2112 (song)

2112 is a seven-part suite complete with two instrumentals and five other sections with lyrics written by Neil Peart. It is from the 2112 album.

The suite tells a dystopic story set in the year 2112. It commences with a lengthy instrumental section ("Overture") which concludes with the spoken phrase "And the Meek shall inherit the Earth".

The Priests

Section two, "The Temples of Syrinx", sets an immediate counterpoint to this line by introducing the arrogant villains of the story. The Priests of the Temples of Syrinx, characterized by an uncharacteristically high, even shrieking singing voice by Geddy Lee, boast that "All the gifts of life are held within our walls." The Priests, who rule over the Earth, have united the surviving human colonies, after a long war, under "the red star of the Solar Federation", supposedly under the principles of equality and brotherhood. The "meek" mentioned in the opening line seem to be the contented people of the Solar Federation who have submitted to the rule of the Priests.

The Protagonist

The tale truly begins during the third section, "Discovery", which introduces our main character, who finds a guitar in a remote cave behind a waterfall. Alex Lifeson builds up from simple open string guitar playing into increasingly complex patterns and chords, showing us the man's progress as he teaches himself to play the guitar.

Confident that the Priests will be impressed with his discovery, he brings the guitar before them in part four, "Presentation" The dialogue between the man and the Priests features changes between the gentle guitar work and clear pitch of the man, and the hard-rocking guitars and shrieking pitch of the Priests. Ultimately, the Priests dismiss the instrument and destroy it, saying that 'another toy will help destroy' the human race.

The protaganist returns home, discouraged. In part five, "Oracle: The Dream", he has a dream where an oracle takes him on a journey to see the Elder Race's "wondrous land" graced by "the works of gifted hands". He is amazed by its wonder and beauty, and the way in which the people were free to do and create what they please. In the dream he sees the Elder Race growing in power and preparing to return to destroy the temples.

He then awakens in part six, "Soliloquy", and is distraught by the fact that such a world, so perfect for him, will never exist. In the cave where he first discovered the guitar, he kills himself, unable to bear the thought of a life without the wonders he knows are possible of the human race.

Part seven, "The Grand Finale", is a grand instrumental concluding with the spoken words "Attention, all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control". Some fans interpret the Grand Finale as the victorious return of the Elder Race while others interpret it as the establishment of absolute power by the Priests.