Between the Wheels

The album closer is one of Rush's most synth-driven songs and one of their darkest — a meditation on feeling crushed by forces beyond one's control. The imagery of being caught "between the wheels" of time, fate, and circumstance creates a vivid sense of helplessness that serves as the album's emotional climax.

The dense, layered synthesizer arrangement creates an almost oppressive atmosphere that perfectly suits the lyrical content. Peart's drumming is particularly powerful, driving the song forward with an inexorable momentum that mirrors the unstoppable forces described in the lyrics.

"Between the Wheels" became a latter-day concert favorite when it was revived for the R40 farewell tour, bringing the album full circle more than 30 years later. It stands as a fitting conclusion to Rush's darkest and most emotionally intense album.