Yes — Roundabout
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Length: 8:28
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I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
And spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distant atmosphere
Call it morning driving through the sound and even in the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand surrounded by million years
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky, they stand there
Twenty four before my love and I'll be there
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
You spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
Da da da da da da da...
The words will make you out and out
And spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distant atmosphere
Call it morning driving through the sound and even in the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand surrounded by million years
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky, they stand there
Twenty four before my love and I'll be there
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out and out
You spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound and in and out the valley
In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you
Da da da da da da da...
Comments (758)add comment
I like a lot of music, I have a very eclectic taste but I've never liked this band, just sounds like a lot of noise to me!!!
oh lord
keenevision wrote:
A friend of mine and I would argue for hours on end about which band was better, which keyboardist was better; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes! Wakeman vs. Emerson.
( I went to Emerson College in Boston, so you know who I was rooting for!)
Well, Wakeman wore a sequined robe and played in the middle of a circle of a dozen keyboards, but Emerson had fire shooting from his keyboard and stabbed keys with daggers, so for me, it's a toss-up.
A friend of mine and I would argue for hours on end about which band was better, which keyboardist was better; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes! Wakeman vs. Emerson.
( I went to Emerson College in Boston, so you know who I was rooting for!)
Well, Wakeman wore a sequined robe and played in the middle of a circle of a dozen keyboards, but Emerson had fire shooting from his keyboard and stabbed keys with daggers, so for me, it's a toss-up.
lharrison wrote:
You are an incel.
don't project
You are an incel.
don't project
THAT BASS!!!
Typesbad wrote:
You are an incel.
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
You are an incel.
jasko wrote:
A friend of mine and I would argue for hours on end about which band was better, which keyboardist was better; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes! Wakeman vs. Emerson.
( I went to Emerson College in Boston, so you know who I was rooting for!)
It would be fun to hear this song after or before ELP`s " From the beginning"
I heard from my friend that ELP called Yes "maybe"
o.k this whole sentence sounds weird ,anyway.. its 8 for me
A friend of mine and I would argue for hours on end about which band was better, which keyboardist was better; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or Yes! Wakeman vs. Emerson.
( I went to Emerson College in Boston, so you know who I was rooting for!)
Saw them in the old Boston Garden more years ago than I want to admit.
genius!! That bass line!!
genius!! That bass line!!
I bought this album right after it came out. I was 16yrs old. I wore it out and had to buy another copy!! I am 68yrs old now, and I still love it!! Now, RP has been introducing me to a LOT of great new music. That is why we come here. Thanx
RP!
RP!
kayumann wrote:
Cool story. Thank You for sharing it!
As a young lad my mother gave me some of her older albums, Led Zeppelin II, Pink Floyd - A Nice Pair and Saucer of Secrets, Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (with the original fold-out newspaper inside the cover) and IMHO the amazing triple album, Yes Songs! Literally transformed my musical taste overnight and set me on a life long appreciation of these musical geniuses..... Thanks Mom for this enduring gift !
Cool story. Thank You for sharing it!
coloradojohn wrote:
Yes! I Agree!
The level of talent and passion they had at the time was staggering, and they really were a solid jam, a party staple, especially when psychedelics were imminent!
Yes! I Agree!
The level of talent and passion they had at the time was staggering, and they really were a solid jam, a party staple, especially when psychedelics were imminent!
As a young lad my mother gave me some of her older albums, Led Zeppelin II, Pink Floyd - A Nice Pair and Saucer of Secrets, Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (with the original fold-out newspaper inside the cover) and IMHO the amazing triple album, Yes Songs! Literally transformed my musical taste overnight and set me on a life long appreciation of these musical geniuses..... Thanks Mom for this enduring gift !
I saw Rick Wakeman on a TV show once where for a bit of a laugh he played something like eight Stylophones simultaneously. He's the Vladimir Ashkenazy of squeaky electronic toys.
This whole album got a LOT of play on my system when I discovered it.
Fantastic music and must spin it from one track to the next!
Fantastic music and must spin it from one track to the next!
