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WCSX Classic Cuts : Freewill

WCSX Classic Cuts Rush: “Freewill” The Hook: Geddy Lee likes the song’s structure and calls it one of his favorites from that period. Album: Permanent Waves Year: 1980 Writers: Geddy…

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 18: (L-R) Inductees Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart of Rush perform onstage at the 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Kevin Winter / Gettyimages

WCSX Classic Cuts

Rush: "Freewill"

The Hook: Geddy Lee likes the song's structure and calls it one of his favorites from that period.

Album: Permanent Waves

Year: 1980

Writers: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart

Stats: Peaked at number-55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number-four on the Rock Tracks chart.

Background: The second single off Permanent Waves, it didn't hit the pop chart at all, but continues to be one of the band's most played songs on rock radio. Singer and bassist Geddy Lee tells what makes it stand out for him.

Rush singer and bassist Geddy Lee on “Freewill.” OC:…our band. :23

“The structure of that song, the time signature and the way the riff is put together technically is what I like about that song and what I remember about that song. It seemed to be one of the first songs that we did that flowed naturally through different tie signatures, and it was also a song that allowed me to stretch out and be very aggressive in my bass playing, especially in the middle parts. I think it’s one of my favorites, actually, of that period of our band.”