Best Yes lyrics

[Alexander]

Anyone want to tell their favourite Yes lyric?

Yes is known for singing inexplicable lyrics. But many people found Yes lyrics relate to a personal experience or appeal to emotional subtexts on the most personal level.

I've never forgotten that ending to Awaken where Jon sings:

"Like the time I ran away
turned around and you were standing
close to me..."

There's a whole mine of lyrics to choose from. Come on, let's hear some personal favourites!

[deelovesyes]

well Alexander,
You said it, that is my most favorite as well.
whenever someone asks that question, its the first thing to pop in my mind.

there are many I love, but that one is so meaningful to me.

for me, and i know everyone has a different opinion on it,
it speaks of God being with us always.
No matter what we do or how we stray, if we turn around hes always with us.

another I just love is 'Never let grass grow over your soul' hmmmm. the soul. I love it. Leave good Footprints behind.

[Alexander]

How about this one from "Yours is no disgrace":

"Don't surround yourself with yourself,
Move on back two squares..."

There's some wisdom I could have put to use more often.

I have to admit I am very much in awe of what Yes has accomplished both in terms of esthetic beauty and financial success. The fact that they were able to pull it all off. When I lived in Europe I saw people living grand lives, travelling the world and living in style, enjoying the fruits of a stylistic education that I myself lacked. I salute their success because there are many things I'd like to have done and didn't do.

But most of all it's always been clear that Yes members had successful relationships and were the product of cultivation and they put this to good use. All I can say is, Bravo!;)

[Alexander]

I'm really sorry. Those lyrics I just posted are from "I've Seen All Good People". :eek: This might actually be a real disgrace of mine. This is the most embarrassing thing that's yet happened to me at Yesfans.

[wurm_8465]

..as he spoke my spirit climbs into the sky..

for me this sum up all the wonderful experience yes music has bring into my life for the last 18 years!

yes and peace:p

[gatesofdelirium]

Soon, oh soon the light
Ours to shape for all time, ours the right
The sun will lead us, our reason to be here




Even after hearing it so often (i.e. every day) it still sends shivers down my spine.

[Alexander]

"La la la la la la la..."

Connoisseurs of Yes will recognize Jon's introduction to Rick Wakemen on "Yessongs". Rick then burst into "The Six Wives of Henry VIII".

Rarely have la la's been rendered so poignantly. But it left one wondering: What is Jon doing? Was that a warm-up or rather the tail end of something?

It evokes a monk singing in an isolated mountain abbey. Or man adrift in the universe. Acceptance of fate. Jon seems to be saying it. Hauntingly beautiful.

[eggman]

Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away
Forever

All I know can be shown...

[haroldthebarrel]

""La la la la la la la..."

Connoisseurs of Yes will recognize Jon's introduction to Rick Wakemen on "Yessongs". Rick then burst into "The Six Wives of Henry VIII".

Rarely have la la's been rendered so poignantly. But it left one wondering: What is Jon doing? Was that a warm-up or rather the tail end of something? "

There is a thread in another section on this site called "Starship Stumpers" where we discussed what Jon was singing before the Wakeman solo. He was humming: Stravinsky's 'Rites of Spring'.

But as afar a slyrics that I keep getting in my head:

"Childlike soul dreamer.
One journey, one to seek and see in every light
Do open true pathways away.

Carrying closer,
Go gently, holding doors will open every way
You wander true pathways away.

After all your soul will still surrender.
After all don't doubt your part,
Be ready to be loved. "

I don't know if it is just the way it is sung or what, but this part has always been real powerful to me. :cool:

Joe c

[Mike Park]

see the words, hear the music....

great idea, Alexander.

My personals (I don't say favorites because they're all favorites) that are most meaningful to me:

Quartet
Turn of the Century (memories when we're young now, linger...)
The Meeting
Let's Pretend
Saving My Heart for You

I won't tell why they're so meaningful but only say they are shared with my soulmate.

[Olias of NYC]

I agree with Joe C., "To Be Over" is just a great song. I also was quite struck at a concert by the lyric from "And you and I":

"I listened hard but could not see, life tempo changed out and inside me..."

It struck me as a reflection of how we can pursue insight and understanding earnestly but in the wrong way. But a favorite is impossible to pick they all have their time and place.

[talkaboutsending..]

