This ^retrospective supports the alternating vocals as representing events years apart (war, then much later, an idyllic scene), at Bluefields, a town on the east coast of Nicaragua. The nation was news in the 1980s when the song was written/recorded.
Bluefields originated as a port for European pirates, the name being a corruption of (Abraham) Blauvelt, a "Dutch-Jewish pirate" per Wikipedia. The song's wartime lyrics are said to be partly inspired by the U.S. Marines' landing in 1912.
The retrospective also confirms, however, that Jon Anderson sometimes says Trevor Rabin's vocals are "in dreamtime." This could invite alternate or subtextual interpretations (note: mine is bleak).
To me, the song doesn't depict multiple eras. If years have passed, why are the sands (still) "crimson"? Also, the dual meaning of "sedan" imposes wealth and power in the utopian moment.
The lyrics are thoughts or words of soldier(s), after a battle in which they were overwhelming victors. Their motto is: "shoot high" (set high goals), "aim low" (do what it takes). Also, there's the suggestion of betrayal:
"the steel guitar and the love you give" followed by helicopters' descent,
"Seeing the guns and their faces ..."
To survive, the soldiers adopt an existential view:
"Who says there's got to be a reason ..."
Western powers claim morality, but in defending our interests, do the same things again and again:
"I've heard the singers who sing of love,
but ... we never get much further."
https://norselandsrock.com/shoot-high-aim-low-yes/
This ^retrospective supports the alternating vocals as representing events years apart (war, then much later, an idyllic scene), at Bluefields, a town on the east coast of Nicaragua. The nation was news in the 1980s when the song was written/recorded.
Bluefields originated as a port for European pirates, the name being a corruption of (Abraham) Blauvelt, a "Dutch-Jewish pirate" per Wikipedia. The song's wartime lyrics are said to be partly inspired by the U.S. Marines' landing in 1912.
The retrospective also confirms, however, that Jon Anderson sometimes says Trevor Rabin's vocals are "in dreamtime." This could invite alternate or subtextual interpretations (note: mine is bleak).
To me, the song doesn't depict multiple eras. If years have passed, why are the sands (still) "crimson"? Also, the dual meaning of "sedan" imposes wealth and power in the utopian moment.
The lyrics are thoughts or words of soldier(s), after a battle in which they were overwhelming victors. Their motto is: "shoot high" (set high goals), "aim low" (do what it takes). Also, there's the suggestion of betrayal:
"the steel guitar and the love you give" followed by helicopters' descent, "Seeing the guns and their faces ..."
To survive, the soldiers adopt an existential view: "Who says there's got to be a reason ..."
Western powers claim morality, but in defending our interests, do the same things again and again: "I've heard the singers who sing of love, but ... we never get much further."