Byron's Babbles

I can’t stop thinking about the lyric, “In a world where I feel so small, I can’t stop thinking big” in the song “Caravan” on the Clockwork Angels album by Rush. This is such a powerful statement and I love intellectual lyrics in rock music. In this concept album, the lyrical writer, the late Neil Peart, traces a young man’s life and demonstrates an arc to the pursuit of greatness. Caravan is very deep, referencing both Voltaire and Tocqueville.

“In a world where I feel so small, I can’t stop thinking big” ~ Caravan by Rush

This was discussed by Geddy Lee, the frontman, bassist, and keyboardist for Rush, in the awesome book, My Effin’ Life. The lyrics suggest a feeling of insignificance in a vast world, yet a determination to think and dream big despite that feeling. It conveys a sense of overcoming obstacles and pursuing ambitious goals in the face of challenges and uncertainties.

“We must cultivate our own garden.” ~ Voltaire

In Voltaire’s Candide, the main character embarks on a journey filled with adventures, challenges, and philosophical reflections., in the song “Caravan” by Rush, the lyrics could suggest a sense of embarking on a journey or quest filled with passion and determination. Both works explore themes of perseverance, resilience, and the pursuit of personal growth despite obstacles and hardships. The idea of a road lit by fire in the song could symbolize the inner fire or drive that propels individuals forward on their own journeys, much like Candide’s quest for meaning and enlightenment in Voltaire’s novel.

“One might say that sovereigns in our time seek only to make great things with men. I should want them to think a little more of making great men; to attach less value to the work and more to the worker, and to remember that a nation cannot long remain strong when each man is individually weak, and that neither social forms nor political schemes have yet been found that can make a people energetic by composing it of pusillanimous and soft citizens.” ~ Tocqueville in Democracy in America

Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, emphasized the importance of focusing on the character and qualities of individuals, rather than just the accomplishments or work they produce. He believed that society should prioritize the development of great individuals who can contribute positively to society, rather than simply valuing the material outcomes of their work. This reflects his broader concern with the cultivation of virtuous citizens in a democratic society. Even though we are small in this big world, we need to remember that each of us affects the world for those around us.