Yes – Yours Is No Disgrace

My InterpretationI think its important to look at he line that the artist repeats in a song, because that is the line he's meaning to have make an impression on you; what his preoccupation was that he's meaning to make yours. In this case its "yours is no disgrace." You have to look at that line in its various contexts, the line being what connects the contexts. In this case, it is always preceded by "if the summer change to winter", which I think is a metaphor for aging. Then I notice that there is a contrast between a sailing ship (one's meandering - musing - life journey) and a battleship which confides in him and tells him where you are. But what about those who don't have anyone looking over them? "Death defying, mutilated armies scatter the earth, Crawling out of dirty holes, their morals, their morals disappear." But you? Your life "is no disgrace." I think it's a song about a guardian angel.

Musically:

The song starts out quite militarily, but turns dreamy before the intro is finished. Then it seems to awaken with the lyrics about birth, then the journey of life. Then the revelation and the lost between the seasons of life. The guardian angel has found the man. Then the two-step almost a Capella part where the angel take a patronly stance towards the man, but reminds him that his is no disgrace, his life will be a good one. The part where the music travels from the right to the left channel is the struggles of man, who doesn't know he has a guardian angel. Conflict to resolve, conflict to resolve. Then a victorious "death-defying" re-intro. Same situation, re-examined with a sly smile. Silly human race, on a sailing ship, leaving anyplace... Return to conflict but this time with a happier feeling. The man is starting to know and trust his guardian angel. Then the sound of elevators, going up! Then the same military refrain. Spaceship sounds. Climax: Repetition of the intro, which is a summary of what the whole song is about. Repeat again, once again reconfirming that despite all the meanderings, the person who is the subject of this song will be saved, there will not be a disgraceful ending.

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  @Zygon
  +1

  @Zygon I agree that the "if the summer change to winter" is at the heart of the meaning. But it's a tough nut to crack, been thinking about this song at various points for decades... and I can't really pin down why there is no disgrace in some terrible things. Maybe it's unconditional forgiveness (everyone), or maybe it's a better path.... for "you" and not other paths? It's really hard to pin down.

  Flag stephenshgon February 10, 2018  

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  @stephenshg I think we both agree that there is no 'one' meaning. The artist s/himself may have various interpretations at different times, when s/he's being influenced by different circumstances or affects. However, I think there is no point to arguing that the song is about airplanes in the sky and Mr. Magpie, either. Understanding is a constant evolution which masters through play, gets serious, then breaks into a folly that can only be felt by some, but can inspire countless. One which follows only the most basic of rules, just enough to keep it "serious fun", but that works constantly at "refining" those rules. That is the magic of the muse, for me. Great music like this is my grownup version of staring at the clouds!

  Flag Zygonon February 10, 2018  

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  @Zygon re " for me. Great music like this is my grownup version of staring at the clouds!"... I actually go the opposite direction as you . I actually think the ambiguity makes the song more serious. The word 'disgrace' just carries such a heavy weight. And the battleships that confide. I think the paradox of uncertainty over the winter/summer dives deep into subconscious poetry. I view the song as archetypal mythological, subconscious. That's why I mentioned deep division in interpretation in my earlier reply: "Maybe it's unconditional forgiveness (everyone), or maybe it's a better path...." - I can't resolve it, as maybe it is a superposition of both (limitation of language). I also sense I lack the specific experience or a compass position view that the author has. But I'm drawn to the painting of this subconscious circumstances the song constructs, and perhaps one day I will be standing in that paradox and the song will be more personal than nagging curiosity...

  Flag stephenshgon February 10, 2018  

General CommentI always think this is my favorite Yes song. Then, when I listen to Heart of the Sunrise, I'm totally positive that THAT'S my favorite Yes song...but then, when I listen to And You and I, well, you get where I'm going with this!
As far as the meaning goes, I think Yes sent us all a message in the lyrics of Heart of the Sunrise...
"Long last treatment of the telling that relates to all the words sung
Dreamer easy in the chair that really fits you"
Meaning...you are the one that brings your own meaning into these magnificent lyrics by interacting with them and making them yours. So the war ideas are there, and so is the Las Vegas metaphor that Fedder described.
Whatever it means to YOU when YOU listen to it is the true meaning of the song...
"Straight light moving and removing sharpness of the color sunshine
Straight light searching all the meanings of the song"
Shining a "straight light" on the lyrics and trying to make them mean only one thing removes their beauty..

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  @susiesutt

General CommentP.S. in case you didn't know, a Purple Wolfhound is a slang term for a particular British jet fighter.

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  @triplesee
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  Strength and resolve then?

  Flag Zygonon September 13, 2014  

General CommentFor me, this song is about the dangers of war, and represents more specifically Anderson & co's vision of a post-nuclear holocaust. That's why the summer suddenly changes to (nuclear) winter, why the human race has been 'silly.' And so the 'death-defying' survivors crawl 'mutilated' out of their 'dirty holes' to face a world where the traditional 'morals' of society have collapsed,and in which all will have to be rebuilt from scratch.

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  @bjl

General CommentBeautiful interplay between guitar & keyboards

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  @nagromnai

General CommentThis song is about how much he loves a woman. Time and reality have no bearing on her - she is above it all. The most powerful forces of man and nature draw him to her. She is an oasis in a dessert of the most terrible things in life.

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  @triplesee

General CommentAnother good one. Linked to war, maybe?

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  @xmakesherflyx

General CommentJon Anderson is a mad genius. All of his songs have different meanings to different people. Like "Shining, flying, purple wolfhounds"? What is that supposed to mean? It is just like most of Yes' songs in the sense that it is non-sensical in a purposeful and meaningful way.

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  @twisteness5

General CommentAMAZING SONG!! fav part personally is the acoustic part.

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  @burntfire

General CommentBest Yes song, imho. Never really thought about what it means, so I'd be inclined to agree with tinderbox.
I love the stereo guitar bit!

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  @whapcapn