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Yes — Close To The Edge
Album: Close To The Edge
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1313









Released: 1972
Length: 17:44
Plays (last 30 days): 0
A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace
And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace
And achieve it all with music that came quickly from afar
And taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour
And assessing points to nowhere, leading every single one
A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun
And take away the plain in which we move
And choose the course you're running

Down at the end, round by the corner
Not right away, not right away
Close to the edge, down by a river
Not right away, not right away

Crossed the line around the changes of the summer
Reaching out to call the color of the sky
Passed around a moment clothed in mornings faster than we see
Getting over all the time I had to worry
Leaving all the changes far from far behind
We relieve the tension only to find out the master's name

Down at the end, round by the corner
Close to the edge, just by a river
Seasons will pass you by
I get up, I get down
Now that it's all over and done
Now that you find, now that you're whole

II. Total Mass Retain

My eyes convinced, eclipsed with the younger moon attained with love
It changed as almost strained amidst clear manna from above
I crucified my hate and held the word within my hand
There's you, the time, the logic, or the reasons we don't understand

Sad courage claimed the victims standing still for all to see
As armoured movers took approached to overlook the sea
There since the cord, the license, or the reasons we understood will be

Down at the edge, close by a river
Close to the edge, round by the corner
Close to the end, down by the corner
Down at the edge, round by the river

Sudden cause shouldn't take away the startled memory
All in all, the journey takes you all the way
As apart from any reality that you've ever seen and known
Guessing problems only to deceive the mention
Passing paths that climb halfway into the void
As we cross from side to side, we hear the total mass retain

Down at the edge, round by the corner
Close to the end, down by a river
Seasons will pass you by
I get up, I get down

III. I Get Up, I Get Down

In her white lace, you could clearly see the lady sadly looking
Saying that she'd take the blame
For the crucifixion of her own domain

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

Two million people barely satisfy
Two hundred women watch one woman cry, too late
The eyes of honesty can achieve
(She would gladly say it amazement of her story)
How many millions do we deceive each day?
(Asking only interest could be laid upon the children of her domain)

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

In charge of who is there in charge of me
(She could clearly see the lady sadly looking)
Do I look on blindly and say I see the way?
(Saying that she'd take the blame
For the crucifixion of her own domain)
The truth is written all along the page
(She would gladly say it amazement of her story)
How old will I be before I come of age for you?
(Asking only interest could be laid upon the children of her domain)

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down

IV. Seasons Of Man

The time between the notes relates the color to the scenes
A constant vogue of triumphs dislocate man, so it seems
And space between the focus shape ascend knowledge of love
As song and chance develop time, lost social temp'rance rules above
Ah, ah

Then according to the man who showed his outstretched arm to space
He turned around and pointed, revealing all the human race
I shook my head and smiled a whisper, knowing all about the place
On the hill we viewed the silence of the valley
Called to witness cycles only of the past
And we reach all this with movements in between the said remark

Close to the edge, down by the river
Down at the end, round by the corner
Seasons will pass you by
Now that it's all over and done
Called to the seed, right to the sun
Now that you find, now that you're whole
Seasons will pass you by

I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down
I get up, I get down
Comments (212)add comment
 SomersetBob wrote:

I see quite a few negative comments have been made down the years about this one - so I will just add a bit of balance by saying I love it as much now as when I first heard it 46 years ago when I was - dear god, 17! - and I thank Bill and Radio Paradise so much for playing it.




I Agree completely!  I was also 17yrs old when this came out! I played it so much that I wore it out & had to buy a new one! GREAT ALBUM!!  Thanx RP!   
I got to see the 50th anniversary performance of this song and album on 10-25-22 in a small theater with my 13 y/o son and it was quite magical. That was probably the last time I'll get to see them perform.  1st time was "in the round" at Madison Square Garden in 1980 and at least a dozen other times in between those two.  Their music fills me with joy.
 sfoster66 wrote:

Unfortunately for the unregainable last 17 minutes of my life, I have come to the conclusion that I fall into the Genesis camp when it comes to the whole Prog Rock genre.  No Yes, no.




Well, at least you listened to it in it's entirety! Everybody has different tastes. I love BOTH bands, and I have, since the 70s!
 FlatCat wrote:

I just realized why I've never like Yes. Just like Wagner! No cadences for measures and measures. Meandering, noodling melodic line. 




