The meaning of Angkor Wat

[eri-chan]

I know Union isn't particularly popular with most yesfans, so maybe I won't get a response to this, but I amabsolutely in love with it (or most of it, anyway). Angkor Wat is one of my favorite tracks, but I am really curious as to what Angkor Wat actually means. Does anyone know? Or does it not mean anything?

I may be singing it at an open mic night on campus in a couple weeks and I'd really like to be able to preface the song with some sort of explanation.....help, anyone?

[BlueEagle]

It is the name of an ancient monestary and temple complex in Cambodia
http://www.leidenuniv.nl/pun/ubhtm/mjk/angkorwa.htm

[gt76yesman]

Beat me to it BlueEagle! Good link there as well.

I agree with you Blutailfly. I really like most of Union but Angkor Wat is my favorite.

Glendo

[eri-chan]

Thanks! now I have someplace to start, anyway. I'm fascinated by these things....

[BlueEagle]

I happened to stumble on a show about it on the Discovery channel some time ago. It's quite an amazing place.

[eri-chan]

I'm reading some stuff online about it and looking at photos - it looks incredible.

I really wish I could find the meaning of the name....

[yesindeed]

I'm reading some stuff online about it and looking at photos - it looks incredible.

I really wish I could find the meaning of the name....


My research indicates that "Literally translated Angkor Wat means 'the city which is a temple' "

from this link:

http://www.earthwalkers.no/temples.htm

[tim4003]

Things that make you go,"hmmmmmm".
Always wondered that myself. Thanks guys!

[BrianD]

I agree about the song - I think its a stand out track on the album.

If it hadn't been for the 'killing fields' in Cambodia followed by the years of civil war, Angkor Wat would rival places like Machhu Pichu as a tourist attraction. I have never been there but I would certainly love to one day if it is safe enough. Trouble is that it is also very close to areas of opium production to be truly safe. And the remnants of the Khmer Rouge live in the area.

[yesyadda]

Angkor Wat is one of my favorite Yes songs. There a few others from the album that I think are tremendous also. I was intrigued by the Cambodian Poem within Angkor Wat and eventually found the translation. We recited it at our daughter's batism in 1995. It follows:

I am a child of the universe.
I deserve total recognition of this in the light of God.
Being a child of the universe,
I want to live in a world without war
I want to live in a world without starvation
I want to live in a world without pestilence
I want to live in a world of love, peace and harmony
Because I am a child of the universe.

[upbgirl]

thanx, yesyadda for interpreting that poem..
i listened to that cd all night at work last week, and have always wondered what she was saying..
what a perfect peice of prose for a baptism, too-excellent choice!
did the priest ask where you came up with THAT?

HEY! good luck at open mic, eri!!
are you going to sing or recite the poetry?
i'd love to see and hear that..
and yes, blue eagle.. i saw an article in national geographic on angkor wat.
suposedly, that place has been a spiritual spot for centuries..
too bad the poppies seem to be more valuable than the people or culture there..
sad..

[yarstruly]

Break a leg on that open Mic night!

I was wondering what that said at the end of the song!

[yesyadda]

kathi- actually my daughter's baptism was fashioned from druid or pagan rituals. It was 8 years ago but I remember putting her on a blanket in the backyard, sprinkling grains on the ground around her, maybe annointing her with scented oil and then some recitations, including the poem from Angkor Wat. We had friends and family with us and had a nice dinner afterwards. When she was first brought home, I did give her a Christian baptism in the kitchen sink, then one night took her outside under a starlit sky- held her above my head and said "behold the only thing greater than yourself". That line of course from the book "Roots". My three boys were all baptised in the Catholic Church. But they too were given the dousing in my kitchen sink followed by the routine from "Roots".

[eri-chan]

HEY! good luck at open mic, eri!!
are you going to sing or recite the poetry?
i'd love to see and hear that..

thanks :) I'm going to do it just the way its done on the album, sing the first part and recite the poem (though I'm going to recite it in english since I haven't the slightest idea what the girl says on the album)

I don't know if people will get it, but I'm going to try and explain it a little beforehand.

thanks for all the info guys - its greatly appreciated :)