Rush A Passage To Bangkok

[TECHniciaN66619]

toke sound at 1:50

[arnebarnard]

@TECHniciaN66619

THIS is what I live for- I did NOT know this prior to visiting THIS post for APTB.

I was shocked to find out that "The 1812 Overture" was quoted in the very last part of the overture to "2112".....I LIKE this type of trivia......more please!!!!

[TECHniciaN66619]

@arnebarnard Rush is from Canada

[DominicDeRaNgEd]

good rush song

[HeyZeus096]

Bangkok and Lake Titicaca are both names worth a giggle any time

[arnebarnard]

@HeyZeus096

How about "Skinny Dicks Halfway Inn" ?

[Bhaltazhar]

Lots of GOOD BURN back in the 70's.

[Bhaltazhar]

Light Up!

[MST3Kfanatic]

this song is the result of mercury records wanting a 3 min single from Rush, so Neil wrote a lyric that was NO WAY going to be played on the air in 1974...that being said great opening riff & then the harmonics above that then the jazz inspired theme & variations at the solo, but hey, it's Rush, of course it's brilliant...

[07kitara]

mega

[rebelcolonist]

can rush help bangkok....through a benefit concert?

[avdreader1]

I really like this song. The first time I heard it, I thought:How old is the singer? 12?? Great song though.

[Choctaw468]

One of the best albums of all time.

[rwbinnh1]

@Choctaw468 How right you are. Being hard to limit the greatest rock albums of all time to a few, this is one of the top 10 best. It is so great indeed that as we progress into the future no one now or evermore will be able to match or produce such profound art on a level such as 2112. Ahead of their time is an under statement...

[Choctaw468]

@rwbinnh1 Even though I do like Rush, and I've seen them a few times, I wouldn't put them in my top 10 favorite bands. But, for all the reasons you stated, 2112 is a top 10 album. Hell, I think "All The Worlds A Stage" is one of the best live albums.

[krazycrackerklan]

i love this song. i used to rock this shit way in the day............

[zooted22k]

this song bangs my kok

[BELAIRCHARGERHEMI]

This should of been the theme song for Hangover II

[LGee89]

I'm 13 and this is one of my favorite albums :D

[ButtcrackObama]

Yeaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Easily my favorite song from the amazing 2112 album. I know it's not part of the Syrinx storyline, but I really, really like this song. 

[SkullMan140]

my favorite song in 2112 album

[baaaaaaammm32]

i love rush period. <3

[MARCHBALI]

how sweet it is......tabeek Om Lee, Peart, Alex...

[IronFabianSteel]

i knew it!!!! aww.... wat a letdown,,,, they smoke

[nailband]

I believe the actual lyric is "wreathed in smoke in Lebanon"....but yes it is definitely about smoking hash...thai sticks...opium...pretty much anything except crack!

[dcfanchris]

Just bought this vinyl today! I think this would be a great song to smoke a joint to though.

[expendablecrewman101]

"SWEET YOUR MAKIN BAKED BEANS" at 0:28 ;D gotta love it

[framptonrush2112]

@expendablecrewman101 hahahaha. thanks for ruining that line for me.

[arnebarnard]

@expendablecrewman101

Uh, that is "Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams "

[fisherofmen0]

@expendablecrewman101 dude your too funny,its sweet jamaican bright greens,you see there on the train to bangcok,wich is a smokers paradise of opiates,you know hashish,heroin,weed,if you listen closelyhe will say,(weve been smoking lebanon,we burn the midnight oil) thats not beens dude,haaaa haaaa haaa, but thats funny!! lol !

[Cencored100]

I am going to see one of their concerts soon

[TakeMeBackTo1986]

i've always thought it could be about smoking Opium as Neil Peart is a HUGE fan of the poem "XANADU" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the works of Thomas De Quincey, both authors and Opium smokers, drinkers... I guess it could be about Hash, Opium or any smokable narcotic... if i was alive in "THE DAY" i would have been a severely dedicated/addicted Opium smoker/Opium drinker (in the form of Laudanum) like Edgar Allen Poe! ;)

[ponger101]

kinda sounds like indians by anthrax

[tacodude1]

@ponger101 No "Indians" by Anthrax sounds like this!

