Welcome to Tuesday and another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes, the continuing blog about the eternal aspects of music and life. We have much to do today, so let's dispense with the usual opening monologue banter and just get with it. After all, we realize that our readers are a bunch of working men (and women!)...
In case you hadn't guessed, it's a tribute Tuesday here at The Notes as we remember the life of Neal Peart (pronounced Peert, don't worry, everyone else has mispronounced it too...he was Canadian after all eh!). Peart died on January 7th after a 3 1/2 year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. For many, including your humble blogger who is not a percussionist, Peart was the absolute greatest drummer of all time. His recordings with Rush (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Freewill" (Rush), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Tom Sawyer" (Rush)) are eclipsed only by his live performances (ALWAYS a drum solo at a Rush concert) with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. Those solos usually went something like this: Neal Peart Drum Solo, David Letterman June 9, 2011
Neal Peart was not, however, the original drummer for Rush (the band would have a couple of configurations after its formation in 1968. The band settled on its best-known lineup in 1974 becoming the Rush we all know and love), nor the drummer who recorded today's featured song on the band's debut album. That artist was John Rutsey. He was replaced by Peart two weeks before the band's first tour after artistic differences caused Rutsey's departure. The rest is musical history.
"Working Man", did not hit the charts but it does have a couple of distinctions. It's guitar solo consistently ranks as one of the greatest of all times in guitar aficionado publications and lists. The single also has been attributed to landing Rush their first record deal as a DJ at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio played the song in heavy rotation. It resonated with the listening audience of the region and soon brought the talented musicians of the band to the attention of a national audience.
The song also served as a semi-autobiographical tale of the band's own work ethic of recording and touring. In the 80s, Lee, Lifeson, and Peart were the hardest working band in rock producing 7 studio albums with concert tours to promote each one, all while continuing to improve their collective and individual craft.
Rush emulated what it meant to be "working men" in the Rock and Roll band industry. We see throughout the Bible several men and women who worked extremely hard to achieve the goals and visions that God had placed in front of them. One of those hard workers even served as a shepherd for 14 years for the girl of his dreams.
In Genesis 29-31 - New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel we see the continuing story of Jacob and Rachel as they are working for her father Laban and beginning to acquire resources for themselves.
After Jacob's "love at first sight" moment with Rachel, he asked Rachel's father's permission to marry her. Laban's reply..."work for me for 7 years and she's yours" (I'm pretty sure there are a lot of folks who are glad that it doesn't work THAT way anymore). Jacob served as a shepherd in a time when this occupation was looked down upon by virtually everyone. Between predators and the elements, shepherding was a hard life thus accounting for its dour reputation.
Jacob did his time and after the 7 years, he was tricked into marrying Rachel's sister Leah. Feeling slighted, to say the least, Jacob inquires of Laban what happened. It seems Leah wasn't as attractive as Rachel was and Laban wanted to ensure she would be married and have children, both of which were signs of prominence and blessing for women of the day. He suggested and Jacob agreed that Jacob would work another 7 years to be able to have Rachel as his wife. Jacob held up his end of the bargain all the while making sure that he also made a deal with Laban for some of the livestock that he watched thus improving his own prosperity.
God blessed Jacob as he finished out his time for Rachel. Jacob continued to work for Laban for about 6 more years after he and Rachel were married as he worked his way into quite the herd of sheep and children. For 20 years Jacob worked in the lowest status vocation known to man at the time and God blessed him with children and a sizable herd of livestock. His hard work paid off as he left Laban and began his return home to face his brother Esau who 20 years earlier had vowed to kill him.
Jacob was rewarded in more ways than he expected for his hard work and living up to his obligations. Yes, there was a little trickery involved on his part, but ultimately God blessed him for living up to his end of the deal with Laban.
Are times different today? Absolutely! But the principle of working hard for the things in our lives that we want hasn't changed since the man began working outside of the Garden for survival. Jacob's example of hard work and God's blessing on that work should serve us well as we determine what our own work ethic will become. As believers, a strong, hard-working, work ethic is a way in which we can honor God. Friend, let's make it our goal in all of our endeavors to have folks exclaim about us..."Now there goes a working man"... especially if we get the drum solo!!!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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