I was always touched by Turn of the Century and one from left field which evokes bittersweet memories from the eighties - Final Eyes!
"Whenever I needed someone, you were there when I needed you"
Of course not forgetting the cycle of lyrics which concludes Going for the one.

[Olias of NYC]

All in all the journey takes you all the way/

As apart from any reality that you've ever seen and known

[1yesfan]

:D

OWNER OF A LONELY HEART, Much better then........ ha ha ha Everyones all time fav yes tune.

[yesfan4ever]

How about:

Take the things you need in life
But remember the giving

[Mike Park]

We move fast,
We need love,
A part we offer is our our only freedom.....

[Green Knight]

I've always loved the final verse of Close to the Edge - it seems to speak volumes in some indefinable way:

Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place


Another snippet I have a particular fondness for is simply the words 'Getting over overhanging trees...' in 'The Revealing...'. Can't explain why, it just evokes wonderful images.

[Alexander]

Sorry if it's too heavy but how about this one:

"In the still light of dawn, she dies
Helpless hands soul revealing"

Feels like it was lived. Dignity in remembrance. The whole song "Turn of the Century" calls forth a painful longing in me.

[Alexander]

Uhhhhh... Isn't anyone going to provide titles?:confused:

Otherwise some wag's going to start submitting in tantras or Whitman or whatever.

[Green Knight]

(If anyone did go submitting Tantras, Whitman or anything posing as a Yes lyric, don't you think at least 80% of the folks here could spot the forgery immediately?) ;)

Now I think of it, I think Jon's lyrics on 'Endless Dream' are sublime. I say this partly as I think Talk is a vastly underrated album... it BURIES 90125 and Big Generator in my book. And possibly a couple of 'Howe era' albums as well.

ED is definitely one they should resurrect live at some point. Perhaps even with the orchestra - Trevor originally wrote the quite mid-section for orchestra!

[Alexander]

I'll have to check that "Endless Dream" out. There's so much Yes that I've never heard. Or the solo releases.

[Olias of NYC]

Alexander--

The solo releases are a must!! Obviously, I'm a fan of Olias of Sunhillow. Squire's "Fish out of Water" is necessary listening as well. In fact, to tie into this thread, I have always loved the lyric from "Lucky Seven":


In the wake of the carnival trail
The more we try, the less we fail

[Mike Park]

All you got to do is hold out your hand...

[siberian khatru]

'.....send an instant karma to me.....' from "Your Move" is probably my favorite. I love the John Lennon song it's stolen from (wasn't Alan White the Plastic Ono drummer
on that one?).

[gatesofdelirium]

He indeed was!

[Alexander]

"Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant Karma to me
Initial it with loving care..."

This is actually from "I've Seen All Good People".:p

[Alexander]

Feel like a heartbreak? How about this one from "Big Generator":

"Exchanges in the currency of humans bought and sold
And the leaders seem to lose control..."

(From "Shoot High, Aim Low". This is a more mature Yes in my opinion. They emerged with a new sound when I lived in Los Angeles. I'll never forget how this song got all the weightlifters going at Gold's Gym in Venice. Possibly the most inspiring Yes song):cool:

[Green Knight]

"Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant Karma to me
Initial it with loving care..."

Misattributed? Don't think so! 'Your Move' is 'I've seen all good people' part one! (Don't want to give people the impression I'm a stickler for facts... But there it is!):rolleyes:

[Olias of NYC]

Yes and if you check out "Gimme Some Truth" the documentary on the making of Imagine, you'll get to see Alan putting in a cent or two and hanging out at the breakfast table. It's really worth a look anyway, some inadvertenly eerie moments.

"Shoot...Low" is a really good song. Although not a big fan of Trevor, his guitar work on that is excellent and the call and response between him and Jon perfect.


Perhaps not the best lyrics but great images nonetheless, from "Astral Traveller":

And in the ruins, caught in a noose around me, glasses tell lies...

[gathernear]

How can the wind with its arms all around me?

[Dragonfly]

I've always admired "Sound Chaser" as a song whose subject is music itself.

"From the moment I reached out to hold I felt a sound."

"And to know that tempo will continue lost in trance of dances."

"As rhythm takes another turn."

Dragonfly:yesbird:

[haroldthebarrel]

Getting over wars we do not mean
Or so it seems so clearly
Sheltered with our passion
Clearly to be home

[Olias_01]

My favourite is in no doubt and accompanies my signature below but also:

'God, you know He wears a blue teeshirt too, with 'God' inscribed and 'Heaven' on both sides.

