What do the lyrics of AWAKEN mean to you?

Awaken has always been somewhat of a "sacred" song to me...

The lyrics speak to me of resurrection, rebirth, the "master plan"
if you will...I won't expound just yet; but would like to open this topic and go from there.

Let's hear your thoughts and interpretations!

Peace,
~DL.

[ANTIOCH]

It has always been ( for me ) a very 'spiritual'
experience to hear "Awaken" 'live'.
What I get from the lyrical message is 'a man in praise ( or prayer ) to his Supreme Being ; or God ' , but I guess Jon is the only one who can accurately answer this.

[YYY]

Lyrically 'Awaken' is very beautiful, poetic and straighforward. Wake up and smell the coffee of GOD. That's all!

[Yes Oz]

I must admit I'm not the sort of person to try and find 'meanings" in Yes lyrics. Gave up on that in the mid 70's. But musically Awaken is certainly the one that takes me to another "place". The harp/organ duet is very emotional, so for me this is the part that lifts me. There are other bits of Yes music that does that too but nothing like Awaken.

[haroldthebarrel]

I don't know where but I think I read that this song is about sex

[Flo]

I listen more to the music of the words than the meaning of them(applying what Jon said - that he used the words and his voice like an instrument). The fact that English is not my mother tongue probably helps. Indeed it is more difficult for me to get the global meaning of songs. And anyway, whenever I try to focus on the meaning of it all it sort of breaks the magic.

[crotale2112]

the ability to break through the dark clouds and fog...

to climb above the tree line, above the fog and mist to reveal the silence of the valley in it's true glory... a place where sending flowered rainbows is easy... and sunshine shines on you as the radiant energy flows from the heart of the sunrise

then onward.. into the vast universal garden.






check this out.. here is some beautiful knitting inspired by the song Awaken..


IFFCG Challenge 2012 for knitting

"Treelander: Awaken" project

The latest addition to Treelander series, on exhibit with
in the International Freeform Crochet Guild

Yes and Roger Dean were no question perfect for this
challenge. The phenomenal talent the musicians and surreal art of their album
covers have inspired me to create at a level of excellence making this piece a
fun process.




I've never had the privilege of meeting the band or
artist but if they ever see the exhibition, they'll find their inspiration in
with other artists as Van Gogh, Picasso, Beethoven, Tchaikowsky, The Beatles,
Cat Stevens, Klimt, Frank Lloyd Wright, George Gershwin, Monet and many
others.

Treelander: Awaken incorporates knit, crochet,
embroidery, and Kumihimo braid. Embellished with birds, beads, a dragonfly and
shells.

[the greenman]

Big topic, mr lurker! To me it is about a spiritual awakening, or reawakening. It's about ascension to a higher place - where so e'er that may be! It's an incredibly uplifting life affirming song. Perhaps Yes' last great master-work in many ways (at least from the classic lineup). I love it & it moves me powerfully.

[witeskyn7]

Big topic, mr lurker! To me it is about a spiritual awakening, or reawakening. It's about ascension to a higher place - where so e'er that may be! It's an incredibly uplifting life affirming song. Perhaps Yes' last great master-work in many ways (at least from the classic lineup). I love it & it moves me powerfully.

+1


As far as lyrics go...I am STILL trying to figure out what is
being sang between 'Awaken Gentle Mass Touch'.....Nobody seems to know (??)

[jskawaken]

+1


As far as lyrics go...I am STILL trying to figure out what is
being sang between 'Awaken Gentle Mass Touch'.....Nobody seems to know (??)

suns high streams through
strong dreams begin here

[witeskyn7]

suns high streams through
strong dreams begin here

Erm....No.

I know that.
I'll re-phrase...What is being sang Behind?.....I cannot make it out...They're sung but not on any lyric page.

Chris is singing...Nonsense words..mebbe??

[Dantalion Rides Again]

You can hear it better in live versions, Chris (& Steve?) are singing "Gentle mass and touch."

[jskawaken]

Yeah I think its the same lyrics, including those that I posted earlier, but they are all chanting them at different times -
But on some live versions Jon is just chanting jibberish sounds - most likely he forgot the original lyrics.

[pianozach]

I just love it when someone finds a thread so moldy that no one has posted in it for over ten years.

Awaken.

I'm more of a music guy than a lyric guy. Often I'll know every note, every lick, every instrument, every harmony of a song, but still be a total Fail about the lyrics.

Awaken always struck me as a lyric collage . . . collections of powerful words and phrases that allow the listener to find a meaning that speaks to him/her personally. Interpretation and free association are required for a song like this.

[DREAMER]

Awaken is my favourite piece of music ever, its the highest point that rock music has ever reached for me.

The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways but I have always seen them as deeply spiritual in a pagan way, to worship the sun, the stars, the moon and all life on planet earth and to be the best that we can be as a race and acheive our full pontential.

If more people listened to music and words like this the world may be a better place, yes I know, well my name is DREAMER after all :)

[pianozach]

I like the way the words pretend to be connected, but are pretty much all random thoughts.

[maninthemoon]

If it were a painting I think it would be abstract expressionism or surrealism. The words don't particularly make sense but they create a mood that is uplifting.

I'm not sure if a more cogent lyric could have had the same effect, it almost transcends language.

[pianozach]

If it were a painting I think it would be abstract expressionism or surrealism. The words don't particularly make sense but they create a mood that is uplifting.

I'm not sure if a more cogent lyric could have had the same effect, it almost transcends language.

Yes, yes. That's more like what I was trying to say.

[smatt]

For me at least... The song is about Awakening your inner spirit... The spirituality within you, whatever that may be... We all have spirituality of one kind or another... The term is broad....

[Micah68]

Awaken gets me closer to God

Wonderful , majestic , glorious piece of music