Once a peaceful man laid his old head down by a river,
Thought about his childhood life, his father and forgiver,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
He controlled the horses with a handclap or a whisper,
Drink he couldn't combat but he knew he was no sinner,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
He told all his sons of all the antics of adventure,
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.
Better men have realized alone is not a venture,
A decent man would realize alone is not a venture,
Just to hide away, hide away.
He told all his sons of all the antics of adventure,
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.
Thought about his childhood life, his father and forgiver,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
Drink he couldn't combat but he knew he was no sinner,
Couldn't hide away, hide away.
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.
A decent man would realize alone is not a venture,
Just to hide away, hide away.
Then he told another one who drove himself to drink
Not to hide away, hide away.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
A lost gem from The Yes Album, outshone for many by Perpetual Change, Starship Trooper and YIND. I love the quirkyness of this haunting song, whose lyrics remind me of my dad, who liked (too much of a) drink and yet was no sinner.
along with some ideas on 'sharing' and 'story' i feel stong messages about companionship - jolly times (alone is no ...) with the magic of a drink, but even a current of quieter times exploring communication with other species ".... with a handclap or a whisper".
Generation to generation advice on which behavior to avoid if one succumbs to the pitfalls of alcohol.
To me it sounds like a story about the man's father who represses the truth about his drinking habits, telling tall tales about a fantasy life of his, and eventually takes his frustration out on his children. Afterwards, he blames it in the children. Most I can get out of it... VERY good song though, definitely a "sleeper" hit.
@Millenia I would almost suggest the opposite, he is no repressing or hiding his stories of his drinking habits. Letting all know his faults, and judge him by his actions not his cruxes.
@Millenia I would almost suggest the opposite, he is no repressing or hiding his stories of his drinking habits. Letting all know his faults, and judge him by his actions not his cruxes.