'Like the time I ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me.'

'Surely I could tell, as I dream tonight a dream a will call and raise it's head in majesty, dividing all my energy, in the meeting of your love.'


just a few my friends.

Hello and love to you all

[flyweil2]

Here's my favorites

Going for the One
Parallels

I've been all around the world and seen so many faces.
Young and old a story told, filling in my spaces.
Now without a trace of doubt I feel it every hour.


90125
Changes

Only such fools Only such jealous hearts
Only through love changes come

One road to loneliness It's always the same
One road to happiness It's calling your name

Cheryl

[solano]

apart from dose a lamb cry out before we shoot it dead and thelyrics from turn of the century its got to be goodevening
newcastle.

[gt76yesman]

Two hearts are better than one
As we flow down life's rivers
We see the stars glow - One by one
All angels of the magic constellation
Be singing us now

[shortexchanges]

Once a peaceful man laid his old head down by a river,
Thought about his childhood life, his father and forgiver,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
He controlled the horses with a handclap or a whisper,
Drink he couldn't combat but he knew he was no sinner,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
He told all his sons of all the antics of adventure,
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.
Better men have realized alone is not a venture,
A decent man would realize alone is not a venture,
Just to hide away, hide away.
He told all his sons of all the antics of adventure,
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.

This is such a beautiful song. it seems there is a great guitar solo starting as it fades into relative obscurity.

The lyrics have always moved me.

the last stanza of Close to the Edge are sublime and resonate within the cerebral cortex.

The opening of the revealing science of god are in this category.

I also think the lyrics mixed with the music create a higher languauge than the individual parts.

Yes provides a glimpse into the greatness that the creator made humans before the biblical fall.

Somehow all the fans realize this and this ascension of music is the glue among us.

[shortexchanges]

I realized this must be among the original threads.

[r60man]

I have always like the lyrics from "New State of Mind" on the Open Your Eyes Album.

Waiting for the moment when the moment has been waiting all the time
Staring at the golden heights, wondering are you ready for the climb

Always on the edge of what could be the greatest moment in this life
Watching as the theme builds, left only to wonder in delight

Sometimes you feel you want to run away from it all
Sometimes you hear the voices of the past come to call
But there's no giving up when you are giving it your all


Very inspirational to me.

[Terry Shea]

Here is my heart
Waiting for you
Here is my soul
I eat at chez nous

:bncsmls:

[sirlespaul]

I like "Gates of Delirium" lyrics.

[Canonsong]

anthything b4 going for the one..after that it all went downhill... sorry but thats just the way i see it

[RandyC]

The Lyrics In Awaken & also The Meeting.

[Timmo]

And you and I climb, crossing the shapes of the morning.
And you and I reach over the sun for the river.
And you and I climb, clearer, towards the movement.
And you and I called over valleys of endless seas.

And I do think very well
As the truth unfolds you
Silently
They move time
Rainbows
Sunlight
Alternate tune
Alternate tune
Rainbows
Soft light
Alternate view
Sunlight
Tell me
Someone
Alternate view
Alternate view, surely, surely

The fist will run, grasp metal to gun.
The spirit sings in crashing tones,
We gain the battle drum.
Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn.
The pen won't stay the demon's wings,
The hour approaches pounding out the Devil's sermon.

[JL]

Too many to narrow down to just one.

[GODSPEED]

From Parallels....
"When we are winning we can stop and shout,making love towards perfection".

[BillGuitar]

That one

[Close to Loch Ness]

There are so many to choose from, but this has always been a favourite especially on the original recording with the huge 'accidental' EQ change just before "on the hill". it gives me goosebumps every time.

Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space,
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race.
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place.
On the hill we viewed the silence of the valley,
Called to witness cycles only of the past.
And we reach all this with movements in between the said remark.

[somissound]

There is so many that literaly "Lift me Up"...

but, "It Will Be a Good Day" always makes me feel really positive when things are not....as most Yes songs.

Thank you Yes!

[Simon Woodhouse]

I think Tormato has the most consistent lyrics, with each song sounding not unlike the one that came before it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
But it's this bit in And You And I that gets my winning vote.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Sad preacher nailed upon the coloured door of time;
Insane teacher be there reminded of the rhyme.
There'll be no mutant enemy we shall certify;
Political ends, as sad remains, will die.
Reach out as forward tastes begin to enter you.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The lyrics fit in so well with the music, there's a real rhythm and flow to what's being sung.