It would be fun to hear this song after or before ELP`s " From the beginning"
I heard from my friend that ELP called Yes "maybe"
o.k this whole sentence sounds weird ,anyway.. its 8 for me
I heard from my friend that ELP called Yes "maybe"
o.k this whole sentence sounds weird ,anyway.. its 8 for me
I remember around 1982 this was one of the great essentials of album rock radio, right about when classic rock was becoming a thing.
Just checked, thinking, this must be another ten, right? Wait, nine? NINE?
Ridiculous. The creativity, the musicianship, the vocal colour. 10/10 from the Toronto panel. Fifty plus years old and this piece still rocks.
Ridiculous. The creativity, the musicianship, the vocal colour. 10/10 from the Toronto panel. Fifty plus years old and this piece still rocks.
Another song that got played to death
Was anyone at their San Jose show around 2002-2003 where they did Roundabout in a reggae arrangement? It was a great show and I can see how churning out the same stuff show after show can get on their nerves, but that was real bummer
salice wrote:
I get you. But, speaking as a nerdy kid who got into Yes , it is possible to appreciate both the bombast of the prog rockers and the stripped down emotion of the punks.
I appreciate many types of music
but
This noodling demonstrates, to me, why punk came along and made these self-indulgent, cape wearing 'virtuosos' irrelevant.
I get you. But, speaking as a nerdy kid who got into Yes , it is possible to appreciate both the bombast of the prog rockers and the stripped down emotion of the punks.
Very hard to play air keyboards and air bass at the same time but dammit I'm trying
salice wrote:
You keep Rick Wakeman's cape out of your damn mouth!
I appreciate many types of music
but
This noodling demonstrates, to me, why punk came along and made these self-indulgent, cape wearing 'virtuosos' irrelevant.
You keep Rick Wakeman's cape out of your damn mouth!
I appreciate many types of music
but
This noodling demonstrates, to me, why punk came along and made these self-indulgent, cape wearing 'virtuosos' irrelevant.
but
This noodling demonstrates, to me, why punk came along and made these self-indulgent, cape wearing 'virtuosos' irrelevant.
Used to be my favorite song in the 70's and 80's. Still pretty good.
Hats off to Bill and Rebecca for one of the smoothest song transitions ever: Deep Purple’s version of Oh Well in to Roundabout was inspired. Hope enough people heard it to understand.
I remember the first time I heard this when it first came out and how blown away I was by it.
Don't recall but I may have been "on" something
Don't recall but I may have been "on" something
I thought something drastic waas going to happen! To be continued. (Meme)
What a brilliant transition from DP Oh well?? BillG - amazing.
lizardking wrote:
Agreed. However, this is Bill Bruford, but I agree with the sentiment regardless.
RIP Alan White!
Agreed. However, this is Bill Bruford, but I agree with the sentiment regardless.
phlacey01 wrote:
"mallards come out of the sky - they stand there"
Oh man, that just kills me. I'll never be able to listen to this again!
right up there with 'There's a bathroom on the right.' CCR - lol -
yup just wrecked another song lyrics - ha ha
"mallards come out of the sky - they stand there"
Oh man, that just kills me. I'll never be able to listen to this again!
right up there with 'There's a bathroom on the right.' CCR - lol -
yup just wrecked another song lyrics - ha ha
Typesbad wrote:
me too !! ha ha
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
me too !! ha ha
The complexity and musicianship of this song is both mind boggling and brilliant. And...Rick Wakeman's keyboards, well...
coloradojohn wrote:
Gotta love those 'Cutlass memories'. I too have many...mine was a convertible '72
I USED TO JAM THIS REALLY LOUD IN THE PARK from my 1970 Cutlass S Coupe while me and my buddies would knock back some Grolsch and toss abundant Frizz long into the deepening dusk...
Gotta love those 'Cutlass memories'. I too have many...mine was a convertible '72
RIP Alan White!
joejennings wrote:
Play one whole side of this album,PLEASE! THANK YOU!
Please play MORE TUNES FROM THIS ALBUM!! THANK YOU!
