How does Jon do it?

[haroldthebarrel]

I was thinking today. How does Jon keep so positive and so uplifting at all times the way he does? Hasn't he ever had his heart broken? Someone die? Or anything negative happen to him at all?

I come from a fellow lyricists perspective when saying this. I have been at the stage, especially when I first got serious about music, and was still emulating alot of what I was listening to, maybe even too much! (www.mp3.com/whitespace) And what I was listening to alot of at the time was Yes! So in other words I can see how being happy all of the time will result in positive and uplifting lyrics, but I can't relate to this at all times.

I have had a very bad year, I got my heart broken like 3 times, lost my job, license, car etc... and lyrically, I think it shows....big time. Lately, my songs have had a much darker side to them, or just have delved into topics that are not spiritual or not about peace, wellness, etc....

So anyways, i wonder....How does Jon do it?

[Sheerah]

I'm sorry to hear of your rough year, HTB.
I've had some non stop garbage raining years lately myself. Hang in there, and know that soon, oh soon, things WILL turn around. But you have to help them.

Perhaps Jon does what my mother and I both do. We write. We write poems, and letters to noone. It's very cathardic. Maybe he clears his negativity this way, freeing his psyche up for positive lyric writing.

Also, it takes training to beat the blues. Obviously, Jon is a highly evolved human. He has studied many different religions and philosophies. I imagine he has learned, over time, to clear the negativity from his life, and focus on the positive.

[haroldthebarrel]

Thanks, and you are right 'sschiffman'. It's just weird. I mean ... I guess Relayer could fall into a darker side of Jon or maybe some parts of Fragile, but niothing is really that 'dark'. I guess it's an on-going goal for us all huh?

[MIG]

In reply to how Jon Anderson remains optimistic in the face of all the negativity around seems to be simple. It's the music. Jon is a human being remember? He has his highs (so to speak) and his lows. It has been said many, many times that Yes music always comes before the people. It's a place the members of Yes create for us and them. It lifts us all up. As a matter of fact, I'd say that because most Yes members are perfectionists that they are probably miserable a lot of the time.

[BrianD]

Welcome to Yesfans MIG, hope you stay around.

I'm interested in your view that perfectionists are miserable a lot of the time. I would frame it slightly differently - perfectionists may not be easily satisfied or feel contented with their work, but I don't know if that means that they are miserable. I doubt whether Yes members are miserable any more than most of us - indeed I perceive them as being a very positive bunch.

I absolutely agree with you that their music lifts us all up!

[Thoughtbecontact]

Harold,
Hang in there, man, things do get better. And if you lost your license because of something you may havwe consumed please get help. It's available. Help yourself., please.
As far as Jon goes, does he get down, yes, I do think so.Writing is cathartic. I am a writer, and there are a few of us on this board who are also writers, either lyricists, or actual newspaper people, non fiction feature writers, or whatever.

Don't let Jon's seeming upbeat attitude fool you. Look at the lyrics of Don't Go from Mag. I've mentioned to one of my friends that I believe, in a way, that Jon feels guilty that his first marriage didn't last, and my friend agreed with me. I think tht Don't Go, is in part, but not fully, about that.

Hang in there, Harold, we're here for you. Yesfans are family

[tardistraveler]

The challenge is to find the positive in the midst of seeming negativity. Jon seems to do that, and reflects it in his lyrics.

Does that mean he's always upbeat? Probably not.

Does that mean he's trying to find the positive? Definitely! And apparently manages to through his writing. That's his outlet, his method of transforming his outlook.

We all have to find our own method. And yes, sometimes it seems as if life gives us more than we can handle. I'm grateful for my YesFan family here when that occurs!

[tardistraveler]

Sorry to double post - but I was thinking about Don't Go.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who relates to this song in this way. When I hear the lyric "We were supposed to be together forever" I am always reminded of my ex-husband. Things were supposed to work out. But they didn't. And I'm certainly not the only one this has happened to.

An interesting segue into Give Love Each Day, which seems to hold out the promise of new love - a love meant to be.

Together the two songs remind me of the old, that has passed, and the new still to come.

This is probably threadcrap - but I couldn't resist the thought.

[Earl Grey]

A wonderful 1st post MIG: Welcome to Yesfans! And I as well hope we see you here often!
~~~~

The most amazing thing to me is that Jon's lyrics are so 'positive', and yet never 'trite'. It's much easier to write the depressing stuff. Harder to write from a positive perspective, but hardest to do so without sounding juvenile or nieve.

I think that Jon has a great gift: and I mean 'gift'. He must really be in touch with his inner-self: and his message is paramount to him.

I remember reading that Jon didn't wish to continue performing GATES after 9/11, as he didn't want to evoke the sentiments of war: even though the song resolves in peace.
I respected him for that. I always respect Jon. He's an extraordinary man of heart. Now, if the world would only just listen!

Thanks Harold... Cool thread!

Earl:yesbird:

[Thoughtbecontact]

It's not only if the world as a whole would just listen. We need to listen to each other, and we do that here on this board. But peace, in daily life and in the world at large, begins with one-on-one relationships. Just think of what things would be like if we all lived that way

[haroldthebarrel]

Thanks for the kind sentiments everyone.
Yes I did lose my license because I drank and drove, but I am not really in need of help. I am a 25 year old dude who went to the bar one night for a Corn Feed, had a Screw-driver, and 3 beers. I guess I didn't eat enough corn and hot dogs or let the alcohol sit long enough, because I left right away was going a couple mph over the speed limit, and got pulled over. I was barely over the limit, so here I am. I have since got my work permit and will be getting my license back in full force on March 2oth. I've already learned to see this as just another hurdle, and I think it just seemed to happen at a very bad time.

As far as going to a "dark place" or whatever, I am not there. I just used these experiences to write what i felt. Which was anyhting but peace and love at the time. I think that all in all my negative experiences will prove to create some pretty good (but different) music from me in the future. We learn from our mistakes.

[Thoughtbecontact]

Harold,
I'm glad you don't need help. So just use this as a learning experience, okay?