Keys To Ascension 2
Keys to Ascension 2 is a double album by YES, released in 1997. It is the successor to the critically acclaimed Keys to Ascension album from 1996.

Six of the eleven tracks on Keys To Ascension 2 were recorded live in California’s Fremont Theater over three nights in March 1996. The concerts recorded in order to capture the spontaneity of a live performance under controlled conditions, similar to that of a studio.

The five studio tracks, Mind Drive, Foot Prints, Bring Me To The Power, Children of Light and Sign Language were recordings made in November 1996.

It is the band’s fifth live album and sixteenth studio album. Also available as part of the Keys to Ascension Boxset, which includes both “Keys 1,” Keys to Ascension and a DVD containing videos of the performances.

Personnel

Jon Anderson
Vocals
Alan White
Percussion
Steve Howe
Guitars, Vocals
Chris Squire
Bass, Vocals
Rick Wakeman
Keyboards

Recommended Versions

Keys to ascension 2
Keys to Ascension is available as:
CD at Amazon
MP3 Downloads at iTunes, Google Play, 7 Digital, Microsoft Store
Streaming at Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Rdio, Tidal

Listen

Spotify


Lyrics

Click on the song title to view the lyrics.

I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I’m on my way.

Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life.
Make the white queen run so fast she hasn’t got time to make you a wife.

‘Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time and it’s news is captured
For the queen to use.
Move me on to any black square, use me any time you want,
Just remember that the goal is for us to capture all we want, (move me on), yea, yea, yea, yea, yea (to any black square)

Don’t surround yourself with yourself, move on back two squares,
Send an instant karma to me, initial it with loving care
(Don’t surround yourself)

‘Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time and it’s news is captured
For the queen to use.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Don’t surround yourself with yourself.
Don’t surround yourself with yourself, Don’t surround yourself.
Move on back two squares,
Send an instant karma to me, Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care. Don’t surround Yourself.

‘Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time and it’s news is captured
For the queen to use.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda. (all we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.(is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.(all we are saying)

Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.(is give peace a chance)

‘Cause it’s time, it’s time in time with your time and it’s news is captured.

II. All Good People
(Squire)

I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
Yea, yea.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.
I’ve seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I’m on my way.


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Chris Squire


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


Get the idea cross around the track
Underneath the flank of thoroughbred racing chasers.
Getting the feel as a river flows.
Would youlike to go ‘n shoot the mountain masses?
And here you stand no taller than the grass sees.
And should you really chase so hard.
The truth of sport plays rings around you.

Going for the one
Going for the one

Get in the way as the tons of water
Racing with you crashing thru the rudder.
Once at the start you can gamble
That you really surely really mean to finish.
After seeing all your sense of fear diminish.
As you treat danger a pure collection.
As you throw away misconceptions.
Going for the one.
Going for the one.
Going for a
Listen in time
Taken so high
To touch to move
Listen to life
Touching touch time
Travel twilight
Taken so high.
Roundabout, sounding out, love you so
Love you so
Love you so

Now the verses I’ve sang
Don’t add much weight to the story in my head
So I’m thinking I should go and write a punch line.
But they’re so hard to find
In my cosmic mind
So I think I’ll take a look out of the window.
When I think about you
I don’t feel low.
N’should I really chase so hard.
The truth of sport plays rings around you.
Going for the one.
Going for the one.
Going for to
Listen in time
Taken so high
To touch to move
Listen to life
Touching touch time
Travel twilight
Taken so high
Taking your time
Turn on to love
Turnstile to one
Tender timing
Rocking rolling
Listen in time
Taken so high
To touch to move
Listen to life
Touching touchtime
Travel twilight
Taken so high
Taking your time
Turn on to love
Turnstile to one
Tender timing
Rocking rolling
Turn on to love
Turnstile to one
Tender timing
Rocking rolling

Moments decide.
Moments delight.
Moments in flight.
Talk about sending love.


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


In the morning when you rise,
Do you open up your eyes, see what I see?
Do you see the same things ev’ry day?
Do you think of a way to start the day
Getting things in proportion?
Spread the news and help the world go ’round.
Have you heard of a time that will help us get it together again?
Have you heard of the word that will stop us going wrong?
Well, the time is near and the word you’ll hear
When you get things in perspective.
Spread the news and help the word go round.

There’s a time and the time is now and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the time is now.
There’s a word and the word is love and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the word is love.

