A mid-tempo meditation on courage, perseverance, and the choice to keep trying despite failure. The lyrics argue that the measure of a life isn't in its successes but in the willingness to keep going — to display bravado in the face of defeat. It shares thematic DNA with "The Pass" from Presto, but with a more hopeful, outward-facing energy.
The arrangement has a U2-ish atmospheric quality, with guitar textures that shimmer rather than crunch. Peart's drum part is notable for its constant evolution — starting with a simple hi-hat and bass drum pattern and building through the song until the final section showcases his creativity within a restrained framework.
The guitar solos on "Bravado" were kept from the demo tapes rather than re-recorded, because the raw, one-take performances captured an emotional spark that the band felt couldn't be reproduced. This philosophy of preserving spontaneity over perfection defined the album's approach.