[AgilePenatonic1]

Listen to Geddy draw on the pipe @ 1:48 right before Alex's guitar solo

[hawkeye2294]

yeah this song is all about weed guys, all the countries mentioned have specific drugs their countries are known for, pretty sick song

[MrBillberlin]

race cars??????????? NERS ALERT!!!!!!!!!

[jeffreygaudreault]

Trippy song, man. What was that? You've been smokin' Lebanon? HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

[Shukria123]

This song is so about drug use.

[robinpaula45]

who is the 5 that don't like this song! long live rush

[rush622112]

Great concept album ! On an interview with Alex on "Beyond The Lighted Stage" , this song is about Ty- stick (Potent Mariuana) which was previlent during those years. He states when they play this song in concert < the audience becomes very "Auromatic"

[DarkDragon1961]

I was 17 when this song came out. I knew exactly what they where talking about.

Saw them in Chicago......was great.

[probation99]

Smoke another one :)

[BHAFOREVER]

Love this song,so many memories.One of their best.

[Nascarfan880]

Drugs olol. Rush is awesomeness

[jax0527]

Five people missed the train to Bangkok

[dobi68]

OF COURSE ITS ABOUT HASH AND WEED. REWARDS A LONG DAYS TOIL. ... WE'VE BEEN SMOKING LEBANON......... THE FRAGRENCE OF AFGANISTAN

[four2wonyblaze]

rush is the shit

[Amberoniii]

@johnuio don't all songs need choruses? i guess you can't please everyone. but this song sure pleases me.

[johnuio]

1st ten seconds: unreal rock guitar riff

2d ten seconds: no drums yet and it's already one of the best rock song ever written

3d ten seconds: enter drums, wicked harmonics, it's still an intro and the song has already been reborn TWICE

4th ten seconds: gets harder and you realize it's a FUGUE, absolutely mind-blowing!!!!

5th ten seconds: musically, all the elements disappear; it's sing-along fluff.

I love RUSH, for producing ecstatic musical moments, but not necessarily for whole songs.

[ottawan613]

1:53

[blackmonkeyguts]

Some asshole made 5 accounts

[puckerfactor1]

Awesome guitar riffs.

[SuperLiftRick]

Yes, Hashish played the roll in the making of the song, not to mention marajuana. I was deployed to Lebanon, Beiruit in 1983 and experience what they sing about...Blonde Lebonese Hash, some of the best in the word just behind Black Hash.

[puckerfactor1]

Fookin goose bumps.

[RaMbOwgINI]

my city :)

[skutter2001]

"Paraquat pot"

During the late 1970s, a controversial program sponsored by the US government sprayed paraquat on marijuana fields in Mexico.[8] Since much of this marijuana was subsequently smoked by Americans, the US government's "Paraquat Pot" program stirred much debate. Perhaps in an attempt to deter people from using marijuana, representatives of the program warned that spraying rendered the crop unsafe to smoke.

[skutter2001]

This came out during the years when they sprayed Paraquat on the Mexican weed!!Long live Columbian Gold!!

[skutter2001]

Rush kill me,they try to come across as dorks on Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage,but then they have this song making them looking like the biggest heads on the planet who knows whats going on and its like one thing contradicts another with these guys ,Rush rules ,I uSed to get soo fuckin high to ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE!!

[shefveland]

What happened to facebook share?

[tourvillain]

The best Rush song ever.

[TheChugulator]

Probably the most intelligent sounding song out there about smoking marijuana

[rachelrobbshdd]

@TheChugulator Actually its about Opium and Hashish so your partly right.

