I LOVE this song. It is SO EPIC! This song helped shape and define the early Generation X cohort when we were teenagers in the 1980's. We were mostly latchkey kids because most of our parents were at work when we got home from school. This meant total FREEDOM to do whatever we wanted. I got away with SO MUCH because of this that to this day, my parents still don't know, lol! We also learned self-sufficiency and independence: we cooked our meals ourselves and cleaned up around the house without prodding (or not, lol!) and we watched out for each other. I really feel fortunate to be part of Generation X! Thank you, Lord for having me born at this best of times!
Rush - Subdivisions
(Released 1982)
Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown
Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Subdivisions —
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions —
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights…