This song is (to me) the greatest achievement by Yes musically & spiritually. I have loved this song for about 45 years. It is lifting the listeners to a higher place as if it is opening a portal to a better world, "Yes World". There are so many truly great and beautiful songs in their catalog, but I think this is their crowning jewel.
I agree. I bought Going for the One as a fourteen year old in late 1977 and went on to buy ever other Yes record up to Tormato with the odd later album. I love all their epic masterpieces but this, the last of those, is unsurpassed.
Calling Yes a rock band is like calling DaVinci a painter. Truly Yes is the polymath of the musical realm. They tossed musical conventions askew and set a course for sonic exploration into lands that so few had ventured.
That is a very succinct definition of Yes! I've been listening to them for 50 years and this...this is the finest piece of music I've ever heard - and they have produced quite a few! But the ethereality, spirituality and sheer power of this song beats them all! Bliss!
When I saw this live on the Going For the One tour in 1977 and Jon sang that line the couple in front of me hugged each other tightly, it's something I've never forgotten.
This song is a lot to take in in only one listen. It takes years, decades to fully take in. 30 years later...I still can't comprehend it all...it's massive.
I have been listening since the day of it's release and it seems to get bigger and more incomprehensible over time. YES will never fit into a category because they did things that cannot be pigeonholed.They carved a niche unlike any other because they had these enormous ideas and the technique to achieve them. The thought put into their music and care of construction are mindblowing.
I was on a bus in Northern Queensland passing through a foggy rainforest when this song came on over the radio which had up until then been playing some pretty tepid 60’s pop music. I was entranced. I HAD heard the song before and was familiar with Yes’s music, but this setting was pure magic. I felt TOUCHED.
The lights went dark Awaken began and the stage started to turn. Around came Chris with a triple neck bass guitar and it was on. With tears flowing at the end the divine showed up. It was magnificent.
Thanks for choosing this. This piece just gets better and better. I bought the album on the day it came out in 1977 and have heard Yes play it live many times; it is a real show stopper.
The heaviest most incredible sonic experience I have ever had including 100 piece symphonys.. This piece live always revealed glimpses of greater possibilities for all mankind.
One of the things that makes Yes so amazing is that Jon's inscrutable lyrics mean something different to me, and paint and sketch new visions, and perspectives, every time I come back to each piece...even years later.
This song was my introduction to Yes, in 1978, and it changed me forever. 43 years, and probably 1,000s of listens later, it still gets me emotional, especially watching someone hear it for the first time. Favorite piece of music of all time, hands down. If I have a choice, I'll go out to the guitar coda.
I've known their more familiar tunes from way back, but hadn't heard this until recently when I saw it recommended on a comment. It blows my mind! Too bad it was too long to be a hit song. It's almost a whole album.
the incredible complexity and beauty brings me to tears every time. It never ceases to amaze me that I saw them do this live many times. Now decades later it seems like a beautiful dream .
@@Magnetron33 Me too Live, 77' (Going for the One Tour), 78'-79' (Tormato Tours), and 80' (Drama Tour). Indeed then and now, highteningly Emotional and Spiritual.
The YES earlier classic "CLOSE TO THE EDGE" was about being close to the edge of awakening to a higher conciousness and this masterpiece ,created a few years later is about acheiving an awakening. "CLOSE TO THE EDGE "could be your next listen(if not already done)
My very first concert ever was the Union concert in the summer of 92 (I was 30 yrs old). My friend Jim bought me the tickets as we were both huge Yes fans.. When they performed Awaken with all 8 members of the band I was in heaven. What a performance. Jim was killed in an automobile accident that Halloween... Whenever I hear the middle section (starting at 7 minutes) of Awaken it reminds me of Jim...who shall live on forever in my memory...and in this song. Thank you KSO...for loving this song as much as you clearly did in this reaction. Like the time I ran away...turned around...and you were standing close to me. I know you are with me Jim.
