[Prologue:]
In the constellation of Cygnus, there lurks a mysterious, invisible force: the black hole
of Cygnus X-1...

Six Stars of the Northern Cross
In mourning for their sister's loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night...

[1]
Invisible to telescopic eye
Infinity, the star that would not die

All who dare to cross her course
Are swallowed by her fearsome force

Through the void
To be destroyed
Or is there something more?
Atomized...at the core?
Or through the Astral Door?
To soar...

[2]
I set a course just east of Lyra
And northwest of Pegasus
Flew into the light of Deneb
Sailed across the Milky Way
On my ship, the 'Rocinante'
Wheeling through the galaxies
Headed for the heart of Cygnus
Headlong into mystery

The x-ray is her siren song
My ship cannot resist her long
Nearer to my deadly goal
Until the black hole
Gains control...

[3]
Spinning, whirling
Still descending
Like a spiral sea
Unending...

Sound and fury
Drown my heart
Every nerve
Is torn apart...

"Cygnus X-1: Book I The Voyage" was released in 1977 on Rush's A Farewell To Kings album. This is the third video I've completed for a Rush song. (Included at the end of the song, is a short preview of what the Book II video will look like).

Cygnus X-1 is a song duology consisting of Book I: The Voyage" and "Book II: Hemispheres:

A mysterious black hole, titled Cygnus X-1 (believed to be an actual black hole), lies in the constellation of Cygnus. An explorer aboard the ship "Rocinante" is drawn in by the black hole. As he moves closer, it becomes increasingly difficult to control the ship and he is eventually drawn in by the pull of gravity. His final words in Book I are: "Sound and fury drown my heart/Every nerve is torn apart." Just before the final note a faint heartbeat is heard.
The explorer re-enters the story midway through Book II. He has emerged into Olympus, where he witnesses the gods Apollo and Dionysus caught up in the struggle between Mind and Heart. Prior to his arrival, the logical thinkers are led by Apollo and the emotional people are ruled by Dionysus. Apollo had shown the people how to build cities and explore the depths of science and knowledge, but Dionysus had lured many of them into the wild forests and provided love, which many felt that Apollo's society was missing. A conflict now breaks out as the two different ways of life clash. Short snippets of Book I are heard in the background.
When he reflects on what he sees, he becomes tormented in the lack of balance of the people who insist on one extreme or the other. His silent scream of terror is felt by the warriors and causes them to rethink their struggle and unite together. The gods recognize the explorer as a nascent new god and name him Cygnus, the god of Balance.

Book I is the last song on the A Farewell to Kings album, while Book II is the first song on Hemispheres. Book I clocks in at ten minutes and twenty-five seconds (10:25), and Book II is eighteen minutes and eight seconds (18:08).

They Cygnus pieces are among my favorite Rush tracks. It was nice to be able to create something for the first one....and I've already got a plan for the second one (glimpsed in the short preview)...if it comes to pass.

I hope you enjoy the effort!

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