We had just come off a week-long run of super hot weather (110-115 degrees F), and then suddenly we had this day of thunderstorms. I mean ALL day, the sky was alight with lightning, the explosions of thunder, and torrents of rain. That day, there were several times where the lightning and thunder exploded directly overhead, and everyone went to the office windows in amazement, and a little fear.
When it was time to go home, I was certain the freeways would be clogged with traffic, and my normal hour commute would drag on to nearly two hours. I grumbled a bit as I climbed into my car, with the rain beating down, and the lightning crashing all around. I drove the short distance to the freeway, and as I merged into traffic, the song "Jacob's Ladder" by Rush started playing on my XM radio.
Though I would rank Rush as one of my favorite bands, I had never heard this particular song before. As I listened to the words, it became quickly apparent that the song was completely appropriate for the strange weather. In fact, the sky seemed to dance in tune to the song, and I found myself in surreal state of mind as I watched the sky, and listened to the music.
At the climax of the song it happened: a full rainbow appeared just as the sun was vanishing behind me. The sky got darker, and the rainbow got brighter. At one point, there was a single shaft of multicolored light apparently bursting from the ground, and shooting upwards into the night sky. I realized I had to capture the moment, if possible, and tried to snap pictures with my cell phone. (yeah yeah, I know, not safe, yada yada) Anyway, the picture doesn't do the sight justice, but for what it's worth, here it is:
Jacob's Ladder - Rush
The clouds prepare for battle
In the dark and brooding silence.
Bruised and sullen stormclouds
Have the light of day obscured.
Looming low and ominous
In twilight premature
Thunderheads are rumbling
In a distant overture...
All at once, the clouds are parted.
Light streams down in bright unbroken beams...
Follow men's eyes as they look to the skies.
The shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams...
3 comments:
That is freaking awesome. I often think of that song while driving through storms, but to have it actually play at the right time borders on the magical...especially since it likely is not a mainstay of most radio, satellite included.
Stay safe on those slickery streets.
The XM station I listen to (The Boneyard) plays lots of Rush, though that's the first time I heard that song. The other day, they played the entire 2112 piece, not just the "Priests of Syrinx". Recently, they played a song ("BU2B") off the as yet unreleased album, "Caravan". I thought it was rather good!
Oops, the new album name is "Clockwork Angels". "Caravan" is another one of the songs on that album.
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