Animation

Released in 1982. What are your thoughts on this recording?

@ALBUM: ANIMATION

(Words from album cover)

@SONG: OLYMPIA

What you want, you say you,
You gonna get it easy
What you need, say really,
Electronic digit!

Scientific sell me
So terrific to do
Counting fifty-two, plus micro-chip
Plus you're so serious

Eventide delay
Digital delay

Anytime you meet superstition
Just add thoughts to advision
Then cross collateralise and
Subsidised by television

Media media, push to ninety-five
Set to stabilise, Mark One plus
two eighty five

Olympia

Just listen watch
And watch more closely now
Such new machines self-loading
Acquire a taste for you
Spells the name remains the same
Shouts of prophet laughter
Set to spellbind you the viewer
To view the voyager.

Eventide delay
Eventide delay
Monitor special moments
That turn to history
The sound can bring you
Whatever you need

Attention Attention
Within the groove
Sharp sophistication
Cumputer Casio overdrive

Olympia

Through these hallowed halls
Sing into these ears
Songs of infinite
My child Media

What you want, Electronic Music
What you have, such Symphonic Music
Sanyo, Sony, power multiply by hour
Computer redesign?
Riding out in scale of nine

Eventide Delay
Digital Delay
Anytime you need the Truth
Tune in and turn the key
True Media Media Media
You know you've got to me!!


@SONG: ANIMATION

When I was young I had thoughts of a kind that still linger
entwined with realities reasoning
I'd sit on the hill side and look out far yonder, imagine I'd easily
fly away, to where? I don't know,
But the imagery caught by my quick imagination would lift me
my spirit to conquer a fall
Well now let me tell you the simplest of stories
We've all been through this moment
and really we've all been
through this birth

All praise this glorous chance of life
All praise this wonderous feeling too
All praise this time we all go through
This pain This light, we bare so fast
Rebirth at last

And I wanted to be by my wife
As she'd laboured and given
The child a life, she the purest soul
So I wanted to be by her side
For the very first time I said
For the full and simple reason
Well I wanted it, well yes I did

As a Mother and Father of innocence
Gladly helping a child to this world
There was more than relief on our minds
It was like touching moments in History
Not just for a memory
With the help of those dear people
Who could have thought for a better
reason of just wanting to be there
Who could have thought for a better
reason of just wanting to be there
Who could have thought for a better
reason of just wanting to be there
For the full and simple reason
Well I wanted it
wanted it
wanted to be there

Out in a whispering of time
Can a Mother and Child love right away
Mother and Father as their right accept a reason
As the child's eyes that dream on and dream a life away
So the moment I thought about release of life that comes on
And how hopefully wise we become with each passing day
I wondered at this devine "Animation Of Life"
As the moment her eyes opened wide I could see
it was her first day
was her first sound
Time had stood still
Brought my knees to the ground

The moment I saw the look in her eyes
I knew I was captured by an angel in disguise
And as I sit on that green covered hill long ago
The memory of a deeper love inside me flows

Oh -- it comes and it passes through you
Oh -- it comes and it passes through you

Tell me things that our fore fathers have tried
I'll tell you there's nothing in life to touch the birth of a child,
I want these words to linger on and on
for I was there beside my loved one

Oh tell me there is nothing like seeing the birth of a child
So tell me the thought
the memory
lingers so.


@SONG: SURRENDER

What a way to Surrender -- Surrender
What a way to Surrender -- Surrender

It was a mid-summer night dream long ago
I kinda got me a mood
About me, hit me,
Something was trying to tell me something

I know it sounds pretty crazy really
When you think about it, but I,
Heard voices calling me saying
Have you heard the good news personified

You realise what we're talking about
About the power of love
Why don't the United Nations
Declare a special night celebration

We're gonna send the weapons up on a starry night
Explode them above the atmosphere, it sounds right
The whole damn world will be watching
The magic mushrooms in the bright sky
Such a night of splendour
What a way to surrender

What a way to surrender

See me off down to grab the colonels and the generals
To write a letter to the heads of the Government -- Government
Asking them to name, the day-ay-aya
If you think anything of anyone
Why don't sit right down and write that letter
Getting rid of that fear the sooner the better
How about this for a mid-summer night dream
A night we all will remember
All will remember

We're gonna send the weapons up on a starry night
Explode them above the atmosphere,
It sure sounds right (believe me)
The whole damn world will be watching
The whole damn world will be cheering
Such a night of splendour
What a way to surrender
What a way to surrender
What a way to surrender
What a way to surrender


