Long Distance Runaround

Jon Anderson: ...it was how religion had seemed to confuse me totally. It was such a game that seemed to be played and I was going around in circles looking for the sound of reality, the sound of God. I could never understand the things that religion stood for.

I think it's about a relationship growing colder; yet one is still trying to hold on while the other lover is cheating on him. Very repetitive lyrics, I don't know what to think.

Bill Bruford did such a great job on this song...

I never get bored listening to this song, just as long as I concenrate on the awesome drum composition..

It fits in so well with the music -- the guitar and keyboard is so straightforward, but the drums are shifting the foundation left and right all the way through -- yet the structure remaines perfectly sharp..

I wouldn't know how Bruford rates among drummer in pure technical mastery, but I would have to say that his composition was totally brilliant.

yeah it gives the impression of sad times, "colour melting" shows times changing, maybe with changes in the band, (rick wakeman during the fragile album) and all that, lol. it's deep stuff.

This song was writen partially about the Kent State Shootings. Especially the lyric 'Hot coulor melting the anger to stone' according to an interview with Anderson - who wrote the song.

I always had the idea that it was about Jon's problems with organized religion (as opposed to "true" religion).

Kent State? That's interesting. And I thought this was just about sadness over a relationship that ended.

It's one of the few Yes songs where the lyrics actually made sense to me. NOW...I find out what I inferred was wrong. LOL

I always wondered why they aren't considered a "religious" band like Switchfoot or others. inpraiseoffolly's idea of their rejection of organized religion could be why.

Also I think Anderson (this is without any proof whatsoever, just a thought) could have been influenced by the Romantic Poets who found their spiritual peace/religion in the beauty of nature.

This, to me, is about a long distance relationship. I don't think the lyrics need much more interpretation than that. I could be wrong, of course!. I've been known to be in the past ;)

Long distance relationships: they are difficult and frequently fail: Consider: "cold summer" " I still remember the dream there"

Notions of relationships/expectations that did not live up to reality