The lyrics tell a story of spiritual awakening. Like others here, I saw Yes live on the 1977 tour supporting this album. This progressive rock classic was the climax of the show. Along with “And You and I” (also about spiritual experience), this amazing band at the height of their powers.
Great song, you had it right! Awakening is a realization of being more he’s singing about mans soul crying out to the sun to the void since time. It’s all stream of consciousness thinking aloud about reaching for being more than man while he honors all around him (nature, etc) that evolved his soul. Thanks for a great reaction.
It's a classic Yes master piece about awakening girl lol Awakening as individuals, society, as ONE race. The lyrics give direction and artistic perspective to the listener and their individual interpretation process, an added layer to their work. The more you listen the more it says. Been listening to this album since it came out & it still speaks to my heart and soul in the universal language of music, spirit and love. Why we rock! It's great to see so many young people finding Yes and other classic bands, the passing of the torch.
I could hear this a thousand times and it ALWAYS brings tears of immense joy. I have seen Yes (in this incarnation) several times dating back to Close the Edge tour. ('73-'74) I love watching other people react to this, especially for the first listen, knowing how rich and full it is and how emotions only continues to grow each time as the textures simply envelop you.
Steve Howe gets down to some proper shred on this. There's footage of him out there going toe-to-toe with the legendary Les Paul (yes, the guy the guitar is named after) and he doesn't disgrace himself.
Lots of rock guitarist set in with Les Paul. Steve Howe was the only one who played in the Les Paul style and that impressived the hell out of him. All the others played a twelve bar blues variation.
@@steverodgers8425 Steve Howe is a phenomina, entirely self taught, can't read music, incredible finger stylist, organic sound, he fused jazz, county, rock, and classical. He's still a standard I measure virtuosity by.
Can never get enough of this masterpiece. I work in the funeral business, get to visit many churches around LA and hear the organs/keyboards in each… there’s a couple that have an instrument that send vibrations up through your feet and out your skull, and I immediately think of the organ crescendo and how it would sound played in that space … I’d lose it. Maybe it’s a good thing I can’t play keyboards, or I’d never get my job done.
I can not believe after all of these years YES songs are finally get the recognition they truly deserve! I remember hooking school with my friends, dropping LSD and listening to Close to the Edge and watching the music pour from my speakers back in 73.. Or seeing YES for the first time on the Relayer tour, my god! Gates of Delirium back in 75... Or Returning from Japan were my ship was home-ported and going to see YES in the round Going For The One tour, 1979 and hearing Awaken live for the 1st time. Its about ********time.......
So deep so deep. Only Yes could compose this piece of music to to this day it never fails to send chills down my spine. I first come to this song on the release of Going for the one. Awaken never fails to move me it is my favorite song of all time.
"Like the time I ran away" "And turned around and you were standing close to me" !!! 🙏 ☺ Awaken, about a persons awakening to the All mighty Spirit ! 😇
"Like the time I ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me." This actually happened in 1985 to myself and the love of my life. I was 23, she 22. We were goofing around in her home town of Port Austin, Michigan in front of an ice cream shop and that very thing occurred, basically out of nowhere. That line means the world to the both of us.
Ladies and gentlemen YES the greatest show on earth. Beautiful reaction to the work of the divine. Yes never preached but laid out a journey to the divine in your own way. Dogma had no place in the Yes realm of music. Maybe now you should do a live reaction. 🙏🍁
I mean it's pretty tough you know thing is when you put the lyrics together with the sound of the music you realize his yearning oh gosh you know being in touch with her emotions and and it's a deeper spiritual grasping towards essence of whatever were made of Tempe part of that try to to reach those Heights all right I really like the ending part there's like a added bonus at the end it's like he Harkens back to his childhood I need recalls a memory something that happened when he was much younger honey says like that time I ran away and I turn around and you're right there next to me it's just ahh man this is one of those rare times when the music tell me how converges with some spiritual facet within ourselves and you know it's real because you can feel it okay my girl I'm glad you got to hear that I know it can be sometimes overwhelming but I can tell or rather we can tell picture affected by this great music just like we are and that's something quite awesome don't you think? These guys have such a gift they show us the perfect example what the true purpose music is and how magic it can be all right my dear that was a great reaction check you on the next one
Yes recorded this in a studio in Switzerland. Rick Wakeman wanted to use the organ in a church in a nearby town for this song, so instead of trying to record in the church itself, they rented a telephone line to transmit Rick's playing to the rest of the band in the studio. Singer Jon Anderson is playing the harp part along with the church organ. The tinkling sound is a set of crotales--little disc-shaped bells--played by drummer Alan White.
