Editing Hemispheres (Rush album) (section)

===Side one===
Side one is occupied by "[[Cygnus X-1 (song series)#Book II: Hemispheres|Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres]]", an 18-minute sequel to "[[Cygnus X-1 (song series)#Book I: The Voyage|Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage]]" on ''A Farewell to Kings'' which had ended on a [[cliffhanger]].<ref name=1978LPsleeve /><ref name=torontosun1978>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781005torontosun.htm|title=Pregnant Power Trio Births a Beauty|first=Wilder|last=Penfield III|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=5 October 1978|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809060748/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781005torontosun.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Book I concerns an unnamed space explorer who travels to [[Cygnus X-1]], a [[black hole]], in its space ship and is pulled into it. In Book II, his wandering soul emerges into Olympus, who witnesses the gods [[Apollo]] and [[Dionysus]] caught in the struggle between mind and heart, the two leading two types of people: those who follow science and knowledge and build cities but with no emotional attachment, and those who live in forests but experience love. The clash leads to the world splintered into different hemispheres, and a silent scream from the explorer is heard by the two gods who reconsider and unite. They name the explorer Cygnus, the god of balance, and the world is restored with truth and love co-existing.<ref name=sounds1978/><ref name=musicexpress1978/>

Initially, Lee had a different idea for the album's centerpiece track, but after some music had been written the group felt it right to continue the "Cygnus X-1" story.<ref name=musicians1979 /> Peart started to outline the story and lyrics to Book II three weeks before the band left for Rockfield. The process was stressful for him, which took "hours of tearing my hair out", and was only half complete when they arrived at the studio.<ref name=musicexpress1978>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781200musicexpress.htm|title=Hemispheres: Shattered By Latest Rush Opus|first=Graham|last=Hicks|newspaper=Music Express|date=December 1978|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809060821/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781200musicexpress.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The sequel, like Book I, uses mythology and symbolism to depict a conflict between the gods Apollo and Dionysus, which is resolved when Cygnus intervenes, claiming a balance of heart and mind are what is needed for humans to live well.<ref name=circus1978unkn>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781121circus.htm|title=Two Sides To Their Rock'n Roll Story|author=Unknown|magazine=Circus|date=November 21, 1978|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809060910/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781121circus.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Peart introduced the gong and timpani to his percussion set for the first time; he hadn't thought of adding the instrument on previous albums but thought it was needed for ''Hemispheres''.<ref name=musicians1979>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19791103musiciansonly.htm|title=Rush Decision|first=Neil|last=Hooper|magazine=Musicians Only|date=November 3, 1978|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809060851/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19791103musiciansonly.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>