@SONG: ALL IN A MATTER OF TIME

All in a matter of time
Greet the sunlight
Summers morning, ever to be mine

All in a matter of time
Feel the rush of loves emotion
Bring me sunshine

Wonder what idea can form this very day
Takes it's time to wake to such a chance
A dream these words clearly to my heart
To my heart

All in a matter of time
I would only want your loving
Closer to mine

All in a matter of time
Feel the spirit of this season
Drifting this way
Drifting this way

Wonder what idea can form this very day
Takes it's time to wake to such a chance
A dream these words clearly to my heart
To my heart

All in a matter of time
All in a matter of time
All in a matter of time


@SONG: UNLEARNING
(The Dividing Line)

I seem to climb so high
They shooting me down
Shame so I walk in the dark
To the darkest street
As people pass you by
You look in their eyes
A signal so determined so strong
Imagination

I count my bessings
I can see what I mean
I don't need to stand on your feer
I am complete
The TV showed me clearly
Youth is the same
The same crazy game of ideal
and understanding

Let me see the open door
Do it spell of wonderment in the arms of extasy
Can it help unlearning me
Shall we dance I say I am
Do I know a free'r man
Do you hear me --
Where are the signs that stop me
Coming to get the sharpest and the innocent
Ya-Ya

I saw my daddy he was crying in shame
No-one was to blame, no-one knew
His secret name
But then the spring arrived
And carried him high
High sort of mystifying high
I remember

And then the talking started
Perfume the night
A thought between the spleen and
ideal couldn't harm the kids
Such wisdom only counts the counting of cost
Such is the dividing line
Between ideal and understanding

Let me see the open door
Do it stand for Victory
Does it help unlearning me
Can I lose my self control
As you gain the hidden soul
In a state reality, see the door of gravity watch I
Universe University
Do it spell of wonderment in the arms of extasy
Does it help unlearning me
Am I born a free'r man
Can I say, I am I am
Do you hear me
Where are the signs that stop me
Coming to get the sharpest and the innocent

Let me see the open door
Do it stand for Victory
Does it help unlearning me
Can I lose my self control
Can I gain the hidden soul
In a state reality, see the door of gravity watch I
Universe University
Do it spell of wonderment in the arms of extasy
Does it help unlearning me
Am I born a free'r man
Can I say, I am I am
Do you hear me
Where are the signs that stop me
Coming to get the sharpest and the innocent
ya-ya

A simple solid game of words in the night
A thought between the spleen and ideal
Doesn't harm the kids
Such wisdom only counts the counting of cost
Such is the dividing line
Such is the dividing line
Such is the dividing line


@SONG: BOUNDARIES

O'r the green mountains and
O'r the green valleys
I've walked through the country
And felt me an age
A people so strong
They resist for so long
The boundaries that hold them

Children can sing of
the coming of Spring
A young man can't defend
What he knows to be wrong
Women so strong
Needing peace for so long
The homelands lay broken

So the refugee walks such
a long lonely road
As the weak will die off
Make the young people old
To redeem a whole country
For selling its soul
To the bastions of war

So the refugee walks such
a long lonely road
As the weak will die off
Make the young people old
To redeem a whole country
For selling its soul
To the bastions of war

Weep a fresh tear for the mass graves
I fear won't be long
As the young perish fast the land
Wiping the tears from the young
Gifted years, the millions lay down

O'r the green mountains and
O'r the green valleys
I've walked through the country
And felt me an age
A people so strong
They resist for so long
The boundaries that hold them


@SONG: PRESSURE POINT

I have seen the trouble brewing
Seems the final curtain
Isn't very far away
After all we've all been waiting
For a testimony all abput
The Judgement day --

'Cept for reasons known for certain
How Judicial Judgement
Could foresee the final blow
All I know it's getting closer
Half expected I have waited
Now I fell I've really got to go

Soon the colours will be flying
Marching off to glory we become
A festive game

All in all a magic person
Pulling up the curtain
On the very Judegement day
Poison pressures what I'm saying
Will the spoils be war
Reaching the everlasting way
Born to listen to the cheering

Gee he knows just how you want to drive
Riding high fingers to the sky
Reaching out we spend our very day
giving it away, giving it away

Master did you hear children sing
Sounds just like they heard the real thing
Master did you make some other plan
Lets go sub-divide hand in hand
Let it be good
Let it be real good
Brother Sister
Give it a reason
A reason for loving
Reason for wanting
Let it be good
Let it be good
good good
Gotta be good
good good
Let it be good
good
good
good


@SONG: MUCH BETTER REASON

She would travel most each day
Down a lonely road, a winding way
Just to purchase from a shop
Where an eager villain waited there
Just to sell her smiles
Just to say la la
say la la