I bought the album back in the 70’s as a teen and I still need to hear it , from all the grandeur, the power of how they play, the praise I guess of a higher being , Yes fans will go into detail a lot more eloquently than I can but to me my take is I’m just an ordinary man simple life but really we are part of a scheme to raise our souls and that higher being will be with us throughout the journey. After all the amazing complex music being played they hit you with a very simple ending with lyrics that just destroy your heart “Like the time I ran away and turned around and you was standing close to me “ this epic piece along with Genesis’s Suppers Ready are my go to places when my spirit either needs to praise or recharge. Thank you for reacting
I remember suggesting this one when you reacted to 'Roundabout' I'm glad that you've got around to it. 'Close to the edge', 'Gates of delirium' and many more to go.
There is music which gives you momentary pleasure in knowing it, singing along, and knowing how you‘re going to feel when you hear it. Then there are progressive tunes , which take forever to learn all of the movements and words… but which take you on a new journey each time you listen. For 50 years I’ve listened to Yes music… and even without any mind-altering substances, I can close my eyes, let my mind float with the music and never go to the same place twice. And here’s why Yes does it better than other bands: Jon Anderson’s lyrics are vague, random, obtuse… they are not meant for you to know, they’re meant to blend with the music, engage different facets of your consciousness, and make you feel … deeply. So, Sweet KSO… don’t analyze, just let the lyrics wash over you like the sound… and take the journeys Yes provides. Never the same places!❤
I First heard this the day the album was released in 1977. I saw them do this live at the Bingley Hall Stafford shortly after. They did it note perfect, a magical religious experience. It still gets me every time- 46 or so years later and yes. It's about awakening the human spirit.
So good to know...that there are others that hear and appreciate these awesome forms of expression from these masters of transcendent music. Ever ascending...awesome.
Still to my mind one of the finest examples of prog rock ever made. An absolutely stunning piece of music (it was the first thing I played when I got my doubleneck, even before 'Xanadu' :D).
Workings of man crying out from the fire set aflame By his blindness to see that the warmth of his being Is promised for his seeing his reaching so clearly
Hats off to you Kemi. I thoroughly enjoyed this reaction. While many may feel disoriented by the changes and odd time signatures, us musician prog rockers revel in it. We seek to be surprised and transported to somewhere we've never been. We delight in this. I see you were moved by this one and the ' Soon ', section of ' Gates of Delirium '. There's still, 'Close to the Edge'.
So... "Wondrous Stories" and this song comprise the B side of Yes' Going for the One album. My *personal* interpretation of the two tracks is that "Wondrous Stories" opens the side by telling of the subject's journey to find and reaching his spiritual guide and teacher. "Awaken" is the subject having absorbed the teachings and attained nirvana from his spiritual journey. For me, the two songs should always be played together, as they tell a full story.
I don't worry about what the words mean: I just enjoy how they make me feel while Jon's singing them. Oh, and 'Like a flute' is actually the pipe organ, and the sparkly chimes are called crotales (little round metal disks that are tuned), and Jon did play a harp on this. Thank you for this! Peace from SF
I'm so glad you have finally gotten back to listening to some more YES. You've picked 3 beautiful pieces today and I promise you there's so much more, you have no idea. I really believe you'd enjoy their first 2 albums, but their next 6 albums are the best they ever did, though some would include a few other albums in their top 6.
