Studio Album · No. 5

A Farewell to Kings Songwriting Credits by Rush

1977 Anthem 6 tracks 37:13

Produced by Rush, Terry Brown  ·  Engineered by Terry Brown, Pat Moran

Anthem Progressive RockHard Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 6 of 6 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 6 / 6 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 6 tracks with documented writers, by whether Rush carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
6 trackswritten by Rush 0 tracksoutside writers
Rush's roles on this album

Share of the 6 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

6
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
500,000
US Copies Sold
1977
Released
Data Insight

"Closer to the Heart" brings in the first outside writer the band ever used: Peter Talbot shares the lyric credit with Peart. Peart also picks up two music credits here, on the title track and on "Cygnus X-1", and Lee writes the words to "Cinderella Man".

Recorded in Wales in 1977 and the band's first album on Anthem. It carries their first single to reach the Hot 100.

Track Listing & Credits 6 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
A Farewell to Kings
Neil Peart Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar ŽivojinovićNeil Ellwood Peart RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
2
Xanadu
Neil Peart Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar Živojinović RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
3
Closer to the Heart #76
Neil PeartPeter Talbot Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar Živojinović RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
4
Cinderella Man
Geddy Lee Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar Živojinović RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
5
Madrigal
Neil Peart Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar Živojinović RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
6
Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage
Neil Peart Gary Lee WeinribAleksandar ŽivojinovićNeil Ellwood Peart RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 8 contributors

More from Rush

Frequently Asked Questions A Farewell to Kings

Who wrote the songs on A Farewell to Kings?
Neil Peart wrote the lyrics on five of the six tracks and Geddy Lee wrote "Cinderella Man". Lee and Alex Lifeson wrote the music, with Peart credited on the title track and "Cygnus X-1".
Who wrote "Closer to the Heart"?
Peart and Peter Talbot wrote the lyrics, Lee and Lifeson the music. Talbot is one of only two outside writers in the band's whole catalogue.
How high did the single chart?
"Closer to the Heart" reached number 76 on the Hot 100 and number 36 in the UK.
How did it sell?
500,000 copies in the US, where it was one of three Rush albums certified gold. It also went gold in the UK for 100,000 copies.
Who produced it?
Rush with Terry Brown.
Who engineered it?
Terry Brown and Pat Moran.
How long is the album?
37:13 across six tracks.

Sources