Everybody has different tastes. I think they are GREAT!!! ...Noodle on! 
 FlatCat wrote:

I just realized why I've never like Yes. Just like Wagner! No cadences for measures and measures. Meandering, noodling melodic line. 



As Flat as the Cat?
 Vicey wrote:

I took my oldest son to see one of the two Yes bands now touring. They opened with this. Ten minutes in he turns to me and asks "Is this still the same song?"



Those are the best songs!
GODLIKE!!! 
I just realized why I've never like Yes. Just like Wagner! No cadences for measures and measures. Meandering, noodling melodic line. 
Crazy good. To me, It's like one's life would be exposed in one song. All these instruments, rythmes, voices Yes is clearly out of the box
Unfortunately for the unregainable last 17 minutes of my life, I have come to the conclusion that I fall into the Genesis camp when it comes to the whole Prog Rock genre.  No Yes, no.
This appears to be almost, if not THE, most polarizing song in the RP catalog. Curious. However, it is wildly experimental and quite long, so I can understand that it is grating to a lot of folks. 
Steely_D contends: Les Claypool should've replaced Squire.

westslope wrote:

Better than Geddy Lee?


I think Geddy's at the end of his time, but Claypool has a lot more ahead. And he would've been so experimental, which would've helped the band. The current stuff is so pedestrian.
Yes - Please.
This was one of the albums that kept me sane and happy whilst learning my trade with Shell in the 70's.
Thank (any) god it existed, now I have to deal with Rap, Hip Hop and goodness knows how many other forms of 'music' that should have been aborted.
It has been a while since I put this one on the turntable and I'd sorta forgotten what hot stuff it really is. All those years, still is.
I think it's safe to say that Covid and all the politics that surround it, have put us all close to the edge for the past year and a half.  Thanks to RP for keeping us from going over it.  ; )
 stanohlohovec5 wrote:



It is well known about the band Yes that you either love them or damn them ... I have loved them always..



I think you could say that about the entirety of progressive rock. People openly mock its excesses but fail to mention the virtuosity. Love it.
It‘s a 10 because I love to hear it every time and because it reminds me why I spend money to have station like this. Music you hardly will find at any radio station. Real music. Hand made.
It is just pure brilliance!!
 avereaiii590 wrote:
Funny, looking at the ratings, listeners either hate it or love it.
Count me in with the loves, remember the day this album came out.
Guess you had to be there.



It is well known about the band Yes that you either love them or damn them ... I have loved them always..
 Steely_D wrote:

LISTEN to that bass at the beginning. 

I still contend that Les Claypool should've replaced Squire.


Better than Geddy Lee?
 westslope wrote:

Talk Talk followed by Yes.

C'est absolument fantastique.




It is absolutely fantastic. It is true...
Funny, looking at the ratings, listeners either hate it or love it.
Count me in with the loves, remember the day this album came out.
Guess you had to be there.
I have tried so hard to enjoy Yes. I think it's his voice? But I must say, their lyrics are something to behold so for that I do appreciate the band. 
simple: 10/10 
No. 
Talk Talk followed by Yes.

C'est absolument fantastique.
LISTEN to that bass at the beginning. 

I still contend that Les Claypool should've replaced Squire.
The song is over. Nappy time.
Wow. 

I need some microdot  or orange sunshine or window pane for this!!!!

Yikes. 
 mgkiwi wrote:
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!    


Hey man,  it's cosmic.  Takes some time and get cosmic. 
I apologize for repeating myself in the  course of two minutes.

But for crying out loud....this song is just freakin amazing.  

And that bass. Oh the bass.

My last question: was this song recorded in one session? I don't hear how they could piece together short tracks into one big track. But that would be impossible, eh!

Eh!   Eh!  Eh!

Time to drive back to the dispeniary, again   
 
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!! A LOAD OF SELF INDULGENT CRAP!!! 
Is it Egads!

Is it Gadzooks?

Is it WTF?

It's...it's...it's...pandemonium!!!!

It's....it's....Chris Squire at his freakin best!!!!

And Steve Howe ain't bad either. 
 
Thanks for reminding me why I never liked YES  CRAP!!
Had to switch to my better headphones.  Oooow, that's MUCH better.

10, now and forever.
 drewd wrote:
Oh Yeah Ferris Bueller GIF | Gfycat

Damn.. this is a long song
You are right, this is a song as opposed to Long Strange Golden Road (The Waterboys)!

