“We come into the world and take our chances Fate is just the weight of circumstances That's the way that lady luck dances Roll the bones Roll the bones”
The Roll the Bones album is probably my favorite Rush album. I know, I know it’s probably blasphemous to even have a favorite but if you made me pick one this one would probably be it. And this song in particular has always been one of my faves from the album.
10/29/1991 - life B.S. (before Shannon) - I was watching Rush tour for this album. Considering it was released on 9/3/1991 I didn't have a lot of time to learn the songs before the concert... but I managed.
Lyrics speak for themselves on this song, but even better - listen to Neil himself talk about the inspiration and writing of it, which I embedded above. There are some great nuggets in there.
And then there's this, my 2nd most prized Rush possession, the first being my autographed Power Windows lithograph.
ROW THE BOATS!
Roll The Bones Music by Lee and Lifeson / Lyrics by Peart
Well, you can stake that claim Good work is the key to good fortune Winners take that praise Losers seldom take that blame
If they don't take that game And sometimes the winner takes nothing We draw our own designs Fortune has to make that frame
We go out in the world and take our chances Fate is just the weight of circumstances That's the way that lady luck dances Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Faith is cold as ice Why are little ones born only to suffer For the want of immunity Or a bowl of rice?
Well, who would hold a price On the heads of the innocent children If there's some immortal power To control the dice?
We come into the world and take our chances Fate is just the weight of circumstances That's the way that lady luck dances Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones Why does it happen?
Jack - relax. Get busy with the facts. No zodiacs or almanacs, No maniacs in polyester slacks. Just the facts. Gonna kick some gluteus max. It's a parallax - you dig? You move around The small gets big. It's a rig It's action - reaction - Random interaction. So who's afraid Of a little abstraction? Can't get no satisfaction From the facts? You better run, homeboy - A fact's a fact From Nome to Rome, boy.
What's the deal? Spin the wheel. If the dice are hot - take a shot. Play your cards. Show us what you got - What you're holding. If the cards are cold, Don't go folding. Lady Luck is golden; She favors the bold. That's cold Stop throwing stones - The night has a thousand saxophones. So get out there and rock, And roll the bones. Get busy!
Roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why are we here? Because we're here Roll the bones... roll the bones
Why does it happen? Because it happens Roll the bones... roll the bones
Rest In Peace, Neil Peart - 09/12/1952 - 01/07/2020