A driving, propulsive opener about the restless energy of youth — traveling, seeking, following dreams across a vast landscape. The opening verse references astronomy, which Peart was inspired to write after bicycling a hundred miles from Cincinnati to Columbus between two gigs on the Presto tour. The imagery captures the feeling of motion as a state of mind.
Musically, it's a straight-ahead rock groove that announces the album's confident energy from the first note. Lifeson's guitar is firmly in the driver's seat, with synths reduced to atmospheric texture rather than lead instrument. It exemplifies the streamlined, guitar-forward sound that had been developing since Presto.
"Dreamline" reached #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and became a staple of Rush's live shows for years to come. It's one of the best examples of the band's ability to write anthemic, radio-friendly rock without sacrificing intelligence or musicianship.