{{Infobox song | name = Mission | cover = Rush Mission.jpg | alt = | type = Promotional single | artist = [[Rush (band)|Rush]] | album = [[A Show of Hands]] | released = 1989 (live version)<ref name = "Eli">[http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=259826 Rush Mission Canada Promo 12" vinyl single]. Eli.com. Accessed from June 21, 2013.</ref> | recorded = 1988 | studio = | venue = | genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | length = 5:16 | label = [[Anthem Records|Anthem]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] | writer = [[Geddy Lee]], [[Alex Lifeson]], [[Neil Peart]] | producer = Peter Collins and Rush | prev_title = [[Time Stand Still (song)|Time Stand Still]] | prev_year = 1987 | next_title = [[Show Don't Tell (song)|Show Don't Tell]] | next_year = 1989 }}
"'''Mission'''" is a song by Canadian rock band [[Rush (band)|Rush]] from the 1987 album ''[[Hold Your Fire]]''.
==Writing and structure== "Mission" was inspired from a conversation [[Neil Peart]] and [[Geddy Lee]] had about people who were not satisfied with the lives of people in their age group. Peart said that the lyrics are related to a tendency that people have for idealizing the lifestyle of others. People tend to imagine that those who are rich and famous are to be viewed as people who have fewer personal issues than ordinary people. However, he argues that every life has its own level of "toughness." As an example of this idea, he recounts that people used to refer to him as someone who has the best job in the world. He claims that he is very proud of being a musician, which was a job that he dreamed of in his youth. However, he claims people tend not to realize that being away from family for several months while on tour is not as easy as others make it sound. A key verse to express that concept says "We each pay a fabulous price for our visions of paradise," referring to personal sacrifices he had to make to achieve his dream.<ref name="Travelling Music">{{cite book | title=Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times | publisher=[[ECW Press]] | author=Peart, Neil | author-link=Neil Peart | year=2004 | pages=198–199}}</ref>
A Sputnikmusic review gave a description of "Mission" as a "rocky [[ballad]]."<ref name = "Sputnikmusic">[https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/4730/Rush-Hold-Your-Fire/ Rush - Hold Your Fire (album review 2)]. Sputnikmusic. December 28, 2005. Accessed from June 23, 2013.</ref> It plays in a [[D major]] key, though key changes into [[B major|B]][[G♯ minor|major]] occur in certain parts of the song. Most of the song is played at a moderate tempo in a [[time signature]] of [[common time]]. However, the musical interlude between the second chorus and final verse is played in [[Quintuple meter|{{music|time|5|4}} time]].<ref name="sheetmusic">[http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/mission-p234846.aspx Mission Sheet Music]. onlinesheetmusic.com. Accessed from June 21, 2013.</ref> The song features prominent keyboard parts played by [[Geddy Lee]].{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} When working on the song in [[Great Britain|Britain]], producer [[Peter Collins (record producer)|Peter Collins]] added [[brass]] and [[choir]] [[instrumentation]].<ref name="Chemistry" /><ref name="ContentsUnderPressure">{{cite book | title=Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away | url=https://archive.org/details/contentsunderpre0000popo | url-access=registration | publisher=[[ECW Press]] | author=Popoff, Martin | year=2004 | page=[https://archive.org/details/contentsunderpre0000popo/page/132 132] | isbn=1550226789}}</ref> The brass was performed by the William Faery brass band, and was recorded in [[Oldham, England]].<ref name="Chemistry">{{cite book | title=Rush: Chemistry | publisher=Helter Skelter Publishing | author=Collins, Jon | year=2010 | isbn=978-1905139286}} Info from book adopted by [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFlyrics.htm 2112.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121230824/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFlyrics.htm |date=2009-11-21 }}.</ref> Collins also suggested that new verses be added to the song.<ref name="MakingofHoldYF">[[Neil Peart|Peart, Neil]]. [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFtourbook.htm Firework: The Making of "Hold Your Fire"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224121/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/HYFtourbook.htm |date=2013-10-04 }}. 2112.net. Accessed from June 21, 2013.</ref> A [[marimba]] solo is played in the song, in unison with the [[snare drum]] and bass.<ref name="MusicTech">Parisi, Deborah (February 1988). [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19880200musictechnology.htm Fire in the Hold]. Music Technology. Accessed from June 21, 2013.</ref> The marimba was a KAT mini-marimba sampled in the [[AKAI S-900 sampler]].<ref name="Neilpeartinterview">[http://www.effingham.net/bishop/Peartinterviewpage.htm Neil Peart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305054642/http://www.effingham.net/bishop/Peartinterviewpage.htm |date=2014-03-05 }}. effingham.net. Accessed from June 17, 2013.</ref>
==Critical reception== Music critics gave "Mission" good reviews. [[Metal Storm (webzine)|Metal Storm]] considered the song, along with "[[Lock and Key (Rush song)|Lock and Key]]", a classic moment from ''[[Hold Your Fire]]'', highlighting its "grandiose chorus".<ref name="Metal Storm">{{cite web | url =http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=7836 | title =Rush - Hold Your Fire | access-date = October 12, 2025 | last =Espiau | first =Olivier | date =April 23, 2010 | publisher =[[Metal Storm (webzine)|Metal Storm]]}}</ref> The song was called by [[Allmusic]] a "sheer beauty".<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web | url =http://www.allmusic.com/album/hold-your-fire-mw0000192905 | title =Hold Your Fire - Rush | access-date =2013-06-23 | last =Rivadavia | first =Eduardo | work =[[Allmusic]] | publisher =[[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref> SaiseiTunes opined it was filled with "some stellar moments" even though it "tends to drag a bit here and there".<ref>{{cite web|author=SaiseiTunes|date=February 7, 2022|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84376/Rush-Hold-Your-Fire/|title=Rush - Hold Your Fire (album review) |website=[[Sputnikmusic]]|access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref>
==Live performances== "Mission" was performed live during the ''Hold Your Fire'' tour (1988), the ''[[Presto (album)|Presto]]'' tour (1990), and the ''[[Snakes & Arrows]]'' tour (2007–2008).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daly|first=Skip|title=Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth: The Official Touring History|publisher=Insight Editions|year=2019|isbn=978-1683834502}}</ref>
==Charts== The live version from "[[A Show of Hands]]" was issued as a promo disc and charted on the Mainstream Rock Chart in March 1989. {| class="wikitable" border="1" ! Chart !! Peak<br/>position |- |US [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'') <ref name="HotMainstreamRock">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=rush|chart=Mainstream Rock Tracks}} Rush - Chart History: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]. ''[[Billboard.com|Billboard]]''. [[Prometheus Global Media]]. Accessed from June 21, 2013.</ref> |align="center"| 33 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==See also== *[[List of Rush songs]]
{{Rush}}
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[[Category:Rush (band) songs]] [[Category:1987 songs]] [[Category:1988 singles]] [[Category:Songs written by Geddy Lee]] [[Category:Songs written by Alex Lifeson]] [[Category:Songs written by Neil Peart]] [[Category:Mercury Records singles]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Collins (record producer)]]