Play one whole side of this album,PLEASE! THANK YOU!
marmots come out of the sky and they stand there
Please play MORE TUNES FROM THIS ALBUM!! THANK YOU!
An immensely complex yet surprisingly enjoyable song.
Was never a big Yes fan in the day, but could appreciate them. Listening to this song a lot more recently mostly because of its complexity. Fantastic instrumentation and the chord/tempo changes, lead bass, everyone's solos etc., make it a 10 for me. And, Rick Wakeman!
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
To Be Continued
Nope
PLEASE PLAY THIS MORE OFTEN!!! & other tunes from this album!!! Thank You!!!
joejennings wrote:
They are actually singing about looking out the window, while riding home on their tour bus!!
On their way back from Scotland!
They are actually singing about looking out the window, while riding home on their tour bus!!
On their way back from Scotland!
That Ovation in the intro (and outro) gets me every time. My friend had one; I just loved noodling on it. Gorgeous guitars.
GODLIKE!!!
xtalman wrote:
"mallards come out of the sky - they stand there"
Oh man, that just kills me. I'll never be able to listen to this again!
Huh, first real look at the lyrics, always thought it was mallards, ie ducks, coming out of the sky.
Still good for the ears.
"mallards come out of the sky - they stand there"
Oh man, that just kills me. I'll never be able to listen to this again!
FOR ME, and my rocking, toking, drinking friends, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than slapping this bad boy on the turntable or tape-deck for starting a party. I have proved it, myself, a million times! The bass is unmatched and visceral, the guitar is a juicy, sweet thing that dances between the ears then disappears, the spectral keyboards invade and overrun the cerebral boundaries, the spooky, delicate vocals betray the intensity behind them until too late, and the kick-ass drumming is only waiting to be unleashed. Before it's done, everyone is STONED BY IT, whether smoking or not, and the overall effect is one of the most powerful ever. After this song is played, I kid you not, anything can happen at your party -- and, in my expericnce, it's usually good! Few bands jammed with this intensity!
ddbz wrote:
They are actually singing about looking out the window, while riding home on their tour bus!!
This song kinda kicks ass, but is he singing about ducks?
They are actually singing about looking out the window, while riding home on their tour bus!!
I USED TO JAM THIS REALLY LOUD IN THE PARK from my 1970 Cutlass S Coupe while me and my buddies would knock back some Grolsch and toss abundant Frizz long into the deepening dusk...
ICONIC, GREAT TUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This song kinda kicks ass, but is he singing about ducks?
dmcanany wrote:
Apparently, there is some reason behind what appears to be just surreal lyrics. I found this on SongMeanings:
"I remember some 30 years ago hearing an interview with members of Yes on the radio. The inevitable question about the meaning of "Roundabout" was asked. After 30 years I surprisingly remember much of the detail. The answer was that the song was written on the train as they were travelling to Montreux. "In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" refers to the mountains and their reflections as they appeared on Lake Geneva during the trip. "Ten true summers," it was their 10th trip to the festival. "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land the eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand," there was a storm building on the lake and they could see a boat heading in and an eagle riding the thermals while hunting. "Feel partly no more than grains of sand" and "surrounded by a million years" refers to how small they felt and how brief our existence within the magnificence of the setting."
Considering the song was released in 1971 and the Montreux Jazz Festival started in 1967 it could not have been their 10th trip there.
This wiki link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...(song) contains a more credible version of how the song was conceived. FWIW back in 2003 I was driving on the m6 towards Carlisle and I saw the mountains "come out of the sky" and immediately thought of Roundabout.
Apparently, there is some reason behind what appears to be just surreal lyrics. I found this on SongMeanings:
"I remember some 30 years ago hearing an interview with members of Yes on the radio. The inevitable question about the meaning of "Roundabout" was asked. After 30 years I surprisingly remember much of the detail. The answer was that the song was written on the train as they were travelling to Montreux. "In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" refers to the mountains and their reflections as they appeared on Lake Geneva during the trip. "Ten true summers," it was their 10th trip to the festival. "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land the eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand," there was a storm building on the lake and they could see a boat heading in and an eagle riding the thermals while hunting. "Feel partly no more than grains of sand" and "surrounded by a million years" refers to how small they felt and how brief our existence within the magnificence of the setting."