[RABARKS]

A different kind of observation.
In more recent years,I feel that a lot of the Yes lyrics are sort of repeating themselves, words and phrases seem to keep re-appearing. In earlier years there was more variation. A new song would have lots of words and phrases never before used in a Yes song, and sometimes probably never before used in a popsong!

But every now and then Yes (or should I say Jon?) comes up with great words. And they're clever enough to recognize it and "cash in" on it by repeating a really good verse.

Examples, I hear you ask?

Universal Garden
Can You Imagine (lyrics by Chris?)

[wubba]

"Where does reason stop and killing just take over"

This line has always meant a great deal, but today more so than ever.

[rmig68]

"Where Will You Be" is a wonderful revelation about reincarnation

Where will you be when you're not here.
How many lives in this earth time.
You are my soul and this you are.
Two souls intertwined,
That's what we are.

We can, we walk, hand in hand,
All the life,
Be the one, everything to me;
You, I am dreaming.
We have lived and known before,
I feel it.

Where will you lie.

When will I know when you are gone.
Where will I be, and will I miss you.
We are this love in this life,
Two souls intertwined like once before.
See this meeting, hand in hand,
Every life,
Be the one, everything to me;
You are my feeling.

No need to fear this love of life,
We are the truth of every earth life.
No need to fear this life at all,
We are the sun and everlasting life.
Where will you be hearing this song.
How many lives in this earth time.
You are my soul and this you are.
You are my soul and this you are.

Where will you lie


Beautiful lyrics. Scary and daunting at the same time. We are humble in our eternal beauty.
The dance between consiousness and spirit goes on forever, melting together, seperating and intertwining in the dance of pure being. The "me-" consiousness, the "you-" spirit

We are eternal-That's all we need to know

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[Bobby Dread]

What a wonderful thread! So, so many incredible lyrics throughout the history of Yes, but the ones that Close to Loch Ness and Simon Woodhouse quoted above are two of the most memorable for me. Then there's my signature below...

And you don't even want to get me started on Tales- "Dawn of light lying between a silence and sold sources, Chased amid fusions of wonder..." Jon and Steve re-tell the creation story and THEN...

[B-TRUE]

Do not suffer through the game of chance that plays;
always doors to lock away your dreams.
Think it over, time will heal your fear, think it over.
Balance the thoughts that release within you.


Like a Singer searching for a Song
I try to reach where you belong
As I will be the song for you
<!-- / sig --><!-- / sig -->

[B-TRUE]

Nous sommes du soleil...
We love when we play...

Open doors we find our way
We look, we see, we smile
Surely daybreaks cross our path
And stay maybe a while

Let them run, let them chase
Let them hide between
Constant doors will open eyes
As life seems like, life seems like a
Fight, fight, fight
Maybe I'll just sing awhile
And then give you a call
Maybe I'll just say hello
And say maybe that's all

Hurry home as love is true
Will help us through the night
Till we're coming home again
Our life seems like, life seems like a
Fight, fight, fight

Catch as we look and use the passions that flow
As we try we continue
We recieve all we venture to give

Maybe we'll just stand awhile
And surely we can call
Dreams are said to blossom courage
Constant to the soul

Change we must as surely time does
Changes call the course
Held inside we enter daybreaks
Asking for, asking for
The source, the source, the source, the source

Sent as we sing our music's total retain
As we try and consider
We receive all we venture to give
All we say is our soul constant sight listener
We won't tender our song clearer till we sail
Then I will be there
And I will be there
As clearer companions shall call to be near you
They move around telling me that
Move around surely sing
As they don't seem to matter at all
At all, at all, at all................................

Hold me my love, hold me today, call me round
Travel we say, wander we choose love tune
Lay upon me, hold me arund lasting hours
We love when we play
We hear a sound and alter our returning
We drift the shadows and course our way back home
Flying home, going home

Look me my love, sentences move dancing away
We join, we receive
As our song memories long hope in away
Nous sommes du soleil
Hold me around lasting hours
We love when we play
Nous sommes du soleil

Nous sommes du soleil
Nous sommes du soleil
Nous sommes du soleil


</PRE>

[B-TRUE]