[TheSkullMan66]

@rachelrobbshdd Think this is about pot. On their DVD on the making of 2112 / Moving Pictures, they discuss the making of this song and point out the obligatory toke from 1:51 - 1:53 right before Alex rips in with his solo.

[livewirevirginia]

Does any one else see the similarities between Geddy Lee and Bon Scott?

[LegendOfOldTrafford]

@livewirevirginia ummm there is some similarities they are both great storytellers in terms of the way they perform their songs and they can hit the high note, but i believe that Geddy has more range and has that extra bit because a. he plays the bass and keyboards while singing and b. Rush just has so much more talent than AC DC...if it wasn't for Angus Young they would be nowhere and for Rush all three of those artists could have made a name for themselves in rock n roll. Still love AC DC tho

[livewirevirginia]

@LegendOfOldTrafford i agree with you on all points. i like Bon more on straight blues songs though. theres something incredibly sexy about his voice. for instance, i dont think that Geddy could sing "night prowler" by ac dc

[dobi68]

@livewirevirginia I AGREE, both geddy and bon can hit higher notes than steve perry .Bon better for straight blues and slightly better singer overall. geddy gets the edge as amusician since he writes and plays bass/keyboard and he's in or near top 10 bassist all time.

[dobi68]

@livewirevirginia . i agree bon gets the edge for singing, but geddy gets the edge as a musician, since he writes the music and plays bass/keys and is in or near top 10 bassists all time

[ElectricBlueOil]

the next time rush tours (and I dont care how long that will be), im getting those tickets goddamn it!

[LegendOfOldTrafford]

@ElectricBlueOil next year caravan tour for their upcoming album thats why Rush toured this summer to draw attention to their new album heard a couple songs live its gonna be great...i have been to the Snakes and Arrows tour and the Time Machine tour for snakes and arrows i was just getting into Rush now i am in complete love with their music i cant go a day without hearing Alex shredding the nar or Geddy slappin da bass or listening to the Master Neil work his magic.

[ElectricBlueOil]

@LegendOfOldTrafford i know that, i just hope they come to my area when they do that. I bought 2112 three months ago, and let me just say I was blown away!

[CheaterFilms]

This was the best introduction to a song ever, that riff was epic.

[1dgkonig]

i listen to this band everyday.

[AquaHedgehog]

"What's the capitol of thailand?"

[windridr66]

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir but does everyone hear the big "TOKE" sound at 1:51?

[cazzie18]

@windridr66 Heck yes, lol.

[BPavsner]

@windridr66 Let's just say there's a...er..Cheech and Chong type of vibe to this song...

[rodrigozamo]

@windridr66 they threw it in there on purpose... =]

[xl0l0l0l0lx]

@windridr66 - wow - if that was meant, it is genious

[dragoon55exp]

Our first stop is in Bogota To check Colombian fields The natives smile and pass along A sample of their yield Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams Golden Acapulco nights Then Morocco, and the East Fly by morning light We're on the train to Bangkok Aboard the Thailand Express We'll hit the stops along the way We only stop for the best Wreathed in smoke in Lebanon We burn the midnight oil The fragrance of Afghanistan Rewards a long day's toil Pulling into Katmandu etc .. Chorus at the end

[warlockgray1]

I seen rush live in 1979 or or 80 ,hell i was fucked up but they was the best .

[lip58]

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL

[deza88]

Epic shizz right there! 'Led Zeppelin Junior' as said by Gene Simmons!

[Silverbluecrest]

i am a 100% sure this song is about hash.

i am dutch and all of the thing he said, Thai,morocco,Lebanon,Afghanist­an(asie)

there all hashish. "the fragrance of Afghanistan, weve been smoking Lebanon etc".

im not joking all of it is hash. i love this guy !

i realized this yesterday when i was at the coffee shop and looking at the menu card.

i bought some Lebanon instead if the usual mix of afghan and superpalm xD

[drummerdood33]

@Silverbluecrest haha yeah! notice he says we'll HIT the stops along the way, we only stop for the best haha. very clever! i love this song! haha

[Veradoradehon]

@Silverbluecrest I think you nailed it!

