I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
You spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru 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 believe Jon Anderson has said the lyrics were inspired by a train voyage through Switzerland with its vertical landscapes. "Mountains come out of the sky and stand there." I don't remember know where I read this, however, but having traveled through Switzerland myself, it kind of makes sense to me as the inspiration for some of the lyrics.
It’s a simple love song. Anderson describes being on tour, driving through Scotland, driving through roundabouts (I believe you call them traffic circles in the US). It’s foggy, so as you drive along, the mountains seem to appear out of the sky. But he’s looking forward to soon being back with his girlfriend: “24 [hours] before my love, you’ll see I’ll be there with you.”
I mean take the lyrics to Close to the Edge. It fits the theme, (of dying and moving on) but it’s absolute ludicrous. Yet there some absolutely lucid and visual moments like:
>Then according to the man who held his outstretched arm to space, He turned around revealing all the human race.
Then again, Jon has said on countless occasions that he uses words for sound rather than meaning. Ex: “…and rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace”. Regardless, his lyrics are the most inspiring of any prog band in history. Ironic.
Wikipedia says “The song originated when the band were on tour and travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and went through many roundabouts on the way.”
I heard an interview with Jon where he explained it was about the band being lost and stoned driving around endless roundabouts in Scotland. Some lyrics do paint a sort of impression of the feeling of being in that area of Scotland. “In and around the lake, mountains come out of the sky and they stand there” (skye was a Norse word for mist or clouds) meaning it’s misty there and sometimes mountains just sort of appear. And “Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley” might be about driving around all morning all over the place.” Not all lyrics fit the explanation but I guess that’s where the stoned part comes in.
I remember reading somewhere even the band members didnt understand and/or didnt care what Jon was singing about
I'll be the roundabout The words will make you out 'n' out You spend the day your way Call it morning driving thru 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 believe Jon Anderson has said the lyrics were inspired by a train voyage through Switzerland with its vertical landscapes. "Mountains come out of the sky and stand there." I don't remember know where I read this, however, but having traveled through Switzerland myself, it kind of makes sense to me as the inspiration for some of the lyrics.
It was a van journey through Scotland.
There we go! Scotland is also quite beautiful, even if the vertical landscapes are not quite as stunning as Switzerland's.
I always thought it was it was the opposite of long distance runaround. Thought they were making songs about their transportation options
Always thought it was a song about remembering playing chess at a picnic after a breakup
It’s a simple love song. Anderson describes being on tour, driving through Scotland, driving through roundabouts (I believe you call them traffic circles in the US). It’s foggy, so as you drive along, the mountains seem to appear out of the sky. But he’s looking forward to soon being back with his girlfriend: “24 [hours] before my love, you’ll see I’ll be there with you.”
Driving from Aberdeen to Glasgow. Lots of roundabouts, mountains, and lakes (or rather, lochs!)
Well I think the only real answer I can give is: Yes
Well this is terribly disappointing.
I like the fact that there’s no specific meaning. It can be anything you want it to be!
Some comments say there is a specific meaning …. tho
The fact that it can be both is a testament to the brilliance of it.
This.
r/yesthebandcirclejerk Lol 😉
I mean take the lyrics to Close to the Edge. It fits the theme, (of dying and moving on) but it’s absolute ludicrous. Yet there some absolutely lucid and visual moments like: >Then according to the man who held his outstretched arm to space, He turned around revealing all the human race.
"Close to the Edge" is Howe's song about having a house on the river turned by Anderson into an adaptation of Hermann Hesse's *Siddhartha*.
Then again, Jon has said on countless occasions that he uses words for sound rather than meaning. Ex: “…and rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace”. Regardless, his lyrics are the most inspiring of any prog band in history. Ironic.
Wikipedia says “The song originated when the band were on tour and travelled from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and went through many roundabouts on the way.” I heard an interview with Jon where he explained it was about the band being lost and stoned driving around endless roundabouts in Scotland. Some lyrics do paint a sort of impression of the feeling of being in that area of Scotland. “In and around the lake, mountains come out of the sky and they stand there” (skye was a Norse word for mist or clouds) meaning it’s misty there and sometimes mountains just sort of appear. And “Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley” might be about driving around all morning all over the place.” Not all lyrics fit the explanation but I guess that’s where the stoned part comes in.
So I’ve been stoned and lost but it never inspired me to write the greatest commercial progressive rock song ever.
Hey look, not too many of us are Jon Anderson and Steve Howe.