We go sailing down the calming streams
Drifting endlessly by the bridgeTo be over,
we will see, to be over
Do not suffer through the game of chance that plays
Always doors to lock away your dreams
Think it over, time will heal your fear, think it over
Balance the thoughts that release within you
Childlike soul dreamer
One journey, one to seek and see in every light
Do open true pathways away
Carrying closerGo gently, holding doors will open every way
You wander true pathways awayAfter all your soul will still surrender
After all don't doubt your part
Be ready to be loved
</PRE>


</PRE>

[B-TRUE]

Sweet dreams can solve the future,
Sweet dreams provide the past.
Sweet things within your makeup;
These things will always last,
These things will make
Sweet dreams of conversation,
Sweet dreams of love affection.
Sweet words within your makeup;
Sweet words of things to
Come on and write your letter,
You know it will be better anyhow.
You're gonna laugh again,
You're gonna smile again,
You're gonna love again.
Sweet dreams are born inside you,
Sweet dreams are born to last.
Sweet thoughts within your makeup;
These thoughts will always last,
These thoughts will always last.
Come on and write your letter, You know it will be better anyhow.
You're gonna laugh again,
You're gonna smile again,
You're gonna love again.
Sweet dreams can solve the future,
Sweet dreams provide the past.
Sweet dreams can solve the future,
Sweet dreams provide the past.
</PRE>
</PRE>

[cinderella]

I look into the mirror
I see no happiness
All the warmth I gave you
Has turned to emptiness

The love we had has fallen
The love we used to share
You've left me here believing
In love that wasn't there

Change changing places
Root yourself to the ground
Word to the wise - Well you get what's coming
One word can bring you round
Changes

[cinderella]

Soon oh soon the light
Pass within and soothe the endless night
And wait here for you
Our reason to be here

Soon oh soon the time
All we move to gain will reach and calm
Our heart is open
Our reason to be here

Long ago, set into rhyme

Soon oh soon the light
Ours to shape for all time, ours the right
The sun will lead us
Our reason to be here
The sun will lead us
Our reason to be here

[fovman]

Close to the Edge

[Scooty]

anthything b4 going for the one..after that it all went downhill... sorry but thats just the way i see it


Wow...
Not that I am surprised, but doubting the greatest Yeslyrics ever in Awaken is a pretty tall order.....but that's just me.

[Swordfleece]

Easy one this - Turn Of The Century :-

We walk hands in the sun
Memories when were young
Love lingers so

Was it sun through the haze
That made all your looks
As warm as moonlight?
As a pearl deep in your eyes,
Tears have flown away,
All the same light.
-----------------------------------
This still sends shivers down my spine. Everytime.
Never ever get bored of it. Apparently it was one of
the first songs where Jon wrote a normal straight ahead
story type lyric.

Never thought I'd see that line up perform this on the
35th Anniv Tour. Fantastic.

[allpurechance]

Easy one this - Turn Of The Century :-

We walk hands in the sun
Memories when were young
Love lingers so

Was it sun through the haze
That made all your looks
As warm as moonlight?
As a pearl deep in your eyes,
Tears have flown away,
All the same light.
-----------------------------------
This still sends shivers down my spine. Everytime.
Never ever get bored of it. Apparently it was one of
the first songs where Jon wrote a normal straight ahead
story type lyric.

Never thought I'd see that line up perform this on the
35th Anniv Tour. Fantastic.

That it was, Swordfleece.That it was.

Repeatedly have I extolled the virtues of this work on the Songs From Tsongas dvd.Amongst the many highlights throughout, disc 1, imho has emerged as the greater of the two discs.It's all good, but disc 1 is amazing.

And part of what makes disc 1 so strong is the Mind Drive Suite, as arranged for the 2004 tour, 1st leg.

Yes has always had a way with arrangements, both within their songs, and also song-to-song in their live sets.

And part of what makes Mind Drive so strong on Tsongas is the inclusion of Turn Of The Century.

Again, my humblest of opinions, but this may be the highlight of the entire set, the entire dvd.

One of Yes' crowning achievements is this song, one of the foremost of that Vast Hidden Catalogue to which I constantly refer, the music a casual fan might have no idea exists...

...Steve Howe at the conclusion, playing what on the original studio version had been an acoustic windup on his electric, an intense reverence for the material characterizing his entire being...

It is beautiful.

[Albedo]

There are so many - just to pull one that gets overlooked it seems:

He spoke of lands not far
Nor lands they were in his mind
Of fusion captured high
Where reason captured his time
In no time at all he took me to the gate

[fragilesi]

Can I cast a vote for Dont Kill the Whale, a surprising choice maybe but these words are haunting, this is taken from a post I made elsewhere and is perhaps a little heavy for this thread but hey ho . . .

