Lakeside Park

An autobiographical song about Peart's childhood summers spent at Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie, near St. Catharines, Ontario. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of youthful summer days — fireworks on Victoria Day (May 24, a Canadian holiday mentioned in the song), amusement rides, and the smell of the midway. Peart had actually worked at the park as a teenager during summers.

It's one of Peart's most personal and nostalgic lyrics, lacking the philosophical or sci-fi trappings of his other work. The music has a bright, almost pop-rock feel with a memorable chorus. Interestingly, Geddy Lee later admitted to cringing when he heard the song on the radio, telling Raw magazine in 1993 that he thought it was a "lousy song" — a harsh self-assessment that many fans would disagree with.

The actual Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie became something of a pilgrimage site for Rush fans, and the park's vintage carousel was the subject of preservation efforts by the local community. The song appeared on setlists periodically through the band's career and was included in the R40 farewell tour's setlist as part of a medley.