Jon Davison, Yes, and Christianity

[Yes.2]

Jon Anderson's lyric writing ability is second to none and most certainly GENIUS.


Jon Davidson's lyrical work with Glass Hammer proves that he as well is on the right track. Much like JA. I deeply dig him. He's the only one I'll except with open arms as a substitute.

[Micah68]

Jon Anderson's lyric writing ability is second to none and most certainly GENIUS.


Jon Davidson's lyrical work with Glass Hammer proves that he as well is on the right track. Much like JA. I deeply dig him. He's the only one I'll except with open arms as a substitute.

--

Great post - agreed

[Frumious B]

There's a difference between having Christianity as a cultural influence, drawing on some of the imagery for lyrics and the influence of some of the music as well and actually espousing Christian beliefs. I think the influence aspect is readily apparent on much of that generation of UK musicians. Look at Genesis where you had a singer named Peter Gabriel, which is pretty Biblical all by itself, tracks like "Supper's Ready" steeped in imagery straight of out Revealation and a whole album centered around the image of a Lamb. Also, the keyboard style that we recognize as prototypically "prog" owes a lot to church music as do the choir like vocal harmonies that are associated with the style. This is all stuff these guys experienced in their childhood though. Allusion is not advocacy.

[Imperatrix]

Yep

Hi, Lilly!

[jimjacksonjim]

There's a difference between having Christianity as a cultural influence, drawing on some of the imagery for lyrics and the influence of some of the music as well and actually espousing Christian beliefs. I think the influence aspect is readily apparent on much of that generation of UK musicians. Look at Genesis where you had a singer named Peter Gabriel, which is pretty Biblical all by itself, tracks like "Supper's Ready" steeped in imagery straight of out Revealation and a whole album centered around the image of a Lamb. Also, the keyboard style that we recognize as prototypically "prog" owes a lot to church music as do the choir like vocal harmonies that are associated with the style. This is all stuff these guys experienced in their childhood though. Allusion is not advocacy.

Best.
Post.
Today.

[sam]

There's a difference between having Christianity as a cultural influence, drawing on some of the imagery for lyrics and the influence of some of the music as well and actually espousing Christian beliefs. I think the influence aspect is readily apparent on much of that generation of UK musicians. Look at Genesis where you had a singer named Peter Gabriel, which is pretty Biblical all by itself, tracks like "Supper's Ready" steeped in imagery straight of out Revealation and a whole album centered around the image of a Lamb. Also, the keyboard style that we recognize as prototypically "prog" owes a lot to church music as do the choir like vocal harmonies that are associated with the style. This is all stuff these guys experienced in their childhood though. Allusion is not advocacy.

I think this is an excellent post. Hits the nail on the head absolutely. It stands to reason that growing up in a largely Church of England country such as the UK that a person would be influenced by that sort of thing. Don't have to believe in it as such, but there's no doubt it becomes part of your character. Off topic completely but even atheist-in-chief of the UK, Richard Dawkins, admits that the UK's Judeo-Christian culture is part of his being.

[steve71]

Maybe a more "across the board" point might be that Yes music can sometimes lift you to spiritual heights. I remember the first time I heard CTTE and it took me to places music has never taken me before. It still does. On a similar point my Mrs and me were talking about 9012live the other day and I was going on about how much I love that version of ST. She said "God, you go on about that video like its the bible" She's kinda right to a degree, I have no religious views at all but that video was a pivotal moment in my life. It changed my whole view on music and opened me up to a band I had never heard before.

And yelling (not singing) along to AYAI with my Konira at Hammersmith last year was just amazing, tears in my eyes cos it was such a beautiful moment.

*Just slightly edged out by her and Joe mauling Gates in a Turkish restaraunt a few hours later, much to the bemusement of the locals and a very drrrrruuunnk rest of us*

[sam]

Maybe a more "across the board" point might be that Yes music can sometimes lift you to spiritual heights. I remember the first time I heard CTTE and it took me to places music has never taken me before. It still does. On a similar point my Mrs and me were talking about 9012live the other day and I was going on about how much I love that version of ST. She said "God, you go on about that video like its the bible" She's kinda right to a degree, I have no religious views at all but that video was a pivotal moment in my life. It changed my whole view on music and opened me up to a band I had never heard before.

And yelling (not singing) along to AYAI with my Konira at Hammersmith last year was just amazing, tears in my eyes cos it was such a beautiful moment.

*Just slightly edged out by her and Joe mauling Gates in a Turkish restaraunt a few hours later, much to the bemusement of the locals and a very drrrrruuunnk rest of us*

I agree about CTTE. I'm not religious at all; but there is something about that song-and album- that is very 'otherworldly' for me.

[maninthemoon]

Wasn't Jon reading Siddhartha when he wrote CTTE?

[steve71]

Yes, I believe he was

[maninthemoon]

Yes, I believe he was

So I think it's more safe to say that Jon's lyrics are often spiritual but not particularly Christian. In fact, contrary to what I used to believe about AYAI, I heard Jon talking about it and if anything it was against traditional Christianity. I can't recall exactly where, it may have been a Michael Smerconish interview.

[bondegezou]

So I think it's more safe to say that Jon's lyrics are often spiritual but not particularly Christian. In fact, contrary to what I used to believe about AYAI, I heard Jon talking about it and if anything it was against traditional Christianity. I can't recall exactly where, it may have been a Michael Smerconish interview.