Could Don’t Kill The Whale be the most haunting words that Jon has written I wonder? Certainly there are other songs that come to mind that fit such a description, you really do have to be “a form out of stone” not to be moved by Turn of the Century and Survival conjures images to bring a tear to the eye at perversely the very forces of nature that are defended by this song. Despite all that my interpretation is that Jon has come up with a concept here that could be his most prophetic when applied to a wider context.

The basis of the song derived from the words is pretty clear, killing whales and making them extinct really is a bad thing and ties to what has rightly been a fairly popularist theme over recent years. However, it’s the direction of illustration which Jon seems to have taken that really strikes a chord with me about thirty years later.


You're first I'm last
You're thirst I'm asked to justify

It’s always arguable as to what Jon’s getting at and how much meaning he genuinely intended his words to carry. However, I see these as lines that whether by accident or design are laden with genuine meaning. I imagine this as coming from later generations, possibly our children explaining to their children how we as a generation might have allowed whales to be so extinct. By using a primitive like “thirst” Jon makes it clear that we have been incredibly selfish as a generation in wiping out such a wonderful species. The third verse just highlighting the cruelty of it all.
In the second verse I think Jon is suggesting that we should be humble in front of nature instead of showing the incredible arrogance that we do towards it. “In Beauty Vision Do we offer much” – compared to the beauty of nature as a whole is there much positive that the human race can offer? “If we reason with destiny, gonna lose our touch” – are we playing with things that we don’t understand and will we lose our “power” over it as a result?

Warning controversy follows . . . sorry

You see, the reason that I think this is chilling is that although the whale isn’t yet extinct it’s just one example of where mankind and particularly the western societies most of us live in have been so arrogant and selfish. Carbon and Global Warming finally seems to be pricking the conscience of the mainstream but only ineffectually at best. The mere suggestion of green taxes or restrictions that might hurt us only in economic terms are still widely greeted with righteous indignation and ignorance of the true cost of how we live today. Let me take you back to those opening words . . .


You're first I'm last
You're thirst I'm asked to justify

How many of us will look forward to the conversations with our grandchildren, or possibly even our children where we get to explain why they live in such a relatively impoverished style compared to how we lived simply because our “thirst” couldn’t be quenched? How will we attempt to justify it I wonder?


If time will allow
We will judge all who came

Yes, I think they will; assuming they get the chance . . .

[Kristiina]

I´m not a native speaker of english, but when I listen to the song "Beyond and before" I can´t stop wondering how beautiful the lyrics sound: "Sparkling trees of silver foam cast shadows soft in winter´s home, swaying branches breaking sound in lonely forests trembling ground..." It´s... it is... oh, I´m speechless :hearts:

[YesHut]

I´m not a native speaker of english, but when I listen to the song "Beyond and before" I can´t stop wondering how beautiful the lyrics sound: "Sparkling trees of silver foam cast shadows soft in winter´s home, swaying branches breaking sound in lonely forests trembling ground..." It´s... it is... oh, I´m speechless :hearts:


That is what I call a connection, right on.

[plodder]

Like the time I ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me

simply beautiful

[Balrog]

I found an older thread that has many of our favorite Yes lyrics.Started by yours truly.http://www.yesfans.com/showthread.php?t=1292

[Timmo]

On the back of your forty-second screamdown
Do you choose to be lost midst the challenge of being one
On the flight of regardless feelings
As you hurtle to fear midst the challenge of everyone
On the darkest night so painful
Do you hunger for love midst the torture of being one

[RickyG]

I´m not a native speaker of english, but when I listen to the song "Beyond and before" I can´t stop wondering how beautiful the lyrics sound: "Sparkling trees of silver foam cast shadows soft in winter´s home, swaying branches breaking sound in lonely forests trembling ground..." It´s... it is... oh, I´m speechless :hearts:

Welcome to Yesfans, Kisu! What is your native language?

I too have always loved the richness and beauty of those lines you quoted from "Beyond and Before".

[RickyG]

Can I cast a vote for Dont Kill the Whale, a surprising choice maybe but these words are haunting, this is taken from a post I made elsewhere and is perhaps a little heavy for this thread but hey ho . . .

