This song is from the 1984 “Grace Under Pressure” album. It was inspired by the stories Geddy Lee’s parents had told him about their experiences in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
According to Lee: ‘I once asked my mother her first thoughts upon being liberated,’ Lee said. ‘She di...
[Intro]
All that we can do is just survive
All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive
All that we can do is just survive
All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive
[Verse 1]
Ragged lines of ragged grey
Skeletons, they shuffle away
Shouting guards and smoking guns
Will cut down the unlucky ones
[Chorus 1]
I clutch the wire fence until my fingers bleed
A wound that will not heal, a heart that cannot feel
Hoping that the horror will recede
Hoping that tomorrow we'll all be freed
[Verse 2]
Sickness to insanity
Prayer to profanity
Days and weeks and months go by
Don't feel the hunger
Too weak to cry
[Chorus 2]
I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gate
Are the liberators here?
Do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late
But I must help my mother stand up straight
[Post-Chorus]
Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?
Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?
[Chorus]
I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gate
Are the liberators here?
Do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late
But I must help my mother stand up straight
[Post-Chorus]
Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?
Are we the last ones left alive?
Are we the only human beings to survive?
Red Sector A was written by Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson & Neil Peart.
Red Sector A was produced by Rush & Peter Henderson.
Rush released Red Sector A on Thu Apr 12 1984.