Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson
Nature has some new plague
to run in our streets
history some new wrinkle
we are doomed to repeat
fugitives at the bedroom door
lovers pause to find an open store
rain is burning on the forest floor
and the red tide kisses the shore
This is not a false alarm
this is not a test
Stay out of the sun
it only burns my skin
sky full of poison
and the atmosphere's too thin
bless the sun, the rain no more
river running like an open sore
black wind falling to the ocean floor
and the red tide washes ashore
This is not a false alarm
this is not a test
nowhere we can fly away
nowhere we can rest
the party is disrupted by
an uninvited guest
Deadline approaches
for the weary land
it used to be something
but we let it run down in our hands
too late for debate, too bad to ignore
quiet rebellion leads to open war
bring a sea-change to the factory floor
as the red tide covers the shore
Now's the time to turn the tide
now's the time to fight
let us not go gently
to the endless winter night
now's the time to make the time
while hope is still in sight
let us not go gently
to the endless winter night