I promise that this is the first, last and only time I’ll get down on my knees and grovel for a reaction from you. Jon Anderson (Yes’ singer) performed this song live in Iceland with a full orchestra, choir and the Icelandic band Todmobile. It is the most amazing live music performance I have ever heard. 3X better than this studio version. Jon Anderson & Todmobile - Awaken
IMHO "Awaken is about expanding human elements of sympathy, community, and acceptance of the unknown, and love. To a degree Anderson's lyrics are meant in part to be cryptic in meaning, leaving it to the listener to decide what they are about. The person/subject of the song awakens to the follies and foibles of humanity, but by singing about these, comes to grips with the beautiful elements available to us all, bringing them into the light of understanding. The wonder of day to day living surrounds us if we can awaken to it.
One of the really big songs by Yes. I love the mood it builds. For long songs by Yes, I have 4 recommendations (you've already heard Gates Of Delirium). "Mind Drive" (has a very nice guitar intro) and "That That Is" from the album Keystudio, "Endless Dream" from the album Talk and "Close To The Edge" from the album Yessongs. But don't rush, it doesn't have to be today or tomorrow ;-)
As a prog fan, since 30+ years, I underestimated this band. It doesn't matter... I am enjoying it now, as I am for all the others prog classical and modern artists that counts for me. And this means my musical journey isn't over... Great news!
My eyes always leak when I hear this song. Analyse the lyrics? I've tried to do that for 43 years and can't claim to be any nearer to understanding them in any literal sense. I think the best we can do is experience them as a mood, a prayer, a spiritual quest. Let the music wash over you like a wave and float you away to a deeper, more subconscious level. Then you will be Awakened. I think.
Jon Anderson, the lead singer and lyricist, is an openly spiritual person. His songs are often about love, both personal and spiritual. Yes, he can be New Age, but his heart is in the right place, and he asks us to be open and kind to each other.
There's great footage of this being recorded. My favourite part is seeing the percussion overdubs session with everyone who was in Yes at the time alongside some of their crew on percussion instruments but it's also interesting seeing Rick Wakeman cutting the church organ parts over the phone.
Just as you did, "Close your eyes and listen." As most of us Yes fans well know, Yes music requires the listener to immerse themselves, with repeated listenings, and within the privacy of one's own head; therefore to allow the music to carry you on a journey within one's own soul. With Peace and Love to all! (Michael)
When you have to say 'kudos to the Swiss communication company' for having a phone line good enough to use for recording church organ in the church, then via phone line ending up in the studio and recorded there.
If you decide to listen to "Close to the Edge", a twenty minute long critically acclaimed masterpiece, keep in mind that there is chaos before beauty! You will love it though! If you are looking for something more simplistic, try the song "Time and a Word" or "Sweetness". You will also love those!
The way you describe the song taking you underwater, then bringing you up for air, sounds like a baptism, which is ironic because I believe Awaken is a song about the birth of Jon Anderson's first son.
10:59- 12:38. siempre siento que jon esta orando al cielo y explicando la belleza, la locura, la grandeza de la vida, tambien veo tristeza de que si fuera todo diferente a como esta el mundo hoy. esa seccion de la cancion que al final steve rompre con su solo de guitarra es una de las armonias vocales y musicales mas hermosas que la musica nos ha regalado, siempre toca mi alma y me hace llorar. si para siempre. gracias por tu reaccion
Just get a big spliff on and listen to the back catalogue of Yes.....This is my favourite song from the band....after 40+ years of listening.... Classical music of the future perhaps ? And this was done back in 1977 !!!! Jeez....
I think it's interesting the Jon's lyrics (and indeed the band's through-composition methodology) seems to sell slightly better in the Americas, where an underlying spirituality can sink in. Back in the UK, in the year of release (1977), the group were suddenly under fire from the 'Year Zero' mentality of punk, which dismissed them as 'old farts' and wanted to do away with such pretensions and get back to the street. But the new wave wasn't alone in that perception. Even members of the band weren't always sold on the words. It didn't always matter as they were busy trying to play the damn thing!
