Tom Sawyer
Rush, 1981, from Moving Pictures. Solo by Alex Lifeson.
Lifeson's solo cuts across the song's synth and odd-metre rhythm, frantic and edgy.
Tom Sawyer is built on heavy synth textures and shifting rhythms, and Alex Lifeson's solo cuts across it with frantic energy. His lines are sharp and edgy, with fast, slightly chaotic phrases that contrast with the song's precise, mechanical groove. Lifeson avoids straightforward blues licks, favouring unusual note choices and wild bends that give the solo a restless feel. It fits the song's theme of independence and rebellion. Listen for how the solo sits over the odd-metre instrumental section, where the rhythm keeps shifting, and for the way Lifeson's guitar seems to fight against the synths and drums, adding tension and unpredictability to one of rock radio's most recognisable tracks.
Tom Sawyer by Rush is ranked #250 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Alex Lifeson and the song was released in 1981. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #41 (Ranker).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #20
- The Best Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos — #7
- The Best Rush Guitar Solos — #8
Sources
- Ranker: The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #41
- Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #79
Who played the guitar solo on Tom Sawyer?
Alex Lifeson played the solo on Rush's Tom Sawyer (1981).
Where does Tom Sawyer rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#250 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.