Considering the song was released in 1971 and the Montreux Jazz Festival started in 1967 it could not have been their 10th trip there.
This wiki link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...(song) contains a more credible version of how the song was conceived. FWIW back in 2003 I was driving on the m6 towards Carlisle and I saw the mountains "come out of the sky" and immediately thought of Roundabout.
Typesbad wrote:
Apparently, there is some reason behind what appears to be just surreal lyrics. I found this on SongMeanings:
"I remember some 30 years ago hearing an interview with members of Yes on the radio. The inevitable question about the meaning of "Roundabout" was asked. After 30 years I surprisingly remember much of the detail. The answer was that the song was written on the train as they were travelling to Montreux. "In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" refers to the mountains and their reflections as they appeared on Lake Geneva during the trip. "Ten true summers," it was their 10th trip to the festival. "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land the eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand," there was a storm building on the lake and they could see a boat heading in and an eagle riding the thermals while hunting. "Feel partly no more than grains of sand" and "surrounded by a million years" refers to how small they felt and how brief our existence within the magnificence of the setting."
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
Apparently, there is some reason behind what appears to be just surreal lyrics. I found this on SongMeanings:
"I remember some 30 years ago hearing an interview with members of Yes on the radio. The inevitable question about the meaning of "Roundabout" was asked. After 30 years I surprisingly remember much of the detail. The answer was that the song was written on the train as they were travelling to Montreux. "In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" refers to the mountains and their reflections as they appeared on Lake Geneva during the trip. "Ten true summers," it was their 10th trip to the festival. "Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land the eagle's dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand," there was a storm building on the lake and they could see a boat heading in and an eagle riding the thermals while hunting. "Feel partly no more than grains of sand" and "surrounded by a million years" refers to how small they felt and how brief our existence within the magnificence of the setting."
From the begining this song sounds like from the begining. On the end also.
unclehud wrote:
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
I assume he means from the Naked Lunch. It sounds nothing like the band Steely Dan.
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
I assume he means from the Naked Lunch. It sounds nothing like the band Steely Dan.
Any JoJo's (Bizarre Adventure) fun here? This song was used in the ending of the JoJo episodes.
Typesbad wrote:
True. But in this case, there is an abstract meaning in there; it is about touring and being away from your love. Jon was never the least bit transparent with his lyrics, but these lyrics are almost, almost, in a stretch, "accessible. " For example, "10 true summers" was a reference to a pact the band made to each other in the beginning to keep the band performing for 10 years, summers being the touring season. They even noted in their 1978 album Tormato that they officially made it "10 true summers." "Mountains come out of the sky" references the scenery they would see out the tour bus window.
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
True. But in this case, there is an abstract meaning in there; it is about touring and being away from your love. Jon was never the least bit transparent with his lyrics, but these lyrics are almost, almost, in a stretch, "accessible. " For example, "10 true summers" was a reference to a pact the band made to each other in the beginning to keep the band performing for 10 years, summers being the touring season. They even noted in their 1978 album Tormato that they officially made it "10 true summers." "Mountains come out of the sky" references the scenery they would see out the tour bus window.
unclehud wrote:
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
Well, it is original relative to "this sounds like Pink Floyd".
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
Well, it is original relative to "this sounds like Pink Floyd".
After so many years, what a joy!
Every time I hear these tiresome '70s bands I weight +20 in years. Can't believe that much older Beatles records sound fresh and contemporary to these old farts.
unclehud wrote:
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
Yeah, and I look like a twenty-year-old sex-machine. I think someone's ears need cleaning. It sounds nothing like Steely Dan. Ever since the movie Knocked Up, wherein one of the characters makes a rude remark about Steely Dan I have heard people who most likely have hardly heard Steely Dan berate them.
