Limelight – Rush | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#55) and Mainstream Rock (#4); 1981
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Originally Rush played Cream and Led Zeppelin-styled power chords around the local venues of home base Toronto. In 1973 the trio released its first single: a cover of Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away, which had been revived by the Rolling Stones in 1964.
A self-released album and a support spot for the New York Dolls followed, along with the arrival of a new drummer, Neal Peart, who became Rush’s chief songwriter.
With Geddy Lee’s distinctive high-pitched vocals and Alex Lifeson’s powerful guitar playing, Rush broke into multi-platinum territory with 1976’s 2112, a concept album based on the works of novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand, and followed up with a string of million-plus sellers.
For 1981’s Moving Pictures the band added keyboards for a fuller sound and Lee dropped his voice into a lower register in a new twist on the classic Rush sound, heard here on Limelight.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Rush
- Terry Brown
Lyrics Written by:
- Geddy Lee
- Alex Lifeson
- Neil Peart
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).