War Paint

An exploration of the masks and armor people wear in social situations — the "war paint" we apply to face the world. Peart examines how performance and identity blur in everyday life, as people present carefully constructed versions of themselves.

The arrangement rocks harder than much of what Rush had produced in the mid-1980s, with Lifeson's guitar playing a prominent role. The caged energy of the track reflects the lyrical theme of concealment and revelation.

It's one of several tracks on Presto that demonstrate Rush's recommitment to rock dynamics, even if the transformation was still a work in progress.