"Time Stand Still" is a song by Canadian progressive rock band Rush, released in 1987 as the lead single from their twelfth studio album Hold Your Fire. The song features American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann. It peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart on November 6, 1987, and was a minor hit single in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video for the song was directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński. On June 7, 2026, Aimee Mann joined Rush on stage to play the song live for the first time without the use of a backing track.
Development and composition "Time Stand Still" was the first track Neil Peart wrote for Hold Your Fire. According to Peart, he wrote the lyrics for "Time Stand Still" based on his time with Rush:
"Time Stand Still" is in the key of E major. The tempo is moderately fast. The song starts in before going to common time by the first verse.Time Stand Still Digital Sheet Music by Rush. Sheet Music Plus. Accessed from June 21, 2013. 'Til Tuesday frontwoman Aimee Mann briefly sings in each chorus of the song, marking Rush's first collaboration with another vocalist; Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson adding that the band thought a female singer "would suit the song". Initially, the band had hoped to recruit Cyndi Lauper to sing the part, then later approached the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde because, according to Lifeson, "we thought she'd be perfect. But Chrissie was unavailable at the time." Rush later recruited MannPutterford, Mark (October 17, 1987). Lifeson Times. Kerrang!. Accessed from June 21, 2013. and paid her $2,000 to sing on the track,Klein, Joshua (November 15, 2000). Interview - Aimee Mann. The A.V. Club. Accessed from June 21, 2013. with Lifeson saying that "her voice blends with Geddy [Lee]'s perfectly and I think it creates the right atmosphere for the song. It's just something new for Rush."
Critical reception Chris Welch of Kerrang! praised it as "glowing brilliance which deserves serious chart attention for its haunting guitar, frantic drums and intense vocals." In 2013, PopMatters writer Adrian Begrand listed "Time Stand Still" at #8 on his "10 Songs That Will Make You Love Rush", calling it "Rush's best pop moment."Begrand, Andrian (April 17, 2013). 10 Songs That Will Make You Love Rush. PopMatters. Accessed from June 7, 2021.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Polish filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczyński. According to the editor of the video, Glenn Lazzaro:
Aimee Mann appears with the band in the video, which was filmed over the course of an entire day.
Personnel Rush
Geddy Lee - vocals, bass guitar, synthesizers Alex Lifeson - guitar Neil Peart - Drums
Additional Musicians
Aimee Mann - vocals
Charts Chart (1987) PeakpositionUS Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[ Rush - Chart History: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Accessed from June 19, 2013. 3Canada Top Singles Chart (RPM) 52
See also Rush: Time Stand Still, a documentary film about the band's 2015 R40 Live Tour List of songs recorded by Rush
References