25 September 2008.

- Downing, Brian. ["Freewill – Rush"](https://www.allmusic.com/song/freewill-mt0006951179). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- Freedman, Robert (2014). *Rush: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Excellence*. Algora Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781628940848](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781628940848).

- Hiatt, Brian (16 June 2015). ["From Rush with love"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/from-rush-with-love-cover-story-20150616). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- Kaelber, Randy (9 August 2005). ["The Rush Frequently Asked Questions, part 2"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170222184534/http://www.nimitz.net/rush/faq2ans.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.nimitz.net/rush/faq2ans.html) on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2008.

- Lemieux, Patrick (2015). *The Rush Chronology*. Lulu.com.

- Mack, Bob (March 1992). "Confessions of a Rush fan". *[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))*. Vol. 7, no. 12. pp. 56–57. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0886-3032](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0886-3032).

- McDonald, Chris (2009). Gass, Glenn; Magee, Jeffrey (eds.). *Rush, rock music and the middle class: dreaming in middletown*. Profiles in Popular Music. [Indiana University Press](/source/Indiana_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780253221490](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780253221490).

- Moskowitz, David V., ed. (2015). *The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World*. [ABC-CLIO](/source/ABC-CLIO). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781440803406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781440803406).

- Peart, Neil. ["Personal Waves – The Story Of An Album"](http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/permanentwaves.html#tourbook). Anthem Entertainment. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- Popoff, Martin (2004). [*Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away*](https://archive.org/details/contentsunderpre0000popo). [ECW Press](/source/ECW_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1550226789](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1550226789).

- Popoff, Martin (2016). *Rush – Updated Edition: The Unofficial Illustrated History*. [Voyageur Press](/source/Voyageur_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780760349953](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780760349953).

- Rivadavia, Eduardo (29 October 2016). ["35 years ago: Rush look back at their rise to stardom on 'Exit...Stage Left'"](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rush-exit-stage-left/). Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

- *25 Top Rock Bass Songs: Tab. Tone. Technique*. [Hal Leonard Corporation](/source/Hal_Leonard_Corporation). 2015. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781495032714](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781495032714).

## Further reading

- Berti, Jim; Bowman, Durrell (2011). Reisch, George A. (ed.). *Rush and philosophy: heart and mind united*. Popular Culture and Philosophy. Vol. 57. [Open Court Publishing Company](/source/Open_Court_Publishing_Company). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780812697162](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780812697162).

- Popoff, Martin (2017). *Rush: Album by Album*. [Voyageur Press](/source/Voyageur_Press) (The Quarto Group). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780760357699](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780760357699).

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 [Freewill (song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewill_(song)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewill_(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.