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"Mission" is a progressive rock song by Rush from the 1987 album Hold Your Fire. The song features prominent keyboard parts played by Geddy Lee. "Mission" was most recently played live during the band's 2007/2008 tour for the album Snakes & Arrows. The opening lyrics of "Mission" are "Hold your fire, keep it burning bright," incorporating the name of the album the song is taken from.
According to Neil Peart in his book Travelling Music, the lyrics are related to a tendency that people have for idealizing the lifestyle of others. People tend to imagine that those who are rich and famous are to be viewed as people who have fewer personal issues than ordinary people. However, he argues that every life has its own level of "toughness."
As an example of this idea, he recounts that people used to refer to him as someone who has the best job in the world. He claims that he is very proud of being a musician, which was a job that he dreamed of in his youth. However, he claims people tend not to realize that being away from family for several months while on tour is not as easy as others make it sound.
A key verse to express that concept says "We each pay a fabulous price for our visions of paradise," referring to personal sacrifices he had to make to achieve his dream.
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