The Big Money

The album opener is a searing examination of the power of wealth — how money moves through the world as an unstoppable force, building and destroying with equal indifference. Peart's lyrics paint vivid images of money as a puppeteer pulling strings, weaving webs, and drawing flies. It's one of his most incisive social commentaries.

Musically, it opens with massive synthesizer chords alongside Lifeson's Edge-inspired echo-drenched guitar — a sound very much of its era but delivered with Rush's characteristic precision. Peart's drumming mixes elements of ska-influenced rhythms with punk energy. Lee's Wal bass makes its debut here, delivering a punchier, woodier tone than his previous instruments.

"The Big Money" reached #4 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and #45 on the Hot 100, becoming a staple of 1980s rock radio. Its music video received heavy MTV rotation. The song remained a concert fixture well into the 1990s tours.