Talk:Subdivisions (song)

Alternate meaning, LSD use?
Is this your opinion or have you heard this theory somewhere before? Don't worry, I don't give a fuck about citation, and I WON't revert or change your edit--I hate people that do that shit--I'm just personally curious. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.119.22.113 (talk) 04:37, 18 December 2006 (UTC).

re: Correction to "who says 'subdivisions'"
I know this point has been added and deleted several times from the article due to lack of citation ... A citation is available at if anyone's still keen on tweaking the article. Cheers. 24.235.112.42 (talk) 17:52, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:Subdivisions.ogg
The image Image:Subdivisions.ogg is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here. In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Please check


 * That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
 * That this article is linked to from the image description page.

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Media copyright questions. --00:34, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Lyrics Source
I used AZLyrics as the source of the lyrics while lyrics referencing the song were still up. I thought lyrics were reference material, if they refer to what the song is about by indicating what it sings about.Chris-marsh-usa (talk) 23:36, 13 September 2009 (UTC)

Alternative interpretation: Song is about Ellis and his personal struggles?
Recent discussion on rec.gambling.poker (a political usenet discussion group) has led some to believe that the song is actually about a gay boy who feels out of place having to hide his sexuality in his hometown (has to resort to having sex with ugly people in the back of cars, and in the basements of dirty bars). Whereas in the city, he's more comfortable 'cruising' (a term which was closely associated with the gay subculture in the early 80's because of the movie Cruising (film)) and partaking in carnal pleasures (being 'lit up like a firefly' referring to the bug with the glowing butt)  It has been suggested that Subdivisions could be Part I of Neil Peart's homage to Ellis, a homosexual man he befriended while living in London, with Nobody's Hero being Part II. RGP Discussion

Diputsur (talk) 04:17, 30 July 2010 (UTC)


 * I think this may be correct, at least partially correct. I vividly remember a Guitar World interview in the 1980s with then-guitarist Alex Lifeson alluding to this and his tragic death of AIDS.


 * Other people have noted it as well, which may make it significant enough to include in the article. E.G. http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/107547/,

''::Its a song about non-conformity and how society tries to make people into a conforming drone. This is particularily [sic]bad in most cities suburbs where homes are built exactly the same by the same builder, and high school is all about being part of the crowd. This song is of significance to me as a gay man who never felt part of the cliques in high school.''


 * If anyone can remember the Guitar World issue, please post it and we may be able to incorporate it. Thanks. 69.109.5.84 (talk) 04:31, 30 July 2010 (UTC)

Who says subdivisions?
The video certainly shows it as Alex Lifeson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu9Ycq64Gy4 Daniel Christensen (talk) 16:18, 6 November 2011 (UTC)

Disagree with the "About" description
It's a little too interpretive. I don't have any references to cite right now but I'm pretty sure the song is actually about life growing up in the suburbs, not that people who don't conform with societal norms somehow form their own "subdivisions". At no point in the song do the lyrics suggest that. There are a lot of lines that suggest he's actually talking about subdivisions though:
 * Sprawling on the fringes of the city...
 * But the suburbs have no charms to soothe...
 * Drawn like moths we drift into the city... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Logan1337 (talk • contribs) 22:22, 2 October 2012 (UTC)