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
Yeah, and I look like a twenty-year-old sex-machine. I think someone's ears need cleaning. It sounds nothing like Steely Dan. Ever since the movie Knocked Up, wherein one of the characters makes a rude remark about Steely Dan I have heard people who most likely have hardly heard Steely Dan berate them.
BillE wrote:
From my analysis:
Average of 2828 scores is 7.5;
And the median score is 8; and
Difference between median and average is 0.5.
So more of the scores lie above the average than below. :)
It would be interesting to see the difference between the mean and the median on this rating! I would like to increase both with a 12, but alas...
From my analysis:
Average of 2828 scores is 7.5;
And the median score is 8; and
Difference between median and average is 0.5.
So more of the scores lie above the average than below. :)
Oh, man, the first album I spent my own money on. Parents did not understand. I love them anyway,
secretsauce wrote:
lizardking wrote:
Not sure how Yes qualifies as "American Popular Song" (as they are about as American as Zeppelin or the Beatles). But I'd love to have taken that class.
lizardking...sort of same experience with different result: we were forced to do a gymnastic/dance routine to this song in high school gym class...I never need to hear it again...but do recognize their talent, of course.
lizardking wrote:
This was one of the required tracks to listen to for MUSIC 162 (American Popular Song) at Univ of Wash - a class I thoroughly enjoyed, and a tape I checked out and listened to (in the "Listening Lab" no doubt) in Odegaard Library even after my quarter in MUSIC 162 was over.
Not sure how Yes qualifies as "American Popular Song" (as they are about as American as Zeppelin or the Beatles). But I'd love to have taken that class.
lizardking...sort of same experience with different result: we were forced to do a gymnastic/dance routine to this song in high school gym class...I never need to hear it again...but do recognize their talent, of course.
Relayer wrote:
And the bass sound .. really different from anything else at the time, but it totally fits into the band sound. So amazing, so distinctive. Fabulous.
That bass line. Just ripping into it. RIP Chris Squire.
And the bass sound .. really different from anything else at the time, but it totally fits into the band sound. So amazing, so distinctive. Fabulous.
It would be interesting to see the difference between the mean and the median on this rating! I would like to increase both with a 12, but alas...
A perfectly integrated complicated arrangement of instruments! 10!
bluematrix wrote:
That just may be the silliest comment I have ever read in the many years of reading comments here.
Agreed. Yes has many great songs.
That just may be the silliest comment I have ever read in the many years of reading comments here.
Agreed. Yes has many great songs.
Typesbad wrote:
Funny! I also just read them for the first time. I couldn't agree more.
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
Funny! I also just read them for the first time. I couldn't agree more.
Piranga wrote:
That just may be the silliest comment I have ever read in the many years of reading comments here.
One of only two great songs from this band. #1 was, of course, Owner of a Lonely Heart.
That just may be the silliest comment I have ever read in the many years of reading comments here.
prog making me feel like a wild animal again -_-
To be continued...
Truly ," Outstanding" piece of classic rock........a BIG "9"...
lizardking wrote:
This was one of the required tracks to listen to for MUSIC 162 (American Popular Song) at Univ of Wash - a class I thoroughly enjoyed, and a tape I checked out and listened to (in the "Listening Lab" no doubt) in Odegaard Library even after my quarter in MUSIC 162 was over.
Not sure how Yes qualifies as "American Popular Song" (as they are about as American as Zeppelin or the Beatles). But I'd love to have taken that class.
One of only two great songs from this band. #1 was, of course, Owner of a Lonely Heart.
This was so overplayed that I hated Yes for decades. It's only now that I can kinda-sorta like it as Classic Rock.
Now, how about some Mayall, please?
Now, how about some Mayall, please?
talexb wrote:
High in the mix because it is almost impossible to play Chris Squires' bass lines.
<edited> Killer, but really unusual bass sound, and unusually high in the mix.
High in the mix because it is almost impossible to play Chris Squires' bass lines.
bb_matt wrote:
No, just very very dated. Sounds like steely Dan. ;)
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
No, just very very dated. Sounds like steely Dan. ;)
This sounds like Steely Dan, eh?
