Music Monday (Yes/Relayer, Side 1)

First of all, I haven't done this in awhile. As a matter of fact, the last time was back in June when I covered the last side of Tales from Topographic Oceans. That album caused such a stir in the band that Rick Wakeman left (for the first time).
For the next album, Relayer, the band auditioned several prospective replacements, the closest contender being the Greek keyboardist Vangelis (from Chariots of Fire fame). He did not become a member of Yes, but these auditions paved the way for several future collaborations between Vangelis and Jon Anderson. The band finally chose Swiss-born Patrick Moraz, as a replacement while Relayer was well into production. The album title comes from the lyrics of "The Remembering (High The Memory)" from Tales from Topographic Oceans.

Here is the Roger Dean cover:

Relayer has the same song format as 1972's Close to the Edge - a long epic on the first side, and two nine-minute pieces on the second - but employs a radically different musical style. "The Gates of Delirium" is a dense, 22-minute piece that was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. It features lyrics about the futility of war and a lengthy instrumental middle section portraying 'battle' with galloping rhythms, martial melodies, dissonant harmonies, and clashing sound effects. The final section, in which the drive of the previous sixteen minutes is replaced by a gentle melody and a lyrical prayer for peace, was released as a US single under the title "Soon".

Relayer Side 1 

The Gates of Delirium

This song is another epic masterpiece that has to be experienced, not just listened to. To me, this is the first album of theirs that really sounded "futuristic" and in some ways it's a shame it is the only Yes album that Patrick Moraz was on.

The finale section (Soon) may be the most beautiful music Yes has ever produced.

Stand and fight we do consider

Reminded of an inner pact between us

That's seen as we go

And ride there

In motion

To fields in debts of honor

Defending

Stand the marchers soaring talons,

Peaceful lives will not deliver freedom,

Fighting we know,

Destroy oppression

The point to reaction

As leaders look to you

Attacking

Choose and renounce throwing chains to the floor.

Kill or be killing faster sins correct the flow.

Casting giant shadows off vast penetrating force

To alter via the war that seen

As friction spans the spirits wrath ascending to redeem.

Wars that shout in screams of anguish,

Power spent passion bespoils our soul receiver,

Surely we know.

In glory

We rise to offer,

Create our freedom,

A word we utter,

A word.

Words cause our banner, victorious our day.

Will silence be promised as violence display?

The curse increased we fight the pow'r

And live by it by day.

Our gods awake in thunderous roars,

And guide the leaders hand in paths of glory to the cause.

Listen, should we fight forever

Knowing as we do know fear destroys?

Listen, should we leave our children?

Listen, our lives stare in silence;

Help us now.

Listen, your friends have been broken,

They tell us of your poison; now we know.

Kill them, give them as they give us.

Slay them, burn their children's laughter

On to hell.

The fist will run, grasp metal to gun.

The spirit sings in crashing tones,

We gain the battle drum.

Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn.

The pen won't stay the demon's wings,

The hour approaches pounding out the Devil's sermon.

(Soon)

Soon, oh soon the light,

Pass within and soothe this endless night

And wait here for you,

Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the time,

All we move to gain will reach and calm;

Our heart is open,

Our reason to be here.

Long ago, set into rhyme.

Soon, oh soon the light,

Ours to shape for all time,

Ours the right;

The sun will lead us,

Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the light,

Ours to shape for all time,

Ours the right;

The sun will lead us,

Our reason to be here.

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