Didacts and Narpets

"Didacts and Narpets" is the second movement of Canadian rock band Rush's suite "The Fountain of Lamneth", the fifth and final track on their third studio album, Caress of Steel (1975). As with three other sections of the suite, the lyrics were written by drummer Neil Peart, and the music composed by bassist and lead vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. It was recorded in July 1975 at Toronto Sound under production of the band and Terry Brown.

The experimental avant-garde piece is Rush's shortest sole composition, and, according to band historian Martin Popoff, their most bizarre recording. It is a drum solo punctuated by distorted power chords and yelps, representing an argument between the story's character and the titular didacts (teachers) and narpets (parents). Retrospective coverage of the band and Caress of Steel frequently highlighted "Didacts and Narpets", although detractors felt it was out of place on "The Fountain of Lamneth". Mike Mangini covered the song for a Rush tribute album named Subdivisions (2005), which was released by Magna Carta Records and featured various artists.