# Yes (band)

Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford.

## Song lyrics
### Time and a Word (1970)

* Long ago a tall man told a tale of yesterday, Searching for the truth to life and not for just a way. Finding pleasure from this house his ears, they did obey, In his life a moment's pleasure, never to delay. He was lost and in his trust he found a new meaning, Seeing the things in diff'rent lights his life was redeemed.
** "The Prophet", written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire

### The Yes Album (1971)

* Yesterday a morning came, a smile upon your face; Caesar's Palace, morning glory, silly human race. On a sailing ship to nowhere, leaving any place, If the summer changed to winter, yours is no disgrace. ...Death defying, mutilated armies gather near Crawling out of dirty holes, their morals Their morals disappear. Battleships confide in me and tell me where you are
** "Yours Is No Disgrace"
* Mother life, hold firmly on to me, Spread my knowledge higher than the day. Release as much as only you can show. Though you've seen me, please don't say a word. What I don't know, I have never shared.
** "Starship Trooper", written by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, and Chris Squire
* Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever. All I know can be shown by your acceptance of the facts there shown before you. Take what I say in a different way and it's easy to say that this is all confusion. As I see a new day in me, I can also show it you and you may follow.
** "Starship Trooper"
* I've seen all good people turn their heads each day, So satisfied I'm on my way.
** "I've Seen All Good People", written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire
* Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time And its news is captured For the queen to use.Move me on to any black square Use me any time you want. Just remember that the goal Is for us all to capture only one, anywhere, Yea, yea, yea.
** "I've Seen All Good People"
* I see the cold mist in the night And watch the hills roll out of sight I watch in every single way Inside out, outside in... The sun can warm the coldest dawn... And one peculiar point I see... As truth is gathered, I rearrange Inside out, outside in... You'll see
** Perpetual Change, Chris Squire & Jon Anderson

### Fragile (1971)

* 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.
** "Roundabout", written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe
* Move forward was my friend's only cry, In deeper to somewhere we could lie. And rest for the day With cold in the way.Were we ever colder on that day, a million miles away It seemed from all of eternity.
** "South Side of the Sky", written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire
* Long distance runaround; Long time waiting to feel the sound. I still remember the dream there; I still remember the time you said goodbye.
** "Long Distance Runaround", written by Jon Anderson

### Close to the Edge (1972)

* A seasoned witch could call you From the depths of your disgrace And rearrange your liver To the solid mental grace. And achieve it all with music That came quickly from afar. Then taste the fruit of man Recorded losing all against the hour.
** "Close to the Edge", written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe
* Sudden call shouldn't take away the startled memory All in all, the journey takes you all the way As apart from any reality that you've ever seen and known Guessing problems only to deceive the mention Passing paths that climb halfway into the void As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain.
** "Close to the Edge"
* The time between the notes Relates the color to the scenes, A constant vogue of triumphs Dislocate man, so it seems. And space between the focus Shape ascend knowledge of love As song and chance develop time Lost social temperance rules above.
** "Close to the Edge"
* A man conceived a moment's answers to the dream Staying the flowers daily, sensing all the themes.As a foundation left to create the spiral aim, A movement regained and regarded both the same. All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.
** "And You and I, written by Jon Anderson

### 90125 (1983)

* Move yourself; You always live your life Never thinking of the future. Prove yourself; You are the move you make, Take your chances, win or loser. See yourself; You are the steps you take, You and you, and that's the only way. Shake, shake yourself, You're every move you make. So the story goes.Owner of a lonely heart. Owner of a lonely heart. (Much better than a) Owner of a broken heart. Owner of a lonely heart.
** "Owner of a Lonely Heart", written by Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, and Trevor Horn

### Yesstory (1992)

* Sister bluebird flying high above Shine your wings forward to the sun Hide the myst'ries of life on your way Though you've seen them, please don't say a word
** Starship Trooper, Written By Chris Squire, Steve Howe & Jon Anderson
* Yesterday a morning came, a smile upon your face Caesar's palace, morning glory, silly human race On the sailing ship to nowhere, leaving any place If the summer changed to winter, yours is no disgrace
** Yours is No Disgrace, Written By Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Chris Squire & Jon Anderson
* Move me on to any black square Use me any time you want Just remember that the goal Is for us all
** I've Seen All Good People, Written By Chris Squire & Jon Anderson
* Nous sommes du soleil (Nous sommes du soleil, du soleil) We love when we play... Let them run, let them chase Let them hide between Constant doors will open eyes
** Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil), Written By Steve Howe & Jon Anderson

## Quotes about Yes

* [A pioneer of] progressive rock, Yes [...] successfully [mixed] musicianship and showmanship. Armed with rock greats such as Bill Bruford, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, and Alan White over the years, the Hall of Famers were perhaps best known for their intricate instrumental pieces that showed off the individual talent of various band members.
** Jeff Mezydlo of Yardbarker (February 2025)
* Younger generations might remember the song ["Roundabout" by Yes] as a meme. But no matter how you got to it, there's no denying that [it] is one of the most important rock pieces of all time. Just take a listen to that bass, performed by Chris Squire.
** David Slavković of Ultimate-Guitar (Jul 16, 2021)
* An innovative mix of harmonies, intricate arrangements, original material, and extended covers made [Yes] pioneers of what was soon [to be] known as progressive rock.
** David Roberts in the book Rock Chronicles: Every Legend. Every Line-up. Every Look. (published October 25, 2019) Firefly Books. pp. 235.

## External links

* Official website