Fear (song series)

The "Fear Series" is a set of four songs by the band Rush. The series consists of Part I: The Enemy Within (from Grace Under Pressure), Part II: The Weapon (from Signals), Part III: Witch Hunt (from Moving Pictures), and Part IV: Freeze (from Vapor Trails). Parts I, II, and III were relased in reverse order, while Part IV was released more than twenty years after Part III. The songs do not follow a set storyline; instead, they deal with topics relating to the emotion of "fear".

In a 1994 interview, Neil Peart describes what inspired the "Fear" Series:

The idea for the trilogy was suggested by an older man telling that he didn't think life was ruled by love, or reason, or money, or the pursuit of happiness -- but by fear. This smart-but cynical guy's position was that most people's actions are motivated by fear of being hungry, fear of being hurt, fear of being alone, fear of being robbed, etc., and that people don't make choices based on hope that something good will happen, but in fear that something bad will happen.

I reacted to this the way all of us tend to react to generalities: "Well, I'm not like that!" But then I started thinking about it more, watching the way people around me behaved, and I soon realised that there was something to this viewpoint, So I sketched out the three "theaters of fear," as I saw them: how fear works inside us ("The Enemy Within"), how fear is used against us ("The Weapon"), and how fear feeds the mob mentality ("Witch Hunt").

As it happened, the last theme was easiest to deal with, so it was written first, and consequently appeared first on record, and the other two followed in reverse order for the same reason.

(From Rush Backstage Club Newsletter, January 1994)

Part One: The Enemy Within

The Enemy Within describes phobias and other situations that scare people intentionally, thus causing paranoia and worry.

Part Two: The Weapon

The Weapon explains how everything that people fear can be used against them, even leaders, great nations, evil dictators, lovers, and murderers.

Part Three: Witch Hunt

The concept of Witch Hunt is how manipulators can use fear to "possess" the "ignorant" masses to their liking, much like the Salem townspeople during the Witch Hunts.

Part Four: Freeze

Freeze explores the fine line between running away and/or standing up to encounter one's fear.