Talk:Cygnus X-1 (song series)

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Isn't "series" an odd word to use for a pair of songs ? Is that what Rush use ? -- Beardo 13:09, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

The Apollo/Dionysus dichotomy is used very prominently by the philosopher Nietzsche...I don't know if Peart was intending to reference this or not. Does anyone know? 160.39.245.63 16:38, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

I think this interpretation of the Rush classic in the general storyline section is incorrect. I think the below is more accurate:

The story begins in the song Cygnus X-1 Book One: The Voyage, found on the Farewell to Kings album. It describes a trip to the black hole of Cygnus X-1 (an actual black hole) There is no explanation for this trip, and little more information is given other than the definition of Cygnus (the Prologue movement), fear beforehand (1st movement), the excitement (2nd movement), and finally the terror of the adventure. These emotions are very effectively illustrated by the music and vocals itself and Alex Lifeson ends in an ominous “to be continued” strum which hauntingly fades into the distance.

The prequel is the entire first half of the vinyl LP Hemispheres, and is titled Cygnus X-1 Book Two: Hemispheres. The story opens on a “world of doubt and fear” due to the struggle between heart and mind over the brain or soul of humanity. Hence the line “Every soul a battlefield”. As the story unfolds, the people of this metaphorical land first worship Apollo: Bringer of Wisdom (which is also the title of the movement) and build a sleek and modern world of wonder, only to find it missing something.

That missing something is decided by the wise men to be the offerings of the enemy Dionysus: Bringer of Love (again the title of the movement). Hence, “the bridge of death was crossed – to find out what they had lost”. But again, humanity fails. At first all is wonderful worshipping Dionysus but they fall prey to the lesson taught in the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper and the winter catches them unprepared.

Unable to find an answer, all hell breaks loose, which is described in the movement Armageddon: The Battle of Heart and Mind. But all is not lost. Just when everything seems the darkest, “some who did not fight brought tales of old to light”. At this point the story ceases to be a sequel and the time frame catches up the story’s present - made obvious by the change in tense of the lyric. The lyric summarizes Book One in the past tense, ends with the present tense line, “To this immortal place”.

In the 5th movement, Cygnus: Bringer of Balance, our hero has nearly accomplished his mission; “He has passed into Olympus as was told in tales of old”. Upon arriving, he sees Apollo and Dionysus in battle, a battle that is being reflected in the metaphorical world, which represents the brain of humanity (this is illustrated on the cover art). It is interesting to note that among the quietest points of the entire duology is the description of a battle of gods. That quiet is broken by the silence of the gods as they cease fire upon noticing our hero. Conversely, this point is one of the loudest moments of the entire duology.

The story ends when the gods realize that they are both needed equally, a balance between heart and mind. They then immortalize our hero, naming him Cygnus: God of Balance. The moral of the story is illustrated in the final movement The Sphere A Kind of Dream. —Preceding unsigned comment added by KenCrews63 (talk • contribs) 00:30, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Much better synopsis. And what does this phrase mean - "explain the double meaning"? It's just meaning. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.125.68.34 (talk) 17:06, 18 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Where is it clarified that the song "Cygnus X1" is titled "Cygnus X-1: Book One-The Voyage"?Mk5384 (talk) 21:09, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
 * In the Rush Remasters CD insert with the lyrics and inside the gatefold sleeve of the 2015 vinyl release. Those are the physical copies I own and referenced. The title is Cygnus X-1 and directly underneath that is Book One - The Voyage. I believe (but cannot confirm) the song title is often shortened to Cygnus X-1 because that is how it is written on the media and the back of the CD case insert/record sleeve.68.48.131.203 (talk) 09:02, 20 June 2015 (UTC)