-
Play on Mog
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Rdio
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
-
Play on Hype Machine
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
About This Track
“Red Barchetta” is a song by rock band Rush from their album Moving Pictures.
Synopsis
The song describes a post-petroleum future in which the “primitive” gasoline-burning sports cars are prohibited by “the Motor Law.” The narrator’s uncle has kept one of these illicit vehicles (the titular red Barchetta) in pristine condition for some “fifty-odd years” and keeps it hidden at his secret country home (previously a farm before the aforementioned Motor Law). During one of his weekly drives, the narrator encounters an “alloy air car” that begins to chase him along the roads. A second such vehicle soon joins the pursuit, which continues until the narrator drives his Barchetta across a one-lane bridge that is too narrow for the air cars. The song ends with the narrator returning safely to his uncle’s farm.
Background
The song was inspired by the futuristic short story “A Nice Morning Drive,” written by Richard Foster and published in the November, 1973 issue of Road and Track magazine. The story describes a similar future in which increasingly-stringent safety regulations have forced cars to evolve into massive “Modern Safety Vehicles” (MSVs), capable of withstanding a 50-mile-per-hour impact without injury to the driver. Consequently, drivers of MSVs have become less safety-conscious and more aggressive, and “bouncing” (intentionally ramming) the older, smaller cars is a common sport among some.
Rush lyricist Neil Peart made several attempts to contact Foster while working on the album, but Road and Track did not have an up-to-date address, and Rush were forced to settle for a brief “Inspired by” note in the lyric sheet mentioning the story.
Synopsis
The song describes a post-petroleum future in which the “primitive” gasoline-burning sports cars are prohibited by “the Motor Law.” The narrator’s uncle has kept one of these illicit vehicles (the titular red Barchetta) in pristine condition for some “fifty-odd years” and keeps it hidden at his secret country home (previously a farm before the aforementioned Motor Law). During one of his weekly drives, the narrator encounters an “alloy air car” that begins to chase him along the roads. A second such vehicle soon joins the pursuit, which continues until the narrator drives his Barchetta across a one-lane bridge that is too narrow for the air cars. The song ends with the narrator returning safely to his uncle’s farm.
Background
The song was inspired by the futuristic short story “A Nice Morning Drive,” written by Richard Foster and published in the November, 1973 issue of Road and Track magazine. The story describes a similar future in which increasingly-stringent safety regulations have forced cars to evolve into massive “Modern Safety Vehicles” (MSVs), capable of withstanding a 50-mile-per-hour impact without injury to the driver. Consequently, drivers of MSVs have become less safety-conscious and more aggressive, and “bouncing” (intentionally ramming) the older, smaller cars is a common sport among some.
Rush lyricist Neil Peart made several attempts to contact Foster while working on the album, but Road and Track did not have an up-to-date address, and Rush were forced to settle for a brief “Inspired by” note in the lyric sheet mentioning the story.
Send Ringtones to Cell Similar Music
Play Rush RadioWith: Geddy Lee, Yes, Alex Lifeson, Dream Theater and more…
People who listen to this also like
| Track | Duration | Listeners | ||
|
|
Rush - The Camera Eye | 10:59 | 80,659 | |
|
|
Rush - Limelight | 4:19 | 177,100 | |
|
|
Yes - Roundabout | 8:30 | 167,955 | |
|
|
Yes - Long Distance Runaround | 3:46 | 87,420 | |
|
|
Genesis - Firth Of Fifth | 11:23 | 79,316 | |
|
|
Jethro Tull - Aqualung | 7:54 | 247,612 |
Albums featuring this track
-
Moving Pictures
Rush
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.48
- 7digital $9.99
- Juno $8.29
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $6.68
- eBay Search
-
The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $11.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon.co.uk
- Amazon $11.28
- eBay Search
-
Chronicles
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $18.06
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $19.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $20.00
- eBay Search
-
Spirit Of Radio: Greatest Hits (1974-1987)
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $11.99
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
GlenMar10 wrote:
Pert is the best What a song writer, storyteller and oh yeah.... The best at beating the sticks. No one ever comes close to RUSH. Between the three of them, they play how many instruments??? (:o}>gm
-
NIUHOY wrote:
One of the first Rush tracks I practiced until I got it right. The ending drum flurish still gets me!
-
davidbowiegirl wrote:
Great song
-
TommyMonoTone wrote:
Anyone has a chance, read the story of the song on Wikipedia...very cool evolution of how this song came about.
-
Darklord1 wrote:
Rush and I share a respect for Ayn Rand. Great band!
-
Master Onion wrote:
♬ Well weathered leather, hot metal and oil, the scented country air... ♬
-
xtwntraphq wrote:
One of the best? They ARE THE BEST !!!!
-
mellocone wrote:
one of the bst trios of all time
-
retrowens wrote:
Rockin'!
-
ForgetFreeman wrote:
Saw Rush twice on the Time Machine Tour, absolutely loved hearing one of my favorite albums played in it's entirety. Rush have always been my favorite band, three incredible musicians making truly amazing music.
-
RustInRush wrote:
The production on this album (Moving Pictures) is splendid. Hear those drums? So clean and crisp. Same with the bass. Great song, my favorite off Moving Pictures.
-
Stigbo wrote:
Gotta love Rush
-
Phlunked wrote:
ADRENALINE SURGE! [2] My favorite Rush track!
-
Blind-Io wrote:
Love it. @oyveychris - nope. no where near dead! The good stuff just isn't as popular as it used to be
-
wisaac5440 wrote:
Saw Rush's Time Machine Tour in Hamilton, Ont Tuesday night and they rocked. Great set and video/light show. 2nd time 4 me and I would see them again and again!
-
myprogrushradio wrote:
ADRENALINE SURGE!
-
FearDeimos wrote:
From North to South, from East to West. Rush´s the best.
-
prominence_la wrote:
A fantastical narrative set to freakin' awesome rock. Who could ask for more?
-
Phlunked wrote:
A masterpiece.
-
MarsAsAGirl wrote:
I'd love to hear this live
Track Stats
639,293 Scrobbles
135,280 Listeners
Recent Listening Trend
Top Listeners
-
norco77
Top Listener
-
audiominer
Top Listener
-
Bubleg
Top Listener
-
cfkw
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
jrsWORM, hippy99420, ronp373 and 5 other people loved Rush – Red Barchetta. yesterday evening
-
Birdszhot2222 added Red Barchetta to the playlist DON MIX;'S. Friday morning
-
Birdszhot2222 added Red Barchetta to Birdszhot2222’s library. Friday morning
-
Bill_yeah, Appicerocks, fellipebriz and 1 other person loved Rush – Red Barchetta. Friday morning
-
gt90cpa4 added Red Barchetta to gt90cpa4’s library. Thursday afternoon
-
Harold49, Squarewalker, Nils-erik_mulle and 1 other person loved Rush – Red Barchetta. Thursday morning
-
Ppulcher added Red Barchetta to the playlist Rush Time Machine Tour. Wednesday evening
-
Errormacro, acronym73 and grasplant loved Rush – Red Barchetta. Wednesday evening
-
gettemrollin added Red Barchetta to the playlist Ricky. Wednesday afternoon
-
SlavicMetalhead, Braderlies, Paynomindtous and 26 other people loved Rush – Red Barchetta. Wednesday morning
Related Journals
-
Rush - Concord - June 26th, 2011
by jukkakhan |
28 Jun 2011
| 1 comment
-
Rush - Rush - Very Rush
by migwag |
29 May 2011
| 2 comments
-
Rush - Time Machine Tour (27 May - Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
by Prog013 |
27 May 2011
| 1 comment
