Yesterday (April 1) was the 40th anniversary of the release of Rush's 1976 album 2112. In honor of the occasion, the band has given us what they're calling a lyric video for the "2112: Overture," the record's opening track.

Perhaps it's a nod to the disc's April Fool's Day release that they chose to highlight the lyrics of a song that is almost entirely instrumental. The only words are "and the meek shall inherit the Earth" in its closing seconds. However, it does open with the words attributed to Anonymous from the liner notes that help set up the record's concept, and there are also comic book-like "Boom Booms" when the explosions happen towards the end.

A pivotal album for the band, 2112 had its first side comprised of a seven-part, 20-minute suite -- of which "Overture" is the opening movement -- that takes place 50 years after a war that put the universe in charge of the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx. The commercial success of the record saw them rebound from the commercial failure of Caress of Steel and become their highest-charting to date.

Earlier this week, guitarist Alex Lifeson reflected on the history of 2112. “I think it’s one of the most important pieces of work that we’ve done,” he said. “I think the influence that it had on a lot of listeners, just judging from the comments I read in the mail and even comments from other bands that have been influenced by us, that’s really a signature record for all of them. And that’s a wonderful thing.”

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