Tom Sawyer (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Tom Sawyer


Artist = Rush
from Album = Moving Pictures
Released = February 28, 1981
Format =
Recorded = October - November 1980 at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 4:33
Label = Mercury
Producer = Rush and Terry Brown
Chart position =

#1 (Mainstream Rock Tracks)

#44 (US)

Last single = "Entre Nous"
(1980)
This single = "Tom Sawyer"
(1981)
Next single = "Limelight"
(1981)
Misc = Extra chronology
Last single = "Vital Signs"
(1981)
This single = "Tom Sawyer" (Live)
(1981)
Next single = "Closer to the Heart" (Live)
(1981)Extra tracklisting
Album = Moving Pictures
Type = studio
prev_track = Beginning of Album
prev_no =
this_track = "Tom Sawyer"
track_no = Track 1
next_track = "Red Barchetta"
next_no = Track 2Extra tracklisting
Album = Exit...Stage Left
Type = live
prev_track = "Freewill"
prev_no = 11
this_track = "Tom Sawyer"
track_no = 12
next_track = "La Villa Strangiato"
next_no = 13

"Tom Sawyer" is a 1981 song by Canadian progressive rock band Rush, named for Mark Twain's literary character. The song relies heavily on Geddy Lee's synthesizer playing and the techniques of drummer Neil Peart. Geddy Lee has referred to the track as the band's "defining piece of music...from the early '80s". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPmQJJbByUo Rush Press Conference in Puerto Rico] , April 9, 2008] It is one of Rush's best-known songs and is a staple of classic rock radio. Notably, it reached Number 25 in the UK singles chart in October 1981 as a follow-up to their breakthrough hit "The Spirit of Radio". [http://www.thetop40charts.co.uk/top40/1981.htm UK Charts 1981] , accessed July 17, 2008]

Origin

The song was written by Lee, Peart, and guitarist Alex Lifeson in collaboration with Canadian lyricist Pye Dubois (the lyricist of Max Webster), who also co-wrote other Rush songs such as "Force Ten," "Between Sun and Moon," and "Test For Echo." According to the US radio show "In the Studio with Redbeard" (which devoted an entire episode to the making of "Moving Pictures"), "Tom Sawyer" came about during a summer rehearsal holiday that Rush spent at Ronnie Hawkins' farm outside Toronto. Peart was presented with a poem by Dubois named "Louis the Lawyer" (often cited as "Louis the Warrior") [cite book | title= Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away | last=Popoff | first= Martin | date= | publisher= ECW Press | isbn= 1550226789] that he modified and expanded. Lee and Lifeson then helped set the poem to music. The unique growling sound heard in the song came from Lee's fiddling with his Oberheim synthesizer.

Structure and fan reaction

Fans of Rush cite Tom Sawyer as an example of Rush's distinctive songwriting, blending intelligent lyrics with an intricate pattern of multiple time signatures. [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3105 Tom Sawyer Song Facts] , accessed July 17, 2008 ] The middle section of the song is built around a simple riff that was originally a 'little melody' Geddy Lee used to test his synthesizers: A - F# - G# - E - F# - D - A - F# - G# - E - D - B - as it is 'passed over' from one instrument to another. During the synth part, a 7/8 time signature is used. [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3105 Tom Sawyer Song Facts] , accessed July 17, 2008]

In the December 1985 Rush Backstage Club newsletter, drummer and lyricist Neil Peart said: "Tom Sawyer was a collaboration between myself and Pye Dubois, an excellent lyricist who wrote the lyrics for Max Webster. His original lyrics were kind of a portrait of a modern day rebel, a free-spirited individualist striding through the world wide-eyed and purposeful. I added the themes of reconciling the boy and man in myself, and the difference between what people are and what others perceive them to be - namely me I guess."

Alex Lifeson describes his guitar solo in "Tom Sawyer" in a 2007 interview:

Album appearances

The song was released on Mercury Records and PolyGram in 1981 on the "Moving Pictures" album and numerous compilations thereafter, such 1990's "Chronicles". It has also appeared on several live albums and bootlegs.

"Tom Sawyer" in popular culture

As one of Rush's most recognizable and popular songs, "Tom Sawyer" has become a part of pop culture. The song has been featured in several movies, such as Rob Zombie's reimagining of "Halloween" [http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000SUKPTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216405865&sr=1-1 Halloween Soundtrack on Amazon] , accessed July 18, 2008 ] and Adam Sandler's "The Waterboy", [http://www.amazon.com/Waterboy-Various-Artists/dp/B00000DMU1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216406054&sr=1-1 The Waterboy Soundtrack on Amazon] , accessed July 18, 2008 ] and TV shows such as "Family Guy", "Freaks and Geeks", and "Futurama". [ Rush in television [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/RushReferences.htm Power Windows Website] Accessed July 18, 2008] "Tom Sawyer" has also been covered by several bands and artists including Deadsy, Sebastian Bach, [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007R8EC2/powerwindows-20/ Subdivisions on Amazon] , accessed July 18, 2008 ] Mindless Self Indulgence, [http://www.amazon.com/Youll-Rebel-Anything-Mindless-Indulgence/dp/B000WC2UCW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216408208&sr=8-1 MSI on Amazon] , accessed July 18, 2008 ] and Run for Cover. [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/Coveralbums.htm List of Cover Albums on Power Windows] , accessed July 18, 2008 ] The band Barenaked Ladies played homage to the song with a small segment in their song "Grade 9". [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3105 Tom Sawyer Song Facts] , accessed July 17, 2008] Rush performed the song during an airing of "The Colbert Report" on July 16, 2008 in their first American television appearance in 33 years. [http://sev.prnewswire.com/music/20080715/NYTU13315072008-1.html Rush to Perform for the First Time on U.S. Television in Over 30 Years on 'The Colbert Report'] , PR Newswire, July 15, 2008] A cover version of "Tom Sawyer" is included in the popular rhythm-based video game "Rock Band", although the master version has been released as downloadable content, along with the rest of "Moving Pictures". [http://www.rockband.com/ Rock Band] , accessed July 18, 2008 ]

ee also

*"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", the book that is referenced in the song

References

External links

* [http://www.RUSH.com Rush official website]
* [http://www.rainycitynights.com/band/rush_stuff/tomsawyergrowl.htm Tom Sawyer Growl Sound article]