I think Jon Anderson has stated this is one of his favourite tracks. He certainly sings it like it is. He and Rick Wakeman compared their journey from near-estrangement, following the magnum opus 'Tales of Topographic Oceans', to reconciliation on this album ('Going for the One') as travelling around the surface of an egg (stay with me!): at one point they were on either side, as far apart as they could be; neither recognizing that time and momentum would bring them back together again. In fact it was a bit of a false dawn as the band would collapse again before too long - a process that seems to happen quite often!
OMG! I'm so glad you reacted to this. There's me thinking that young people didn't have a long enough attention span to listen to it, I was wrong💓 Like many commenters, I have been listening to Awaken for over 40 years but its a long time since I heard it (attention span slip) and it still gives me Goosebumps, Rick Wakeman's crescendo is the best in rock music, gets me every time. This was my best friends favourite piece of music, he died 25 years ago and the wonderful memories and tears came flooding back (in a good way) Thankyou
A song made on purpose to be played in heaven? Call it what you will, but it is a pure spiritual orgasm, a mystical ascent to the essence of the soul, a passage into the energetic dimension of our spirit. A masterpiece of sensitivity, musical theory and interpretation too. Here, no computer, no machines, no samples, no autotune, just five musicians like we may not make any more for a long time. It's 1977, a period when genius still consists in calling upon one's own abilities or pushing them ever higher. Take inspiration from that in your life. This album was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, as well as in the Saint-Martin Chapel in Vevey. The church organ comes from this chapel, you can hear it on Awaken. It reached #1 on the UK charts and #8 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
Heaven is a world we cannot perceive with our senses. Yes was in sync with this world and it shined through their music. Their music speaks to our souls as much as to our minds. That's why we love them so much.
Jon's lyrics always see the plight on man from a "fallen" state of foolishness, and ignorance of the worth, of each immortal being. Man's sins "correct the flow" and must be plied out in real time so that each of us, and collectively, all have the opportunity to discern what the "truth" of the matter IS. Kemi, I feel your sincerity, and pure intent of heart, and YES touches that in You, and All of Us, who want the "Hero" who has earned our "Allegiance" to ride in on the White Horse, at the 11th Hour to save all who embrace lovingkindness. It cannot always remain a Predator/Prey reality. When that which is Perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away with. Context is Everything.
On your own time, in the right atmosphere, when your head is in the right place, listen to the live version with the Icelandic group Todmobile featuring Jon on vocals supported by an orchestra and a chorus. But only do so when you are by yourself and receptive.
Is it nice that you hear Yes again! And then 3 songs in one day. I love your soulful analyzes, but unfortunately you don't hear much prog rock. On this wonderful song (one of my favorite songs), I'm almost embarrassed to make a technical note. In the recording that you heard, the "volume compensation" was probably activated. The quiet parts are too loud, the loud ones too quiet. The "recording with the naked man" sounds better. (in case you want to listen to the song again in private).
I am biased, but I do think that the high vibration is not appreciated by everyone, but only by those who themselves are on a high vibration. I do not think a cave man or a bully would like this, or anything by Yes. This is probably the pinochle, I mean pinnacle of Yes. Close to the Edge, Gates of Delirium, Tales...all timeless masterpieces of the first water. I saw this tour, among others, and they brought down the Greensboro Coliseum with this song. All the best people love Yes. Yes is a way of life. Welcome fellow Yessenger.
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - 'A Love Supreme' ... I hope someone recommends the vinyl track by two of the greatest guitarists of the last and this century 💕
There's no musical band or group that can compose music like this, on this level of brilliance anymore. Sadly our society has been so dumbed down there is not the level of genius to compose music like this anymore.
As I said before, it’s only at a Yes concert that you’ll sit with astrophysicists, Jet propulsion engineers, master pianists and the like. And no wonder there are no Yes cover bands!
@@esssee9386 Actually here in NY there is a prog cover band called, " Wondrous Stories". I heard them years ago and they were fantastic. But don't know if they still sound as good today.
That was a spiritual journey. I think that's what they were going for, but they really pulled it off. Like returning you to a familiar place forgotten about.
