Armor and Sword

The song that gives the album its title — "the snakes and arrows a child is heir to are enough to leave a thousand cuts." Peart examines how childhood indoctrination, particularly religious, creates both armor (faith as protection) and swords (faith as weapon), influenced by Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion.

The arrangement is dramatic and theatrical, with acoustic and electric sections building in intensity. Each passage is executed with precision, and the refrain "No one gets to heaven without a fight" carries an almost biblical weight.

It's one of the most ambitious songs on the album, showcasing the complex arrangements that Raskulinecz encouraged the band to explore.