I think I'm slightly embarrassed for RP listeners that this has a 6.7 rating?! One of the greatest prog rock songs ever written. If this is not a 9 or 10 what is?
 MLavender wrote:
Seems that everyone that likes this has fond memories of it from the 70s. I don't think this has aged well or appeals across generations. I love some prog rock (Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Tangerine Dream), but this gets a 2 from me. Maybe if I hadn't heard a lot more prog rock before hearing this, I might like it more.
 
Interesting that you say you've heard a lot of prog rock and list great bands that I love too, because this is like the definition, the foundation, the pinnacle even, of prog rock, imho. Maybe you had to be there.

But... I was there and as someone else just posted... it was sublime. Bruford's sophisticated drumming, Squire ripping his bass like it was a lead guitar, Anderson's unique and soaring vocals, Wakeman and Howe laying down licks that make your head spin, all meshing perfectly minute after glorious minute. Their sheer musicianship and ability to make the complex accessible to my young and impressionable mind was mind blowing. - it made most 3 minute, 3 chord radio songs pale by comparison. Then, when I started playing music myself, my appreciation for just how friggn hard that stuff is to play, allowed it to stay fresh for me. Solid 10 from me.
Pretty good keyboard solo, eh?
Sublime...
Seems that everyone that likes this has fond memories of it from the 70s. I don't think this has aged well or appeals across generations. I love some prog rock (Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Tangerine Dream), but this gets a 2 from me. Maybe if I hadn't heard a lot more prog rock before hearing this, I might like it more.
Hey guys, I think I'm having a Friday Freakout! YES! 
I'm on the side of the most positive comments. At the same time I was immersed in Yes's music, Roger Dean's cover art pleased my eyes almost as much the music pleased my ears. Easily the most cerebral band of its day.
 aroma wrote:
Kudos to RP! What other station dials up 17 minute gems like Close to the Edge, playing them from end to end?
 Well, all I can say is, when I lived in TX, there were 2 "main" rock stations...one played songs, the other played album sides....that was pretty cool.

 njswede wrote:
I would love to understand what's going on in the minds of people who give this a one. Maybe it's not your style, I get that, but one has to admire the musical artistry and craftsmanship on this track!
 
Absolutely admire the artistry and craftsmanship in prog rock.  I grew up with it and then grew out of it and expanded my musical tastes into other genres.  17 minutes of scales and solos aren't really my thing anymore and I now find it impossible to listen to it.  This is music for musicians, of which I am one so I can appreciate it for the technical ability, not for most people of which I am also most people.  It will go down as a classic as will Born to Be Wild, Smoke on the Water, Sweet Home Alabama, et al.  If I never hear those songs again, it certainly won't cause me the same discomfort it is to listen to this song as well as those.  Hope that helps.
Wow that takes me back... to High School. It was mindblowing then and still is.

One of the first concerts I saw was Yes before they hit the arenas.  Gad I'm old. I just looked it up - Sept 23 1972. They played bits of this, and older stuff.
Big fan in the '70s, still appreciate the talent but times and tastes change. They need to be listened to  -  and today perhaps I just don't have the inclination
I remember  I invited a girl from university to a concert in a huge hall, hoping she would like Yes ... and consequently me too.
Unfortunately, as soon as they started playing, the sound was so loud and overwhelming we had to leave the place quickly, and she was really really mad at me. Duh
The bass on this song is amaizing. Squire was the best ever. RIP
I'm just amazed that after almost 50 years since I first heard this, I still like listening for the same reasons. It's a soaring, orchestrated journey into another time and place. Their concerts back then were the physical manifestation, down to the dry ice pouring off the stage. It was all like a dream. 
 bobcanna1 wrote:
YES ..... there is a GOD!    Thanks, i needed that!   a 10 plus!
 
 
Some might object to your criteria for the existence of the Almighty, but I'm with you, bobcanna1.  ; )
Thanks for the spacey memories of yesteryear- better than just about anything around today!  They just don't make them like this anymore- unfortunately!
 diannemck56 wrote:
As a teen, I wore this album out with hundreds of listens, headphone on, laying across my bed, eyes closed after a little smoke in the field behind our house.  It just didn't get much better and it stands the test of time to me.  Thank you, Bill for the memories.  
 
48 years later, still sittin' back, headphones on, herbal state of mind.   Still fabulous.