[vampiremonkiesgohome]

@Silverbluecrest

But of course

[uGodDamnFaggot]

@Silverbluecrest it is about drugs. Neil said he tried something out in the 70's and it gave him the impression or feeling of bangkok etc..

[analsexwitjesus]

@Silverbluecrest in an interview with neil peart he said it was about thai sticks

[Aries3017]

@analsexwitjesus Actually what he said was that thai sticks were one of the fads going around at the time. Not that this song is about them...

[yourunclehank1]

@Silverbluecrest i am 100% sure you're right

it's about all things weed

the line is "wreathed in smoke" like a fine thick

hash smoke misting up and hanging around

your head like clouds atop a mountain

not that i'd know anything about that

[PETESEYESBLUE]

@Silverbluecrest I agree and when he burns the midnight oil that is the giveaway would be nice to have such a cafe in Canada .The tune KASHMIR is another classic and i suspect they are talking about the hash and country at the same time

[DSMContractors]

@Silverbluecrest Wow and how long you been a Rush fan??? I realized this in like 1977 at age 9....

[wagingpeace1]

@DSMContractors lol - It's all good ! Rush is winning the world over - One person at a time ! :D

[ChadJHachey]

@wagingpeace1 won me over first time i herd them

[cawthy07]

@Silverbluecrest it is... trust me lol

[ajp500]

@Silverbluecrest

Yea, thats why this song is great.

[joeyraccoon]

@Silverbluecrest

DU . . . UH ! ! !

[tillman40]

@Silverbluecrest He is talking about rally cars...the Lebaron, the Morocco VW...talking about a rally car race..the smell of rubber burning..somewhere in Bangkok...before drifting was invented

[ben2nd]

@tillman40 thats just friggin ridiculous, its blaits about weed, why would peart write about rally cars?

[tillman40]

@ben2nd Red Barchetta?

[4468311]

@tillman40 a red barchetta is a ferrari. great car. the song is about his uncles car that he saved for him. he got into a race with it on a mountain road. he beat the guy by the 1 lane bridge. its a great song.

[tillman40]

@4468311 oh man you had to spoil the fun I was having with him!!!

[MultiDannyboy89]

@4468311 Awesome song!!!

[marihuano69]

@tillman40 lol stupidest interpretation evar

[MetalMaskMilitia]

@Silverbluecrest

yep, you're right.

"our first stop is in bogota, to check colombian fields" "sweet jamaican pipe dreams, golden acapulco nights"

"smoke rings fill the air"

and so many more references.

[pd24675]

@Silverbluecrest Agreed!  But I believe the lyric is "wreathed in smoke in Lebanon".

[LivingInTheLimeligh7]

@Silverbluecrest yep they said it in some interview

[waybent335]

fly by morning lite

[babo430]

one cool ass song thanks

[LoriBRN]

@MrHobbes The entire album was about a 'Utopian society" in the future, 2112. Only the most powerful control had access to these areas in the world. The song points out the supremacy of those in control.

[LoriBRN]

@MrHobbs The entire album was about a 'Utopian society" in the future, 2112. Only the most powerful control had access to these areas in the world. The song points out the supremacy of those in control.

[BukkakeSniper]

First Rush song I ever heard, and easily one of my top 3.

[dwargg]

Wish I were there. :)

[TheTraceBand]

yummy sweet leaf

[metal4lifeddie]

@TheTraceBand lol

[gryffonization]

I love this song! As well as the whole album. Rush is amazing, one of the most talented bands in history without a doubt. Though for the longest time I though it was 'Sweet Jamaican baked beans' ;)

[trumpeteerTralala]

Incredible, Jesus I love these guys!

[MrHobbes2001]

A fantastic song musically, but one that is so obvious the meaning is crystal clear:

Travel around the world to try all the best localities for the best weed/hash. But at the risk of the negative criticism I may receive look how the optimism of the 70s has become doured by the reality that each of these sites have become terrorist centers and drug lords

embroiled in war, violence, and destruction of civil order! Pretty big price to pay for stopping only for the best!