Cost was not important
It was the way her body made it right
Lost among her passion where
Relief was fast the pain was nice
Quick way for a smile
Just to smile la la -- la la
Looking in her eyes I saw
I could see her looking back at me
I asked if she would dance the night
She reminded me
I'd seen her once before
A long time ago --

There you go, I softly spoke
You smile but not be joyful
I wanna know, I wanna know
Why is it hard for you to feel good
And the she laughed looked at me
And said it's really not your business
It's not for you to know

You see the spell was broke
I took her arm please be seated
This won't take too long
Problem is so old and spent
I begin to wonder
Why you went
Smiling shops your eyes
Your smile is no surprise
no surprise
Let me write it down I said
'Cos I know you are afraid of me
I'll explain in a kind of rhyme
So's not to scare ya
Not to scare your senses
Not at all

Hear me now, concentrate
You go into a mirror
Into a shop a selling shop
It's where you go back for your pleasure
He lets you smile
You're on display
He lets you loose identity
loose identity

OH Questa Vitoria
Santa Maria
Questa Dela
OH Questa Vitoria
Santa Maria
Questa Dela

Well I guess I touched the secret note
I guess I got it right so right
You ask am I supposed to see
What has been your secret secrecy
You just see yourself
Like a mirror you see yourself
See yourself
See yourself
See yourself
See yourself

Ya know pleasure is a costly game
Like a game the pleasure's winning
Naturally the pleasures mine
So be ready with your special
really special winning smile

Give me a smile in a while
You get a much much better feeling
Give them away everyday
You get a much much better feeling

I get a ma, you get a ma,
We get a much much better feeling
I get a ma, you get a ma,
We get a much much better feeling

Give me a smile in a while
You get a much much better feeling
Give them away everyday
You get a much much better feeling

I get a ma, you get a ma,
You get a much much better feeling
Smile we say la la!!


@SONG: ALL GODS CHILDREN

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me
All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

I can play with the game call it purification
We can dance to the fantasy mystification
You can make it by living within the vicinity
I be ready to kiss you and love you infinity
dancing in gravity

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

We were ready believing the heavenly choir
And the jollyfication is getting us higher and higher
Oh! the joy would be climbing and singing the stars at night
We be touching the strategy getting it just right

Better get out and work out a way to the energy
They be calling with musical high choreography
Just to dance with the thought inconceivable beauty
To be ready to kiss you and love you infinity
dancing in gravity
dancing in gravity

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

Like a song that has waited so long for its freedom
I be ready to run with you true inspiration
Have you heard of the people the Magical Trinity
I am ready to kiss you and love you infinity
dancing in gravity
dancing in gravity

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

All Gods children shall be free
All Gods people shine a light on me

[tomas]

In my opinion, Animation is one of Jon's best solo albums. It's an album which could appeal to a lot of people, yet it is distinctively Jon. He sounds like he's having fun on this one, the singing is heartfelt but not overly sentimental, the tunes are catchy but not too poppy. There is a bit of a jazzy feel to it with fretless bass. The band on this album is one of the best on Jon's albums, and the recording is tasteful too. I think the lyrics are among his best on his solo albums, and unique in that they DO have direct literal meanings but dont sound as contrived as some of his later stuff (in my opinion). I haven't heard it for awhile but I can still remember all the melodies. Some good messages in there too. All in all, superb!! 5 stars.
I have heard that he recorded some more material that was to follow this album up, but I haven't heard it. Has anyone?

PS I own a single of Surrender from this album which contains a b-side which is not on the LP. Its called Spider and is a cool song about the 13th sign of the zodiac, with one of his kids speaking on there.

Originally posted by tomas
I have heard that he recorded some more material that was to follow this album up, but I haven't heard it. Has anyone?

PS I own a single of Surrender from this album which contains a b-side which is not on the LP. Its called Spider and is a cool song about the 13th sign of the zodiac, with one of his kids speaking on there.

Hey there tomas, I have not heard of any follow up from this recording but would be interested if anyone else has.

Regarding the song not on the album, might there be any way I could ask you to send me a copy of it? Perhaps if you are going to Konocti, you can bring it there and I can make you some recording that you might enjoy.

[Andersonic]

Hi there, I agree that Animation is one of Jon Anderson best solo works...the song that wasn't on the album 'Spider' is nice but stands out when compared to the rest, it doesn't fit in some way or another. The song 'Twins'(a.k.a. Two Old Ladies - on The Sky And His Shadow bootleg!!) was also intended to appear on Animation but the albumlength would become too long, according to Atlantic...It is an amazing story, almost un-andersonlike...but wonderful in any way...Jon wants to put this song on the CD release of Animation but again Atlantic doesn't feel like doing so...

