Anagram (for Mongo)

One of Rush's most playful and cleverly constructed songs. Every line contains an anagram — words rearranged to form new words within the same lyric. "There's a snake in every paradise" contains anagrammatic pairs, as do all the other lines. The "Mongo" in the subtitle is Peart's affectionate nickname.

The musical approach is sophisticated pop-rock that sounds like what Rush had been trying to achieve throughout the 1980s — catchy, smart, and accessible without sacrificing craft. It's the kind of song where repeated listening reveals new wordplay discoveries.

Critics and fans often cite "Anagram" as evidence that Presto was the album where Rush finally found the balance between their progressive instincts and their pop ambitions. The wordplay delights without becoming an obstacle to enjoyment.