Mission

One of the album's most celebrated tracks — a tribute to the artistic impulse and the drive to create. Peart writes about the compulsion that drives artists to pursue their vision regardless of the cost, celebrating creativity as one of the highest human callings. It's arguably the most personal statement on Hold Your Fire.

The arrangement features orchestral strings by Steven Margoshes, creating a cinematic sweep that elevates the song into something genuinely majestic. Lifeson's guitar is more prominent here than on much of the album, and the combination of rock instrumentation with orchestral textures anticipates the direction Rush would explore more fully in later decades.

"Mission" was a concert highlight and is widely regarded as one of the finest songs from Rush's synth period. Its celebration of artistic dedication resonated deeply with the band's creative audience.