Post-Jon Anderson Lyrics

[Soundwaveseeker]

One thing I've noticed about the albums that do not feature Jon Anderson, is that the lyrics are actually pretty decent and at times even superior to a lot of Anderson's lyrics. Both Trevor Horn and Jon Davison have supplied some good lyrics for Yes. Don't get me wrong, Jon Anderson's lyrical output for Yes especially in 70's/80's were unique and part of the mystique of this grand music. But then there are a lot of predictable words and phrases he uses - be the power, power of the sun, touch my spirit, be the light, etc.

The non-Anderson lyrics on the albums without him are often more down to Earth, and more like 'regular' lyrics, whatever that may mean. They go from serviceable to quite good. The words for Does It Really Happen, Tempus Fugit, Living In A World Of Our Own, Fly From Here, Ice Bridge, Light Of The Ages - all pretty good, and all without having to fall back on the same words all the time like power, love, light, the sun, child, heart or touch. I'm not slamming Jon Anderson's lyrics or anything, just saying that without him the lyrical side of Yes has opened up into other avenues and influences not always previously there.

What does anyone else think of the words of Yes music without Jon Anderson? Some maintain that the lyrics meanings are of lesser importance than how they sound as another instrument in the mix anyway, so it may not even matter.

[Gilly Goodness]

Well SWS, I don't see aeroplanes anymore in the sky.


I espy them. Try it. It's fun.

Think Jon Anderson's lyrics were often outstanding in poetic power and wordplay.

As for Squire. No. Shocking rhymes and always the need to slot in the word "confusion".

Now Post-Jon lyrics are fine. ALI goes from declaring love for a woman to universal praise for following the science and bein' responsible in regards to public health. TIB for the first time referenced genome science. Minus the Man explored artificial intelligence.
All rich avenues for Juano and Billy to explore.

As far as lyrics go. Some are so vague and just for rhymin'. Lookin' at you John Wetton. " and incidents arose from circumstance". What incident? What circumstance?

So take a leaf outta the great lyricists. McCartney, Costello, McAloon. Root them in lived experience. Introduce exciting surreal ideas. Be bold.

Post-Jon YES should explore man's humanity and place in the world. Facing Climate Change. Science. Hope. A new Reformation if you will. The next few decades will confront humanity no like no other.

[Ceasar’s Palace]

'. Lookin' at you John Wetton. " and incidents arose from circumstance". What incident? What circumstance?

I’ll have that any day over “I never meant to be so bad to you
One thing I said that I would never do”

[Ash Armstrong]

It's possible my preference for instrumental music in the last couple of decades is, in part, attributable to this phenomenon.
Jon Anderson's lyrics were an integral part of Yesmusic, working powerfully with the music to realise the whole. That's not the case anymore, not even close.
That's very much the case with most rock lyrics. If a band is going to have a vocalist, he or she has to have something to sing, and this is usually unfortunate.

"Words left unspoken were the strongest resounding"