Cars and meaning in the Rush song "Red Barchetta."

So being a big Rush fan I've probably listened to "Red Barchetta" about a million times, but today for some reason was kind of thinking about the lyrics and was like "wtf?"

So the song was written in about 1980 or so. In the lyrics it says "my uncle preserved for me an old machine for 50-odd years.......a brilliant red Barchetta."

Got me thinking about the fact that the name Barchetta, to my knowledge, started its use in the late 40s-early 50s by Ferrari. So that would have only been 30 years or so from when the song was written, and that would be assuming his uncle kept it for him in a barn since the car was brand-new.

Then I was momentarily confused by the reference to "the turbo slows across the borderline," when there presumably would not be a turbo on a Barchetta. But then realize it's talking about jumping a train, and that's before he's in the car, duh.

So.....then there is a reference to a "gleaming alloy (air?)-car shoots toward me two lanes wide...."

I guess the idea is that Geddy is singing the song in the future (like the 2010s or so, to make the Barchetta the correct time frame), and in 1980 he expects that in 2010 people will be driving air-cars (Jetsons?)?

And why does he refer to them as "the giants" as he leaves them stranded at the riverside? Are air-cars presumably really big?

Discuss......

Or take it on some tangent about air-cars, barchettas, or racing down a country road to a one-lane bridge...

I think I remember reading somewhere that it was written about a time in the future when cars will be automated. So it's about the thrill of driving in an old car that didn't drive itself.

I always heard it was about a time when traditional cars where outlawed (the motor law that is mentioned in the song) and have been replaced by very overly safe cars.

To me the song was set in a future time, and the exact nature of the car was not particularly relevant, only that it was a classic sports car of great renown. I haven't listened to the song in a pretty long while, but it's a good one.

"Red Barchetta" My uncle has a country place That no one knows about He says it used to be a farm Before the Motor Law And on Sundays I elude the eyes And hop the Turbine Freight To far outside the Wire Where my white-haired uncle waits Jump to the ground As the Turbo slows to cross the borderline Run like the wind As excitement shivers up and down my spine Down in his barn My uncle preserved for me an old machine For fifty odd years To keep it as new has been his dearest dream I strip away the old debris That hides a shining car A brilliant red Barchetta From a better vanished time I fire up the willing engine Responding with a roar Tires spitting gravel I commit my weekly crime Wind In my hair Shifting and drifting Mechanical music Adrenaline surge... Well-weathered leather Hot metal and oil The scented country air Sunlight on chrome The blur of the landscape Every nerve aware Suddenly ahead of me Across the mountainside A gleaming alloy air car Shoots towards me, two lanes wide I spin around with shrieking tires To run the deadly race Go screaming through the valley As another joins the chase Drive like the wind Straining the limits of machine and man Laughing out loud with fear and hope I've got a desperate plan At the one-lane bridge I leave the giants stranded at the riverside Race back to the farm To dream with my uncle at the fireside

Vintage future hooning.

Don't know about the full meaning, but love the use of it in this awesome track video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4107669898977036457

I just hope I have a non-compliant car (or motorsickle) when we are forced to give up driving! I was relatively inexperienced behind the wheel when that song came out, but it struck a chord (pun intended).

I'm not a huge Rush fan, but that might be the best driving song in existence.

I always just thought the song was set sometime in the future and the 'Barchetta" was just meant to be a sports car of some sort. Not a particular car.

It does seem strange that the giant flying cars cannot get past a one lane bridge - I would think since they can fly they could just go right over it.

Neil is a car nut

Neil Peart discusses his love of vintage cars and models

The police (gleaming alloy air cars) are two lanes wide, so they're the giants he leaves behind. At least that's my take on it.

Also, it's just a song, so I don't get too hung up on realities: How does his uncle preserve the tires? Where do they get gas? etc.

David S. Wallens wrote: Also, it's just a song, so I don't get too hung up on realities: How does his uncle preserve the tires? Where do they get gas? etc.

so you're saying that songs lyrics are sometimes figurative?

David S. Wallens wrote: The police (gleaming alloy air cars) are two lanes wide, so they're the giants he leaves behind. At least that's my take on it. Also, it's just a song, so I don't get too hung up on realities: How does his uncle preserve the tires? Where do they get gas? etc.

Wait a minute, you mean that's not real?

Now I've got to scrap the plans for my cult and start over:(

parker wrote: Wait a minute, you mean that's not real? Now I've got to scrap the plans for my cult and start over:(

No, no, no... it's OK. Just say "works in mysterious ways" and it will all work out.

OK, time to earn my 2112 land speed number.

The lyrics from the song were inspired by story in Road & Track back in '73. '73 was when the first really significant changes were happening with vehicle safety standards and emissions controls in the US, and had a major impact on all new cars.

Richard Foster wrote the story "A Nice Morning Drive" where in the future the regulations were so strict the cars became giant barges designed to keep the occupants safe in a crash. The polar opposite of a small Italian sports car.

I never interpreted the other cars in the song to be cops, just bad drivers. In some ways it predicted inattentive SUV drivers.

The Barchetta part was inspired by a Ferrari that was in Las Vegas car museum. The museum was a collection owned by the casino owner. I can't remember now which collection it was (Andy Reid over a CM probably knows). I know the collection was split up a number of years ago, but the car was in the collection during the late '70's. That's when Neil saw the car while they were in town on the tour.

I can't remember which of Neil's books that was in. It might have been Roadshow or Traveling Music.

Quick Edit: It just came to me, it was the old Harrah's collection in Las Vegas.

In reply to Rob_Mopar:

Thanks! Adding to my mental stash of "WTF! How do you know that E36 M3 - Trivia" for kicking ass in paddock beer conversations.

I just found a Scribd copy of "A Nice Morning Drive." I never read it before. The main character has a MGB. If you replaced the MGB with a Miata, and the MSV (Modern Safety Vehicle) with SUV the story could be released today.

In reply to Rob_Mopar:

Harrahs? I remember going through that place with my Dad. A friend of his bought two cars from the collection when it was broken up, A Roosevelt and a Rickenbacker I think.

But not the Barchetta?

"Barchetta" can also be a generic term. Literally, "little boat" in Italian.

true, but I doubt he was cruising country roads in a little read boat

Alfa GTV?

Oh good, now I have the bass line stuck in my head. Air Bass before going to bed.

It's hard to drive my Miata and not think about that song.

Of course I'm a bass player, a huge Rush(and progressive rock) fan, and my Miata is red, so there's all that.

I remember recently reading that story and thinking how apt it is to today's driving world