Killer, but really unusual bass sound, and unusually high in the mix. Synth on both two sides of the audio spectrum. Cool snare sound, and quite low in the mix. Incomprehensible lyrics. Intriguing vocal harmonies. And it all works.
Yep, that's the seventies. :D
Yep, that's the seventies. :D
johnrah wrote:
ditto. I never knew what come out of the sky until today.
For me it feels like the Teton mountains. Which turns out to make sense...
Wiki:
The song originated in March 1971 when the band were on tour promoting The Yes Album (1971), travelling from Aberdeen to Glasgow after a gig in Aviemore, Scotland.[4][5] They encountered many roundabouts on the way; Anderson claimed "maybe 40 or so", which inspired Anderson and Howe to write a song about the journey as they sat in the back of the band's transit van, and include the roundabouts and the surrounding mountains into the lyrics.[4][6] Anderson had smoked marijuana during the trip, "so everything was vivid and mystical".[5] Anderson added: "It was a cloudy day, we couldn't see the top of the mountains. We could only see the clouds because it was sheer straight up ... I remember saying, "Oh, the mountains–look! They're coming out of the sky!",[4] and began to write the song's lyrics in his notebook in a free-form style with minimal edits. "I just loved how words sounded when I put them together".[5] Within 24 hours, the band had arrived back home in London where Anderson reunited with his then wife Jennifer, which inspired the song's lyric "Twenty-four before my love, you'll see, I'll be there with you".[4] A loch they passed as they neared Glasgow became the idea behind the line "In and around the lake".[4] Upon their arrival at their hotel in Glasgow, Anderson and Howe began to put down song ideas on their recorder.
ditto. I never knew what come out of the sky until today.
For me it feels like the Teton mountains. Which turns out to make sense...
Wiki:
The song originated in March 1971 when the band were on tour promoting The Yes Album (1971), travelling from Aberdeen to Glasgow after a gig in Aviemore, Scotland.[4][5] They encountered many roundabouts on the way; Anderson claimed "maybe 40 or so", which inspired Anderson and Howe to write a song about the journey as they sat in the back of the band's transit van, and include the roundabouts and the surrounding mountains into the lyrics.[4][6] Anderson had smoked marijuana during the trip, "so everything was vivid and mystical".[5] Anderson added: "It was a cloudy day, we couldn't see the top of the mountains. We could only see the clouds because it was sheer straight up ... I remember saying, "Oh, the mountains–look! They're coming out of the sky!",[4] and began to write the song's lyrics in his notebook in a free-form style with minimal edits. "I just loved how words sounded when I put them together".[5] Within 24 hours, the band had arrived back home in London where Anderson reunited with his then wife Jennifer, which inspired the song's lyric "Twenty-four before my love, you'll see, I'll be there with you".[4] A loch they passed as they neared Glasgow became the idea behind the line "In and around the lake".[4] Upon their arrival at their hotel in Glasgow, Anderson and Howe began to put down song ideas on their recorder.
Typesbad wrote:
Yet fans will recall these crazy lyrics 4 decades later .
Just don't ask them where they just laid their car keys.
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
Yet fans will recall these crazy lyrics 4 decades later .
Just don't ask them where they just laid their car keys.
ace-marc wrote:
Self-awareness isn't really your thing, is it?
you don't belong here.
Self-awareness isn't really your thing, is it?
Typesbad wrote:
ditto. I never knew what come out of the sky until today.
After forty years this is the first time I've read the lyrics. They don't make any more sense than the ones I imagined they were singing. No matter, as I've long accepted that Yes songs don't really have lyrics, just a lead vocal instrument.
ditto. I never knew what come out of the sky until today.
sjmorrison2 wrote:
you don't belong here.
Nope 
you don't belong here.
the very first of my very extensive record collection.
TIL in 1982, two ex-members of the band Yes started a new band, Cinema. The actual band Yes still existed at that point, but broke up shortly afterward. Two of Yes's ex-members then joined Cinema. At that point Cinema just decided to become the band Yes.