Could Don’t Kill The Whale be the most haunting words that Jon has written I wonder? Certainly there are other songs that come to mind that fit such a description, you really do have to be “a form out of stone” not to be moved by Turn of the Century and Survival conjures images to bring a tear to the eye at perversely the very forces of nature that are defended by this song. Despite all that my interpretation is that Jon has come up with a concept here that could be his most prophetic when applied to a wider context.

The basis of the song derived from the words is pretty clear, killing whales and making them extinct really is a bad thing and ties to what has rightly been a fairly popularist theme over recent years. However, it’s the direction of illustration which Jon seems to have taken that really strikes a chord with me about thirty years later.


You're first I'm last
You're thirst I'm asked to justify

It’s always arguable as to what Jon’s getting at and how much meaning he genuinely intended his words to carry. However, I see these as lines that whether by accident or design are laden with genuine meaning. I imagine this as coming from later generations, possibly our children explaining to their children how we as a generation might have allowed whales to be so extinct. By using a primitive like “thirst” Jon makes it clear that we have been incredibly selfish as a generation in wiping out such a wonderful species. The third verse just highlighting the cruelty of it all.
In the second verse I think Jon is suggesting that we should be humble in front of nature instead of showing the incredible arrogance that we do towards it. “In Beauty Vision Do we offer much” – compared to the beauty of nature as a whole is there much positive that the human race can offer? “If we reason with destiny, gonna lose our touch” – are we playing with things that we don’t understand and will we lose our “power” over it as a result?

Warning controversy follows . . . sorry

You see, the reason that I think this is chilling is that although the whale isn’t yet extinct it’s just one example of where mankind and particularly the western societies most of us live in have been so arrogant and selfish. Carbon and Global Warming finally seems to be pricking the conscience of the mainstream but only ineffectually at best. The mere suggestion of green taxes or restrictions that might hurt us only in economic terms are still widely greeted with righteous indignation and ignorance of the true cost of how we live today. Let me take you back to those opening words . . .


You're first I'm last
You're thirst I'm asked to justify

How many of us will look forward to the conversations with our grandchildren, or possibly even our children where we get to explain why they live in such a relatively impoverished style compared to how we lived simply because our “thirst” couldn’t be quenched? How will we attempt to justify it I wonder?


If time will allow
We will judge all who came

Yes, I think they will; assuming they get the chance . . .

Great post, Fragilesi!

I've never seen you around here before... and checking your recent posts I see this is your first post since before I was a member.

I love your insight on this one. And it is, sadly, so true what you say. Thanks for saying it!

Though in regards to "particularly the western societies", I agree, but we must not forget the Japanese who have been doing more than their share of killing whales and cutting down the world's rainforests.

[fish62858]

there are many that keep coming back to me at various times...
but the ones that i love the best are from GoD/Soon... Cindy already posted them. they seem to apply to so many situations.
Awaken
AYAI
gobs of others...

[Kristiina]

[quote=RickyG;1037783]Welcome to Yesfans, Kisu! What is your native language?

Thank you so much!
I´m from Finland so I speak finnish

[Kristiina]

(Oh, quotation in previous message a bit unsuccesful...)
In "Beyond and before" somewhat later:
Time like gold dust brings mind down
to levels hidden underground

what is this "underground"; subconscious?

All in all - a mysteriously beautiful poem

[Scooty]

On the back of your forty-second screamdown
Do you choose to be lost midst the challenge of being one
On the flight of regardless feelings
As you hurtle to fear midst the challenge of everyone
On the darkest night so painful
Do you hunger for love midst the torture of being one

Killer Timmo.
These rank in the midst of my fav Yeslyrics ever..

[fragilesi]

Great post, Fragilesi!

I've never seen you around here before... and checking your recent posts I see this is your first post since before I was a member.

I love your insight on this one. And it is, sadly, so true what you say. Thanks for saying it!

Though in regards to "particularly the western societies", I agree, but we must not forget the Japanese who have been doing more than their share of killing whales and cutting down the world's rainforests.

Thanks Ricky, yes I've only occasionally in the past meandered over here from Yestalk - no particular reason, just got to like some of the guys on there. It's kind of good to know I'm not alone in this and interestingly I think that "We Agree" contains this more expansive thinking about the wider issues. Your point that it isn't just "Western Societies" is well made, just as I get frustrated at how people failt to understand the dislike of "us" it's important to recognise that there aren't many "angelic" civilisations in the world today anywhere!