Wow!  That goes out with a bang!!
No
Listening to this, I want to be Close to the Fridge.
I can respect the artistry, or talent, or whatever, but my guess is this is one of those songs that is more fun to play than to listen to.  Props to them for pushing the boundaries and taking chances!
 njswede wrote:
I would love to understand what's going on in the minds of people who give this a one. Maybe it's not your style, I get that, but one has to admire the musical artistry and craftsmanship on this track!
 
I give it a one. Because when you are at work and have to concentrate this music is simply too much and very annoying! But I agree with your comment. Only there is no rating for musical artistry and craftsmanship. Wish there was!
super! !!
Re: this kind of music is the primary reason that disco became popular.


 
sqqqrly wrote:

Gotta wonder if someone saying such a thing is old enough to remember either.
 
Probably a punk rocker...
Wow, time travelling 44 years back to my earlier self when I was 22.
After Echoes by Pink Floyd, my favourite.
Absolutely beautiful -> 10.
I would love to understand what's going on in the minds of people who give this a one. Maybe it's not your style, I get that, but one has to admire the musical artistry and craftsmanship on this track!
The most astonishing stage lighting system I have ever seen.  Selland Arena Fresno 1976.  14 with my girlfriend.  LOTs of joints being passed around.  The light system was a space dinosaur skeleton with three heads that articulated, glowed, lasered - you name it.  I didn't smoke but had a contact high.  I have never seen anything like it since.
Yes? No!
 (anonymous) wrote:
please no Yes....this kind of music is the primary reason that disco became popular.
 
Gotta wonder if someone saying such a thing is old enough to remember either.
I'm so lucky to be in Bill's timezone. This is one hell of a Friday night party we're having!
Generally I like long songs and find myself routinely asking for more from the 3-5 minute songs. But this would have been nicer at the 8-12 minute length. Extending to  17:44 is a bit too long for me.  I still rate it an 8 because it is a great song.
This is one of the songs that late night DJs play when they need to hit the bathroom. That's its only redeeming feature, IMO. 
I find the listener ratings on this one most interesting - 12% rating it a "1" and 24% rating it a "10".  I'm not always in the mood for Yes, but when I am, I love how immersed I become with their music.  One of the reasons that I have always been a Yes fan, is that they were one of the bands that never succumbed to the commercialism of crafting 4-minute songs for AM airplay. For me, artists that craft music because they want to explore and push their own boundaries will always be at the top of the list of artists I admire. 
 eileenomurphy wrote:
EXTREMELY EXCELLENT! ...Thanx Bill! 
 

Yes!!!!! The plethora of negative comments is a surprise.
Oh Yeah Ferris Bueller GIF | Gfycat

Damn.. this is a long song
oh my god how long is this bloody song MAKE IT STOPPPPP
 BCarn wrote:
Awesome stuff! Classic. 

For those that like Radiohead (but not this) and complain that others "Just don't get it"...same goes here.
 

Awesome stuff! Classic. 

Seeing some of the negative comments here remind of those about Radiohead. For those that like Radiohead (but not this) and complain that others "Just don't get it"...same goes here. I'd argue it's easier to like this.
 (anonymous) wrote:
please no Yes....this kind of music is the primary reason that disco became popular.
 

Disco became popular because people could dance to it.  It still is for that very same reason.  End of story.
 {#Wink}eileenomurphy wrote:
 
 

good lord this one goes on a bit to long ......
 SnapDragon66 wrote:

The squeaking vocals !   
 
Then go listen to Michael Buble', skippy!
 RParadise wrote:
In the words of the late, legendary New York DJ Pete Fornatale, "What's not to like?"
 
YOU BET! ...Pete!!! ...WNEW FM 102.7!!! ...Allison Steel "The Night Bird" (late night DJ), on WNEW, used to play this a lot! ...The good old days!!!
Their sound if one of a kind. The scope of their songs is breathtaking. Love them or hate them; your call. I loved them in the 70s and still do. Saw them in 1976 in Maple  Leaf Gardens even though I was fighting a bad case of tonsillitis. Memorable. A 10 with a bullet!
EXTREMELY EXCELLENT! ...Thanx Bill! 
Wikipedia wrote:

  Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 13 September 1972 by Atlantic Records. It is their last album of the 1970s to feature original drummer Bill Bruford before he left to join King Crimson.



That explains the tiny bit of King Crimson I hear.  {#Smile}
Thanks for pulling this out of the archives Bill.



