Roll the Bones (song)
Encyclopedia
"Roll the Bones" is the title track from Rush
's 1991 album of the same name
. It continues Rush's rock
style that began with 1989's Presto
, which reduced the band's usage of keyboard
s and returned the emphasis to bass
and electric guitar
.
, reflect on taking chances in life, and urging those unsure to "roll the bones," a term used for dice
. Additionally, the song has strong atheist and evolutionary themes.
The song is also notable for featuring a spoken two-part "rap
" after the guitar solo
. This rap is performed by bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee
; his altered voice is achieved through a drastic lowering of pitch and adding various effects.
and Geddy Lee
and lyrics by Neil Peart
.
US promo:
UK 7" release:
UK Picture Disc release:
UK 2-Disc Limited Edition release:
Disc 1
Disc 2
German 7" release:
12" release
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
's 1991 album of the same name
Roll the Bones
Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1991 . The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights and at McClear Place in Toronto with Rupert Hine returning as producer. The album won the 1992 Juno Award for best album cover design...
. It continues Rush's rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
style that began with 1989's Presto
Presto (album)
-Personnel:* Geddy Lee - bass guitar, synthesizers, vocals* Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals* Neil Peart - drums, percussion* Rupert Hine - additional keyboards, production*Stephen W Tayler - recording and mixing...
, which reduced the band's usage of keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
s and returned the emphasis to bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
.
Style
The song follows in the vein of tracks such as "Show Don't Tell" from Presto, and helps to establish what would become Rush's musical style for the 1990s. The lyrics, written by drummer Neil PeartNeil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, reflect on taking chances in life, and urging those unsure to "roll the bones," a term used for dice
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
. Additionally, the song has strong atheist and evolutionary themes.
"But the bottom line...is to take the chance, roll the bones, if it's a random universe and that's terrifying and it makes you neurotic and everything, never mind. You really have to take the chance or else nothing's going to happen."
- Neil Peart, "It's A Rap" interview, February 1992
The song is also notable for featuring a spoken two-part "rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
" after the guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
. This rap is performed by bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
; his altered voice is achieved through a drastic lowering of pitch and adding various effects.
Live performance
"Roll the Bones" would be played on every Rush tour since the song's release, up to the 2007-2008 Snakes And Arrows Tour, when it was removed from the setlist.Track listing
All music by Alex LifesonAlex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
and Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
and lyrics by Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
.
US promo:
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
UK 7" release:
- Roll The Bones - 5:30
- Show Don't Tell - 5:01
UK Picture Disc release:
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
- The PassThe Pass (song)"The Pass" is a song by the band Rush from their 1989 album Presto. The lyrics by drummer Neil Peart address youth suicide and the tendency to romanticize it. The single was a number five hit on the U.S...
- 4:51 - It's a Rap (Part 1: Alex Lifeson Speaks)
UK 2-Disc Limited Edition release:
Disc 1
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
- Anagram (For Mongo) - 3:59
- It's a Rap (Part 2: Geddy Lee Speaks)
Disc 2
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
- Where's My Thing? (Part IV, "Gangster of Boats" Trilogy)Rush instrumentalsThe Canadian rock band Rush has written, recorded, and performed several instrumentals throughout its career.-Overture:From the 2112 album, "Overture" opens up one of Rush's concept suites. Geddy Lee's voice is recorded as an instrument in the early parts of the song, as he sings no words...
- 3:49 - Superconductor - 4:47
- It's a Rap (Part 3: Neil Peart Speaks)
German 7" release:
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
- Tom Sawyer (Live) - 5:06
12" release
- Roll the Bones - 5:30
- Tom Sawyer (Live) - 5:06
- Spirit of Radio (Live)
Personnel
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
- Synthesizer, BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals - Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
- Acoustic & electric guitars, Vocals - Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
- Drums
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Mainstream Rock | 9 |