Perpetual Change Lyrics

Lyric discussion by zeng8r 

Cover art for Perpetual Change lyrics by Yes

It seems that this song is about man's belief that we can control life, the universe, and everything, when in fact we're only a part something bigger that is beyond out power to control and ever-changing along in its own cycles and paths. The person who mentioned the moon landing as a possible inspiration is probably spot-on: "And there you are/saying we have the moon, so now the stars".

It's terrible that this song is so unknown. I'm a big fan of Yes, but I'd never heard it until picking up the LP at a community garage sale last weekend. It's suddenly become my favorite Yes tune of all.

My Interpretation

@zeng8r Same interpretation here. But "terrible" is that you got to know this song so late. This album was, in middle '80s, my first progressive rock (well, I knew Floyd, before, but that doesn't count as real progressive rock as I regard), and this is my favorite song from that day to the present.

@zeng8r I have always loved this song, ever since I bought Yessongs back in 1974. Steve Howe’s guitar is simply amazing, and I have always felt that this is his best , longest, and most intricate guitar solo of all. I agree with others about the meaning of the lyrics. It’s about our human interpretation of the world vs reality. This is my favorite Yes song.