Cover art for The Fountain of Lamneth by Rush

The Fountain of Lamneth

Producers

Sep. 24, 19751 viewer11.9K views

The Fountain of Lamneth Lyrics

[𝐈. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 00:00-04:18]

[Intro]
I am born
I am me
I am new
I am free
Look at me
I am young
Sight unseen
Life unsung...

[Verse 1]
My eyes have just been opened
And they're open very wide
Images around me
Don't identify inside
Just one blur I recognize
The one that soothes and feeds

My way of life is easy
And as simple are my needs

[Chorus]
'Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Until bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light'
[Verse 2]
Living one long sunrise
For to me all things are new
I've never watched the sky grow pale
Or strolled through fields of dew
I do not know of dust to dust
I live from breath to breath
I live to climb that mountain
To the Fountain of Lamneth


[Chorus]
'Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Until bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light'

[𝐈𝐈. 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐬 04:18-05:18]
(𝘜𝘯𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵)

[Drum Solo]

[Verse 3]
'(Stay!)
Go!
(Work!) No!
(Think!)
Live!
(Earn!)
Give!
(Wait!)
Fight!
(Laugh!) Right!
[Outro]
Listen!'


[𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝐍𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 05:18-09:39]

[Verse 4]
Crying back to consciousness
The coldness grips my skin
The sky is pitching violently
Drawn by shrieking winds
Seaspray blurs my vision
Waves roll by so fast
Save my ship of freedom
I'm lashed helpless to the mast

[Verse 5]
Remembering when first I held
The wheel in my own hands
I took the helm so eagerly
And sailed for distant lands
But now the sea's too heavy
And I just... I just don't understand
Why must my crew desert me?
When I need... I need a guiding hand

[Bridge]
Call out for direction
And there's no one there to steer
Shout out for salvation
But there's no one there to hear
Cry out supplication
For the maelstrom is near
Scream out desperation
But no one cares to hear
[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solo]

[Outro]
*Seagull sounds*

[𝐈𝐕. 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐚 09:39-12:55]

[Verse 6]
The whiteness of confusion
Is unfolding from my mind
I stare around in wonder
Have I left my life behind?

[Pre-Chorus]
I catch the scent of ambergris
And turn my head, surprised
My gaze is caught and held
And I am helpless, mesmerized

[Chorus]
'Panacea ~ liquid grace
Oh let me touch your fragile face
Enchantment falls around me
And I know I cannot leave'

[Verse 7]
Here's a meaning for my life
A shelter from the storm
Pacify my troubles with
Her body, soft and warm
Naked in our unity
A smile for every tear
Gentle hands that promise me
Comfort through the years

[Pre-Chorus]
Yet I know I must be gone
Before the light of dawn

[Chorus]
'Panacea ~ passion pure
I can't resist your gentle lure
My heart will lie beside you
And my wandering body grieves'

[𝐕. 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐮 12:55-16:10]

[Verse 8]
Another endless day
Silhouettes of grey
Another glass of wine
Drink with eyes that shine
Today's without that chill at morning
Long night's time out of mind

[Chorus]
'Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
~ I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
~ There's not much more to
Not much more to live'

[Verse 9]
Another foggy dawn
The mountain almost gone
Another doubtful fear
The road is not so clear
My soul grows ever weary...
And the end is ever near

[Chorus]
'Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
~ I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
~ There's not much more to
Not much more to live'

[Guitar Solo]

[𝐕𝐈. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 16:10-19:57]

[Verse 10]
Look... the mist is rising
And the sun is peaking through
See the steps grow lighter
As I reach their final few
Hear the dancing waters
I must be drawing near
Feel, my heart is pounding
With embattled hope and fear

[Interlude]
'Now, at last I fall before
The Fountain of Lamneth
I thought I would be singing
But I'm tired... out of breath
Many journeys end here
But, the secret's told the same
Life is just a candle and a dream
Must give it flame'

[Verse 11]
The key, the end, the answer
Stripped of their disguise
Still it's all confusion
And tears spring to my eyes
Though I've reached a signpost
It's really not the end
Like Old Sol' behind the mountain
I'll be coming up again...

[Interlude]
[Guitar Solo]

[Outro]
I'm in motion
I am still
I am crying
I am... still
I'm together
I'm apart
I'm forever
At the start
And still... I am

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About

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Genius Annotation

“The Fountain of Lamneth” is a song by the Canadian rock band Rush. It was released in 1975 as the fifth and final song from their third album, Caress of Steel. The music was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, and the lyrics were written by Neil Peart.[1] The lyrics chronicle a man’s life from birth to death. The titular fountain refers to some sort of secret or hidden knowledge that the character hopes to obtain before death. In the end, he finds that life is about living, finding your passion, following your dreams, and sharing your passions with others. The man dies happy, knowing that he has done that.

Odyssey rated “The Fountain of Lamneth” 10/10, and ranked it the 39th best Rush song.[6] They considered the song’s lyrics to be among Peart’s best and thought that Lifeson’s solos in the songs were excellent. Odyssey also deemed Lee’s vocals in “The Fountain of Lamneth” to be beautiful.

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