YesSongs #5: YES - Close To The Edge

Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London, UK.
15 & 16 Dec 1972 ('Close to the Edge' Tour)

Close To The Edge

[I The Solid Time Of Change]

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
And taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour
And assessing points to nowhere, leading every single one
A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun
And take away the plain in which we move
And choose the course you're running

Down at the end, round by the corner
Not right away, not right away
Close to the edge, down by a river
Not right away, not right away

Crossed the line around the changes of the summer
Reaching out to call the color of the sky
Passed around a moment clothed in mornings faster than we see
Getting over all the time I had to worry
Leaving all the changes far from far behind
We relieve the tension only to find out the master's name

Down at the end, round by the corner
Close to the edge, just by a river
Seasons will pass you by
I get up, I get down
Now that it's all over and done
Now that you find, now that you're whole

[II Total Mass Retain]

My eyes convinced, eclipsed with the younger moon attained with love
It changed as almost strained amidst clear manna from above
I crucified my hate and held the word within my hand
There's you, the time, the logic, or the reasons we don't understand

Sad courage claimed the victims standing still for all to see
As armoured movers took approached to overlook the sea
There since the cord, the license, or the reasons we understood will be

Down at the edge, close by a river
Close to the edge, round by the corner
Close to the end, down by the corner
Down at the edge, round by the river

Sudden cause 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

Down at the end, round by the corner
Close to the edge, just by the river
Seasons will pass you by
I get up, I get down

[III I Get Up, I Get Down]

In her white lace, you could clearly see the lady sadly looking
Saying that she'd take the blame
For the crucifixion of her own domain

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

Two million people barely satisfy
Two hundred women watch one woman cry, too late
Eyes of honesty can achieve
How many millions do we deceive each day?

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

In charge of who is there in charge of me
Do I look on blindly and say I see the way?
The truth is written all along the page
How old will I be before I come of age for you?

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

[IV Seasons Of Man]

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 temp'rance rules above

According to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place
On the hill we viewed the silence of the valley
Called to witness cycles only of the past
And we reach all this with movements in between the said remark

Close to the edge, round by the corner
Down at the end, round by a river
Seasons will pass you by
Now that it's all over and done
Called to the seed, right to the sun
Now that you find, now that you're whole
Seasons will pass you by

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

-----------------------------------------

Jon Anderson - lead vocals
Chris Squire - bass guitar, backup vocals
Steve Howe - electric and acoustic guitars, backup vocals
Rick Wakeman - keyboards, synthesiser, organ
Alan White - drums

Director: Peter Neal
Produced by Brian Lane & David Speechley
Edited by Philip Howe

YES - The Studio Albums 1969-1987
Remastered & Expanded CD BOX SET

YES - 'Close To The Edge'
Remixed and Remastered in 5.1 Surround & Stereo

YES - YesSongs (this concert)

[mikeyp]

Definitely the best version of this song. The guitar line in this is better than the original studio version.

[slowneutron]

The real miracle here is that the stage didn't collapse under the extraordinary weight of all that talent compressed into one space.

[wmhhealth]

It is not overstating that this is one of the greatest compositions, not just of the 20th century but in all of human history.

[fanrams]

People talk about Bohemian Rhapsody been a classic song which is right but this is a MASTERPIECE of unbelievable music, Jon Anderson's voice is majestic I find it a very spiritual song that takes you on a journey. It is without a doubt the GREATEST Prog Rock song ever made.

[ER-meii]

Just maybe the greatest prog Rock song of all time. The closest to my heart for sure.

[tonymich]

Steve Howe.. what an underrated guitarist.. he is playing like 5 guitars in this song.. he is one of the best... and Chris’s bass playing is mind blowing!

[charleehalfnur]

My father died in May of 2015. Regretfully weren't close. I found this album in his car and I remembered his favorite band was YES. This is my third time watching today. I so wish we could have watched this together.

[Lightmane]

I believe that Mozart, Beethoven and Bach all listen to this and love it.

[Jjsjshaj]

Steve Howe is easily one of the best guitarists ever

[dougdrazga]

RIP Alan White. What a job he did on this tour, learning the setlist in a matter of days after Bruford left.

[edo]

To think that Alan White learned the then Yes repertoire all the way to Close to the edge in a weekend is groundbreaking. Absolute monster

[rafaelaugustolarapalmeros]

The most wonderful song of Progressive Rock

[Libbertyone]

If this doesn’t transport you back, I don’t know what will

[aestroai]

I miss bands who could play BETTER than the album!

[MandolinRich]

I was at this show. still blown away nearly 43 yrs later.

[pioneertech-wo]

This is the greatest composition of all time

[AcuraNSX]

These young men were the MASTERS of Music!

[robertevvers]

Yes is incredible. Their technique never overshadows the emotion

[jerryc]

No one. No one understands the musical genius of this group of musical geniuses.
No one.

[S-Ltd]

To think they were doing this 50 years ago. It's a lost art. Rip Alan.😢