Neil Peart's very first lyrical contribution to Rush, and it immediately announced his philosophical leanings. Inspired by Ayn Rand's novella of the same name, the song celebrates individualism and self-determination. Peart was deeply immersed in Rand's objectivist philosophy at this point in his life, an influence that would reach its peak on 2112.
Interestingly, the music for "Anthem" was mostly written while John Rutsey was still in the band — it was one of the songs the trio played during Peart's audition. But Peart's lyrics transformed it from a straightforward rocker into something with real intellectual ambition. According to Geddy Lee on VH1's "Hangin' With," this was actually the first Rush song to feature Peart's lyrics, with "Beneath, Between & Behind" being written around the same time.
Musically, the song is a hard-charging rocker with an infectious riff from Lifeson and impressive fills from Peart that immediately showcased his technical superiority over his predecessor. The song features a high-speed Lifeson solo and a skilled drum break that announced Peart's arrival with unmistakable authority. It became an early concert staple and set the template for Rush's brand of intelligent hard rock.