Lyrical Philosophy Top Ten: If You Choose Not to Decide You Still Have Made a Choice (#9)

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Here's another one of those great lines that I find deep and philosophical. Today's entry, though, is peculiar....by a band I don't like, from a song I can't stand. How I heard it, I'll never know. But I did hear it, and I frequently quote it. Here it is. #9: If You Choose Not to Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice Hey, it's @NJChicaa 's second favorite band! Mine, too!!! One of my beefs with prog rock in general is played out in the song "Freewill" by Rush. It has 200 time signature changes in the chorus alone, and nothing like a 4/4 time signature. No, it's more along the lines of 83/32 or something ridiculous. And, of course, there's good ol' Geddy Lee's dog whistle voice. "Freewill" was an FM rock staple when I was stationed in Norfolk. Office policy gave each person "control" of the radio for the week, so we didn't have arguments. When I had control of the radio, Rush and Journey meant an automatic station change. But that was only one week a month. The rest of the time, if this came on the radio, I had to endure it. And, as I said, I don't like the song, especially not Geddy's screeching on the final verse. And yet.... This line -- "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice" -- came out of the radio and stuck in my head. I don't know how, or why, but it did. I consider it one of the most accurate statements in a rock song. I quote this a lot, because it's true: "no" is still an answer. Not going to the store is a choice, just as going to the store is. Both have consequences. I'm sorry I have to link this song just so you can hear a fabulous line. If You Choose Not to Decide You Still Have Made a Choice From "Freewill" Written by Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson Recorded by Rush From Permanent Waves, 1980 If you have an aversion to Geddy Lee's voice, too, the line is at about the 1:16 mark: