#399: Natural History Playlist #4: 'Red Tide'

In Samantha's Harvey's Booker Prize winning 'Orbital' in one of many descriptions of the Earth from space, told in the most wonderful descriptive language, she describes the astronauts seeing the impact of humans on the planet.

‘Every swirling neon or red algal bloom in the polluted, warming, overfished Atlantic is crafted in large part by the hand of politics and human choices.'

'Red Tide' is a track from Rush's album 'Presto'. This album came out in 1989, and I bought it on release day of course. The lyrics are fairly clear in their meaning...

I saw the tour for this album as well, complete with giant inflatable rabbits on stage.

Lyrics are by Neil Peart

Music by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee.

Urgent action is needed:

Too late for debate, too bad to ignore
Quiet rebellion leads to open war
Bring a sea-change to the factory floor
As the red tide covers the shore

Now is the time to turn the tide
Now is the time to fight
Let us not go gently
To the endless winter night

Now is the time to make the time
While hope is still in sight
Let us not go gently
To the endless winter night