[82badger]

@MrHobbes2001 - No doubt these sites are in turmoil, but it's due to a war on drugs that creates a strong black market in which criminals can thrive and terrorists can get funding.

[blackened247]

that is one of the best guitar riffs ever

[Tonezone]

@blackened247 I was listening to it the other day on the train (ironically) and just thinking how Alex completely kills it in this song. Just absolute sublime guitar playing on this song

[skibothy]

2112 best album ever (except track 5)

[bcrich52]

@skibothy agreed

[y1962]

POPS!!!! put down the pipe....or at least share

[y1962]

long live the '70's.

[classicdude2112]

it dont get more classic that this geddy told me once that he likes to smoke only sweeeeet things

[WaggunTin]

4 people missed the like button

[Angrybrain22]

I LOVE THIS SONG SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!

[1krazy10ma]

2112 awesome! :)

[WhooParty]

august 18 better come soon cause im tired of waiting for the time machine tour

[ipvideogames]

@WhooParty i feel you, i gotta wait til the ATL show on september 29th

[mcgmcmullin]

@WhooParty It is worth the wait, my friend. Saw them in Albuquerque for the opening show. Frickin' unbelievable! You will not be disappointed.

[FreakinSweet86]

2112, Fly By Night and Farewell To Kings are Rush's best albums IMO although I do love Moving Pictures too, absolutly mindblowing

[Bojoe777NaBl]

99th person to like, 12,000th person to light up a bong hit after listening to this...

[MississippiWerewolf]

2112 Best Lp...For Rush ..Well Tom Sawyer Maybe Too

[bawbag2112]

aw yeah man this is awesome

[chronicganja]

has to been in my top 3 fave rush songs

[wilkes85]

look at my comment from 7 months ago... what the fuck was I on when i wrote that?! haha

[sleven978callevra]

High on the list for best Rush song.

[takethehighway711]

@sleven978callevra , "High" on the list...good pun, mate!

[Ronbodog]

Awesome song, you have to listen to the album in order the way it was meant, We use to pass this record around to all our friends

[TourettesSomething]

Tool always opens their song "Cold and Ugly" (live ones) with the opening riff of this song.

[NoConzept]

The chorus ruins the whole song, verse and solo are great.

[Lovesock69able]

This is the train wii trained to take when kids. (Katalina Translates) Probably should have been doing homework.

[halkito]

my first Rush album i listened to, my cousins, i was like 12 or 13, and into KISS, next thing i know, i was on the Thailand express, and jamming to "ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE"

[jr55ful]

when i first heard this as a college kid in 1976 i thought it was written for me. so did everyone else,i found out later.

[KhronoXXX]

bogota???????????bogota???????­??? when was this "stop" jajajaj i know but i wanna see you

[risetoday101]

gone guru is way better then this shit

[MrChameleon2010]

I can sing this song better then you. I want a "Geddy Sing Off". Post your video of you singing this song.

[axeman086]

this sounds exactly like indians by ANTHRAX

[dbm6969]

@axeman086 no, indians by ANTHRAX sounds exactly like this, if anything.

[papiecho18]

@FilipGanczak get outta here with that shit

[FilipGanczak]

hold your horses, just joking ; D btw this song happens to kick ass ;]

[42themeaningoflife]

@FilipGanczak obvious troll is obvious

[countflaming]

@FilipGanczak wow what a faggot...

[proudlyrushian]

Is this the studio version? The one I have downloaded is quite different.

[fuckamericanidiot]

3:10 easily best part of the song

[losokenjaso]

Thai stick is still around and skunk is still good.But the new geno stuff is whping it out come on blue berry mandicino greeno.its evolved with alot of breeding to a whole new lvl.take a toke enjoy

[orion8138]

pree thumps up if you want me to make a video of me singing this song!