The progressive rock movement in the late 1960 and early 1970s grew out of the counter-culture movement of the 1960s (hippies, in other words) that was all about a rejection of many traditional elements in society. That included traditional Christianity. The counter-culture rejected Christianity, looking to various alternate approaches to spirituality, thus the whole New Age movement, inspired by the faiths of the Indian subcontinent or aboriginal beliefs, re-inventing pre-Christian pagan traditions and mixing in modern elements, like UFOs.

Many prog lyrics did the same. ELP rejected traditional Christianity and were fervently atheist ("The Only Way (Hymn)") and offered an alternate mythology based on science fiction ("Tarkus"), while still being influenced by the music of English Christianity ("Jerusalem"). Rush took a similar route later, criticising faith and offering science fiction myths. King Crimson (despite Belew's denials) were named after the devil and, early on, again offer futuristic stories, while later attacking organised religion ("The Great Deceiver").

Yes were firmly in the same counter-culture tradition: anti-war ("Harold Land", "Long Distance Runaround"), embracing Indian spirituality ("Close to the Edge", Tales from Topographic Oceans) and UFOs ("Arriving UFO") and other science fiction ("Starship Trooper", "And You and I", maybe "Yours is No Disgrace").

And yet some Christians were also involved in the counter-culture and liberal Christianity joined in the rejection of some older traditions. Rick Wakeman was happy to join in with the UFO stuff and, in recent years, has explicitly stated he agrees with Anderson's view that there are multiple paths to the divine (something heretical in most forms of Christianity).

Anderson's own views have evolved over time. He moved from Buddhist inspirations (or, at least, bastardised Western interpretations of Buddhism) to a focus on aboriginal beliefs (native Americans -- "White Buffalo", Requiem for the Americas; Australian aborigines -- "Brother of Mine"). He's settled on the Divine Mother cult, while more explicitly putting forth this view of multiple paths to the divine ("Big Buddha Song", "Just One Man").

Henry

[mood for today]

umm, yeah I just like the music ...... I liked it better through Yes' first five albums, when no one including the band knew what the hell Anderson was talking about.

Spot on !

[RowanMorrison]

I don't know if this has been brought up yet, but there are, in fact, a few significant Christian references in Yes lyrics:

1) Jon Anderson said that "Soon" from 'The Gates of Delirium' is, among other things, about the Second Coming of Jesus. See Dan Hedges' book 'YES: The Authorized Biography' - I don't have the page number on hand, but it's mid way through somewhere.

2) Jon Anderson related that 'Awaken' was inspired by the Calvin Miller story 'The Singer', which is a Christ-centered allegory (great literature, by the way). Calvin Miller is considered one of the great classic Christian authors. After I read "The Singer" (which I did after reading that Jon had said 'Awaken' was inspired by it) I understood more of what the lyrics in 'Awaken' meant (if you've ever wondered what "Star Song" means, read "The Singer" and you'll have a better idea). From what I remember, the quote from Jon about this is in Tim Morse's book, "Yestories".

Oh wow, thank you for this information - never knew any of that. Fascinating stuff. Has Jon ever discussed the inspiration for "Wonderous Stories" that you're aware of? I'm a Christian and that song particularly resonates with me.

[sdoglb]

Chris Squire's Christmas album was very well done and very different than Jon Anderson's

[tangentmusic]

Anderson's lyrics have elements drawn from Christianity..."young Christians see it" from "The Revealing" on Tales. "Holy Lamb" from Big Generator....those are the first two which come to mind.

What I like about the spirituality of Anderson's Yes lyrics is that a listener may embrace the theological/faith-based elements if he/she chooses while another listener, like me, may enjoy the lyrics as imagery-driven poetry.

Where Davison might take that, well, it's still early, perhaps too early to tell. Chris has said that JD will make contributions to the next collection of Yes songs that BD didn't make during his tenure, but I don't think we can tell exactly what that contribution will look or sound like.

I've read every post in this rather old thread. This comment had the most balance to me.
Jon Anderson's lyrics make me feel good. They are pleasurable to listen to. They blend incredibly well with the music. Do I understand all the meanings behind all of them? No. I read something recently(a link off this forum) from him where he even said he didnt know some of the meanings to his own lyrics till much later.
The beauty of well written lyrics is that they can mean different things to different people and not necessarily what the writer really meant. I'm sure all of us have different takes on various lines. Sure, there are religious connotations or even overt messages in some of them, But to me, it's the way the words flow and rhyme. His words are very visual in the mind's eye. It's about their imagery, delivery and impact on the listener. In this he has suceeded.
Jon D. seems like a very spritual person himself. I truly look forward to hearing what he brings to the next album.

[RelayerI]

Jon Anderson's lyrics make me feel good. They are pleasurable to listen to. They blend incredibly well with the music.........Sure, there are religious connotations or even overt messages in some of them, But to me, it's the way the words flow and rhyme. His words are very visual in the mind's eye. It's about their imagery, delivery and impact on the listener. In this he has suceeded.
Jon D. seems like a very spritual person himself. I truly look forward to hearing what he brings to the next album.

I totally agree. Great music, especially Yes/Jon's uplifts me, gives me a sense of place in the universe and sparks all those spiritual feelings common to us humans. I occasionally get something similar from being inside great buildings like St. Pauls.

I only rarely get these feelings so I treasure them. I'm an atheist.