And yes...
That would be a roundabout.
And yes...
That would be a roundabout.
StfuDonny wrote:
STFU Donny! LOL....(great name there BTW) - I'm hoping at least a few of the unbelievers became believers! I just got to do something similar with Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" which was a great way to break-in a friends dual 12s powered by 2500 watts, bridged to 1 ohm so a shaking 5000 total (peak) power yeah....and at midnight too....hehehehe sorry neighbors (not really)
Long Live RP and LOUD music!!
I blew out dad's 15" Altec- Lansing woofer on this album and pissed off a city block full of unbelievers. Everything Yes was/ is epic. Wakeman's solo work is mighty tasty too.
STFU Donny! LOL....(great name there BTW) - I'm hoping at least a few of the unbelievers became believers! I just got to do something similar with Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" which was a great way to break-in a friends dual 12s powered by 2500 watts, bridged to 1 ohm so a shaking 5000 total (peak) power yeah....and at midnight too....hehehehe sorry neighbors (not really)
Long Live RP and LOUD music!!
I blew out dad's 15" Altec- Lansing woofer on this album and pissed off a city block full of unbelievers. Everything Yes was/ is epic. Wakeman's solo work is mighty tasty too.
This was the first record I ever bought and still one of my favorites. It was pricey for a kid, but wow, so worth it. Holds up really well. I wish there was more music this complex yet still so accessible and rockin.
Just saw Steve Howe two days ago and his version of Yes (without Jon Anderson, who is touring with another version of Yes), and of course they did this song. A shortened version. The lead singer is not quite Jon Anderson but a reasonable facsimile.
1971? Had no idea this was that old.. Nice
Despite the obvious technical skills of the individual members of Yes, despite my efforts to enjoy the result of their work, it has never worked. I really like a number of other so-called prog rock bands, but Yes has always sounded simply too formulated (not formulaic) and too structured, but in a way that lacks the spark I look for in music. Clearly this is a matter of taste, but where is the factor that takes this band to another level?
Worthy of the Godlike 10. Thanks RB.
That bass... 
yougivememosi wrote:
Check out '90125' or 'The Ladder' for more accessible stuff.
Has this band made anything that isn't total bollocks?
Check out '90125' or 'The Ladder' for more accessible stuff.
yougivememosi wrote:
YES....this song for instance isn't balls...it's a 10 to me and Long Live RP!!
Has this band made anything that isn't total bollocks?
YES....this song for instance isn't balls...it's a 10 to me and Long Live RP!!
That bass line. Just ripping into it. RIP Chris Squire.
yougivememosi wrote:
Yes, everything up to and including Relayer.
Has this band made anything that isn't total bollocks?
Yes, everything up to and including Relayer.
Nope
Still no 12 available?
Has this band made anything that isn't total bollocks?
Vicey wrote:
Thank you. That was hilarious. 
jhorton wrote:
Totally!!! LMFAO. jhorton wrote:
Is that Keith Moon on the bass?
beelzebubba wrote:
Interesting to read all of the comments and arguments over genres, styles, length, etc.
Either you love music or you love one little page of music.
I rank this song right up there with I Want to Be Sedated by the Ramones, Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, Walking after Midnight by Patsy Cline, Danse Macabre by St. Saens, Dreams by the Allman Brothers.....
Not comparing any of these songs. Just saying that the mountains are not any "better" or any "worse" than the ocean.
I couldn't agree more! I always thought that was what RP was all about, I'll never understand all the haters on here...Either you love music or you love one little page of music.
I rank this song right up there with I Want to Be Sedated by the Ramones, Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, Walking after Midnight by Patsy Cline, Danse Macabre by St. Saens, Dreams by the Allman Brothers.....
Not comparing any of these songs. Just saying that the mountains are not any "better" or any "worse" than the ocean.
beelzebubba wrote:
Yes!
Interesting to read all of the comments and arguments over genres, styles, length, etc.
Either you love music or you love one little page of music.
I rank this song right up there with I Want to Be Sedated by the Ramones, Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, Walking after Midnight by Patsy Cline, Danse Macabre by St. Saens, Dreams by the Allman Brothers.....
