Distant Early Warning

The album opener takes its title from the Distant Early Warning Line — a network of radar stations across the Arctic designed to detect Soviet nuclear missiles. While widely interpreted as being about nuclear anxiety, Peart was characteristically elusive about its meaning, saying in interviews that "it's about a lot of stuff." The song addresses multiple forms of approaching danger that we can sense but may not be able to prevent.

Musically, it's one of the most dynamic songs of Rush's synth era, with a driving urgency that matches the lyrical tension. Lifeson's guitar is more prominent here than on much of Signals, reflecting the band's conscious effort to rebalance their sound.

It became one of the defining songs of the album and a concert staple throughout the 1980s tours. Its themes of vigilance against approaching threats have remained perpetually relevant.