The Garden

The final song Rush ever recorded in a studio. The protagonist, now old, reflects on a life fully lived and arrives at a simple, devastating conclusion: "The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect." The garden — what we cultivate through our relationships and kindnesses — is all that ultimately matters.

The arrangement is stately and beautiful, with David Campbell's string section providing a grandeur that suits the song's valedictory tone. Lee's vocal performance is among his most moving, and Lifeson's guitar work achieves an almost orchestral richness.

Knowing this is the last song on the last Rush album, "The Garden" is almost impossibly poignant. Peart — the philosopher, the seeker, the man who traveled 55,000 miles to outrun grief — ends his life's work with a message of breathtaking simplicity: love is what matters. After 40 years and 19 studio albums, that's the conclusion. And it's enough.