Not comparing any of these songs. Just saying that the mountains are not any "better" or any "worse" than the ocean.
Either you love music or you love one little page of music.
I rank this song right up there with I Want to Be Sedated by the Ramones, Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, Walking after Midnight by Patsy Cline, Danse Macabre by St. Saens, Dreams by the Allman Brothers.....
Not comparing any of these songs. Just saying that the mountains are not any "better" or any "worse" than the ocean.
Yes!
This was one of the required tracks to listen to for MUSIC 162 (American Popular Song) at Univ of Wash - a class I thoroughly enjoyed, and a tape I checked out and listened to (in the "Listening Lab" no doubt) in Odegaard Library even after my quarter in MUSIC 162 was over.
With the set of memories from this, it's no wonder I just went 9 to 10 on this gem of a tune. Long Live RP!!
With the set of memories from this, it's no wonder I just went 9 to 10 on this gem of a tune. Long Live RP!!
I wore out my 8-track tape of this album - due primarily to this song. That was after I saw them live. Yep, a long, long time ago in another universe far, far away...
Hey_Porter wrote:
Is there a doctor in the house?
I can't figure it out - the older I get, the more I like Yes, but the more I hate this song. It must be all the radio play it got back in the day, it caused a subliminal organic revulsion.
Is there a doctor in the house?
I can't figure it out - the older I get, the more I like Yes, but the more I hate this song. It must be all the radio play it got back in the day, it caused a subliminal organic revulsion.
Have my tickets to see Anderson/Rabin/Wakeman in Tampa in November, can't wait. Saw them last year at the tour opener in Orlando. And no, I have no interest in spending a penny to see Steve Howe's touring Yes tribute band. He needs to hang it up.
I know this only because of the meme. Cool song.
Uplifting, empowering music, art and packaging.
Prius wrote:
To me their music ages well, and others think not. Those who like Yes would love to see Steve Howe and Jon Anderson work out whatever differences they have and give it another go.
Oh YESSSS!
10
10
To me their music ages well, and others think not. Those who like Yes would love to see Steve Howe and Jon Anderson work out whatever differences they have and give it another go.
Oh YESSSS!
10
10
drictor wrote:
Indeed.
In their prime they were a sight (& sound) to behold.
And it was awesome to see as well! Saw them in '74.
Indeed.
In their prime they were a sight (& sound) to behold.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Ah yes, when a musician could wear a cape (and not be considered to be doing a Spinal Tap style parody).
And it was awesome to see as well! Saw them in '74.
Ah yes, when a musician could wear a cape (and not be considered to be doing a Spinal Tap style parody).
And it was awesome to see as well! Saw them in '74.
For me it feels like the Teton mountains. Which turns out to make sense...
Wiki:
The song originated in March 1971 when the band were on tour promoting The Yes Album (1971), travelling from Aberdeen to Glasgow after a gig in Aviemore, Scotland.[4][5] They encountered many roundabouts on the way; Anderson claimed "maybe 40 or so", which inspired Anderson and Howe to write a song about the journey as they sat in the back of the band's transit van, and include the roundabouts and the surrounding mountains into the lyrics.[4][6] Anderson had smoked marijuana during the trip, "so everything was vivid and mystical".[5] Anderson added: "It was a cloudy day, we couldn't see the top of the mountains. We could only see the clouds because it was sheer straight up ... I remember saying, "Oh, the mountains–look! They're coming out of the sky!",[4] and began to write the song's lyrics in his notebook in a free-form style with minimal edits. "I just loved how words sounded when I put them together".[5] Within 24 hours, the band had arrived back home in London where Anderson reunited with his then wife Jennifer, which inspired the song's lyric "Twenty-four before my love, you'll see, I'll be there with you".[4] A loch they passed as they neared Glasgow became the idea behind the line "In and around the lake".[4] Upon their arrival at their hotel in Glasgow, Anderson and Howe began to put down song ideas on their recorder.
Really interesting details, thanks for sharing!!