IMO, Yes was one of the finest collections of shear creative musical talent ever.. the mixing on this album made all that all so evident.  Thanks for playing this, Bill! Queue it up anytime and go make a samwich or something...
...And suddenly I'm 14 again. I can't remember what I went upstairs for, but somehow I still know nearly all of these preposterous lyrics. 
A stone cold classic. To me this is the ultimate prog rock song.
 RParadise wrote:
In the words of the late, legendary New York DJ Pete Fornatale, "What's not to like?"
 
The squeaking vocals !   
How can ANYBODY vote this song between 1 & 50 . WTF.
This I think is the most widely spreaded song I ever seen here on RP. 
Very Few Classic Rock Songs only rate below 70. This should not be one of them. 
At their peak in 1973, maybe the most self indulgent group of 
all time.  However, when Squire , Bruford and Howe  connected
they could make magic. "Siberian Khatru" from this album is
a stroke of genius..
Over the edge
...in a good way.
In the words of the late, legendary New York DJ Pete Fornatale, "What's not to like?"
 jahgirl8 wrote:


U standing for?...
 
We can be anything in front of a green screen.
It has always been quite a special trip.
Even all these years later.
A favorite vinyl album. Then a favorite CD. Now a favorite on Spotify.  And I still listen to it intently when this classic plays on RP.

Times change. But I still love this musician's music I grew up with regardless of the media.
Huh! This is by far the weirdest rating-graphic of all songs on RP I know. I call it »the U-rating«.

Long life RP however… 

The ratings for most songs on RP look like a bell curve. This is a saddle!  That tells you something.

Heard this today for the first time in decades.  Went right to Amazon and bought the Roger Dean album cover book.
Ich war zwar ca. 1974 mal auf einem Yes-Konzeert, aber ich finde speziell diesen Song heute nur noch schrecklich.
you must be bald?
 
idiot_wind wrote:
Went  out and got my haircut. 

What I missed? 
 

Jazz on LSD.  A ten, of course.

<edit, after it was over>  Thanks, BillG and Rebecca.  I get up, I get down.
Even as a Yes-fan at the time I thought this was Over The Edge.
Went  out and got my haircut. 

What I missed? 
I have a strange reluctance to hitting PSD on RP.  I kinda like the idea that other people may be listening on the other side of the planet to the exact same track as I am.  I overcame that long held reluctance about 4 minutes in to this pompous tosh.  
A pure prog classic over all !
Thanks for playing this. Brought back fond memories of my teen years too.  I've always known Steve Howe was a highly technical player, but didn't every pick up the some of the similarities until my wife came in the room and said "Is this Frank?" (Zappa)
 black321 wrote:
Can't believe i hadn't yet rated this wonderful, glorious, beautiful piece of music.
 
yea verily ... me as well.
very innovative and experimental, love yes. you just have to stick to it and listen through...
Fragile I got.  This one not so much.

The Union DVD is fantastic though.
This is so much more than self-indulgence. It's like the soundtrack to someone actually going about their daily business wanking with a straight face. The world is a better place for this kind of experiment.
Aghhh! I really hate YES!
Now I know why I never bought into Yes - what protracted bollocks!
Hark ! What shite pours from yonder speakers. 
I never appreciated Yes that much, until I started listening to RP
Those of us who had the pleasure of attending a Yes concert in the late 70's know...
We just do.
Can this about 'Yes`, they never seemed to embrace the concept of `less is more'. 
I am glad I'm on the mp3 stream, I would have skipped this long ago and long weird tracks are part of what make RP RP
Still epic.
Wow.  Didn't remember how much was going on in this song. 
As a teen, I wore this album out with hundreds of listens, headphone on, laying across my bed, eyes closed after a little smoke in the field behind our house.  It just didn't get much better and it stands the test of time to me.  Thank you, Bill for the memories.  
17? oh you kids today....   pretty much agree with you. Saw them twice, each concert about half the stuff was crap and half brilliant. SomersetBob wrote:
I see quite a few negative comments have been made down the years about this one - so I will just add a bit of balance by saying I love it as much now as when I first heard it 46 years ago when I was - dear god, 17! - and I thank Bill and Radio Paradise so much for playing it.
 
 SpinyNorma wrote:
By the sacred knees of Zarquon, it's worth a 10 for Rick's magnificent organ!
 

That's what she said
Godlike. If only we could go back to this musical period.

Listen to the frenetic interplay of Squire/Bruford/Howe/Wakeman at the very beginning. Sheesh.
Saw them in Colt Park Hartford, CT in 1976, I believe.  Played in a clamshell.  It was an amazing performance.