Bastille Day

The album opener is one of Rush's heaviest and most aggressive songs, with a machine-gun guitar riff from Lifeson that ranks among his finest. Peart's lyrics draw a vivid parallel between the French Revolution's storming of the Bastille in 1789 and contemporary calls for rebellion against oppressive authority. Geddy Lee reportedly sparked the idea by sharing his fascination with the French Revolution, and Peart crafted it into a critique of the cycles of tyranny and rebellion.

The song's ending reportedly inspired the name of one of progressive rock's most important bands. According to the story, Dream Theater's founding members John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and John Myung originally named their first incarnation of the band "Majesty" after Portnoy described the ending of "Bastille Day" as sounding "majestic."

It became an instant concert favorite and remained a live staple for years. The song was notably revived as part of the instrumental "R30 Overture" for the R30 tour and appeared again during the R40 farewell shows. The opening riff is often cited by guitarists as one of the most satisfying in Rush's catalog to play.