I wonder what the petition on Jon's site has established, maybe Animation will see the light of day after all?

Yesgreetz from Holland

[ANTIOCH]

I also agree that "Animation" is one of Jon's finest solo releases and should be re-released in it's entirety; as well as "Chagall" !
If Atlantic won't re-release the project, then why not give it up; or sell it back to the artist ?
You've got to hate the greed and power-plays within the music industry . . . vultures !

I thought I heard that Jon was still working on Chagall and that he is going to release it when he feels it is ready. Those that are out there now were put out without Jon's imprimatur and he is supposedly not happy about it. I'd love to hear what his final version of it will be.

And Andersonic (I still love that name), way cool shot of you and Jon! You lucky dog! My question is, why was I not in that shot????

[Andersonic]

Well yessiree, if you were in Amsterdam the day after the second (DVD fliming ) at the Pancake Bakery you COULD have been in that shot...maybe next time?

You lucky souls get to see the Classic Yes first...maybe I should come over to the US? My Birthday is August the 24th..one day after the tour ends, mmmm, what better birthdaypresent...

No better birthday present in life! You deserve it! Come to Konocti and Yescapades. I'll meet you there when we are meeting the guys! How cool would that be?!!

[magnificator]

"ANIMATION" is one of my favorite albums...the old cassette is WORN...
so many are waiting......
How long until???

[prem895]

Great album, but I only have it on tape and i found out it is not available on cd. If it is can someone help me find a copy

[Kev]

Didn't Yes use part of "Boundaries" on Open Your Eyes in the song "Somehow, Someday?"

[Andersonic]

yes you are right Kev, Jon also used it in a song on the long- awaited-but-when-will-it-be-released Chagall album...AND in 'O'er', the last song on Jons solo album 'The Promise Ring'...the original is the best in my opinion.

[Kev]

Ahhhhh, I've yet to get The Promise Ring. I began to think Jon lost some solo steam after Toltec and Change We Must. Bought Earthmotherearth and the More You Know and didn't like either of them. Is the Promise Ring Celtic-based? The music, I mean. Not the meaning.

On Animation:

I really like the line in Surrender where Jon says:

The whole damn world will be watching
The whole DAMN wold will be CHEERING!

I don't think I've ever heard him sound more pissed off.

I'd love to know if there are some secret sound files out there of Jon in `Napoleon Mode' cursing out a roadie or something like that. What a trip that'd be!

[Devotee]

where did you get those lyrics?
I saw the Animation tour and it was really fun. It seemed like Jon was having a great time. We must all remember that Jon does what he wants and if he wants Animation released it will be. I personally believe it's a "better" album than Song of Seven, and that is available on cd. I'm sure the man has his reasons for not releasing it OR redoing it - he's remade a number of his own songs, and I think if he wanted to do someting like that with anything off Animation he would. He's just not in that space right now I guess.

[Andersonic]

Hey Kev, there is a nice Napoleon moment on Jon's Indiginous Journey video (Latin American solo tour): when the stage is being set up he gets mad at a roadie and that is filmed by either Jade or Deborah..."put it on the floor, I don't need it here.....(sees he's being filmed and initially smiles at the camera but then he says:) "If you had to go through what I am going through with these guys...it drives me fu**in' crazy..." And there is that bit of radio interview where Jon en Chris are answering questions by fans and for some reason Jon looses it and uses the F word again...(available on most Napster like sites...) Chris even corrects him!! He IS only human you know...

The Promise Ring is very much Celtic orientated, there must be some sound snippets available here and there on the net, it's a nice album with a genuine Celtic atmosphere.

[lindil]

just got it again after oh 20 years or so...courtesy yessiree

much thanks!

I'd have to say about 1/2 the album is great and half seems overwhelmed by the prvailing musical trends, I am never a big fan at jon's reggae / calypso attempts [ although i kinda like messenger] so surrender falls flat musically, though the lyrics are good.

olympia, animation [ what a cool way to write about an unusual but very common subject], all in a matter of time, boundaries and all God's Children are the keepers for me. I will give it a few more listens in the next few days and we shall see if I come around to the other tunes. The fretless is nice. Distinctive and bold w/out imitating squire.

can anyone give the personnel?
I only recall David Sancious [sp?] on Keys

[relayer_1]

Yes it's true, no nasty rumours this time according to the Dutch Progressive Rock page ( www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl ), the german label Deimos will be releasing not only ANIMATION but also SONG OF SEVEN on CD format in 2003!! It states that Animation is regarded as the bridge between Jon's work with Yes and his work with keyboard maestro Vangelis. No specific date but that will be anounced quite soon.

rejoice, rejoice!........

relayer.

[90125yes]

i love animation