Have you heard of a time that will help get it together again?
Have you heard of the word that will stop us going wrong?
Well, the time is near and the word you’ll hear
When you get things in perspective.
Spread the news and help the word go round.

There’s a time and the time is now and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the time is now.
There’s a word and the word is love and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the word is love.
There’s a time and the time is now and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the time is now.
There’s a word and the word is love and it’s right for me,
It’s right for me, and the word is love.

There’s a time (Time) and the time is now and it’s right for me (It’s right for me)
It’s right for me and the time is now
There’s a word (Word) and the word is love and it’s right for me (It’s right for me)
It’s right for me and the word is love
There’s a time (Time) and the time is now and it’s right for me (It’s right for me)
It’s right for me and the time is now
There’s a word (Word) and the word is love and it’s right for me (It’s right for me)
It’s right for me, and the word is love
There’s a time (Time) and the time is now and it’s right for me (It’s right for me)
It’s right for me and the time is now


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/David Foster


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


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,
Then taste the fruit of man recorded losing all against the hour.
And assessing points to nowhere, leading ev’ry 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 edge, 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.

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 problems 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.

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.
How many millions do we deceive each day?
I get up, I get down.
I get up, I get down.

In charge of who is there in charge of me.
Do I look on blindly and say I see the way?
The truth is written all along the page.
How old will I be before I come of age for you?
I get up, I get down.
I get up, I get down.
I get up, I get down.

The time between the notes relates the color to the scenes.
A constant vogue of triumphs dislocate man, 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.
I get up.


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


Realising a form out of stone.
Set hands moving.
Roan shaped his heart
thru his working hands.
Work to mold his passion into clay, like the sun.

In his room, his lady
she would dance and sing so completely.
So be still he now cries
I have time, oh let clay transform thee so.

In the deep cold of night
winter calls, he cries “Don’t deny me!”
For his lady, deep her illness.
Time has caught her
and will for all reasons take her.

In the still light of dawn, she dies.
Helpless hands soul revealing.

Like leaves we touch we learn.
We once knew the story.
As winter calls he will starve.
All but to see the stone be life

Now Roan, no more tears.
Set to work his strength.
So transformed him
realising a form out of stone. His work
so absorbed him.
Could she hear him?
Could she see him?
All aglow was his room dazed in this light.
He would touch her
he would hold her.
Laughing as they danced.
Highest colors touching others.

Did her eyes at the turn of the century
tell me plainly
when we meet, how we’ll love, oh let life so transform me.

Like leaves we touched we danced.
We once knew the story.
As autumn called and we both
remembered all those many years ago.
I’m sure we know.

Was the sign with a touch
As I kiss your fingers.
We walk hands in the sun.
Memories when we’re young.
Love lingers so.

Was it sun through the haze
that made all your looks
as warm as moonlight?
As a pearl deep in your eyes,
tears have flown away,
all the same light.

Did her eyes at the turn of the century
tell me plainly
when we meet how we’ll look
as we smile time will leave me clearly.

Like leaves we touch, we see.
We will know the story.
As autumn calls we’ll both remember
all those many years ago.


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


A man conceived a moment’s answers to the dream,
Staying the flowers daily, sensing all the themes.
As a foundation left to create the spiral aim,
A movement regained and regarded both the same,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.

Changed only for a sight of sound, the space agreed.
Between the picture of time behind the face of need,
Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid,
Emotion revealed as the ocean maid,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.
Oh.

Turn round tailor, Coins and
Assaulting all the mornings of the Crosses
Interest shown, Never know
Presenting one another to the cord, Their fruitless worth;
All left dying, rediscovered Cords are broken,
Of the door that turned round, Locked inside
To close the cover, the mother earth.
All the interest shown, They won’t
To turn one another, to the sign Hide, hold, they won’t
At the time Tell you, watching the world,
To float your climb. Watching all of the world,
Watching us go by.

And you and I climb over the sea to the valley,
And you and I reached out for reasons to call.

Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid,
Emotion revealed as the ocean maid,
As a movement regained and regarded both the same,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.

Sad preacher nailed upon the coloured door of time;
Insane teacher be there reminded of the rhyme.
There’ll be no mutant enemy we shall certify;
Political ends, as sad remains, will die.
Reach out as forward tastes begin to enter you.
Ooh, ooh.

I listened hard but could not see
Life tempo change out and inside me.
The preacher trained in all to lose his name;
The teacher travels, asking to be shown the same.
In the end, we’ll agree, we’ll accept, we’ll immortalise
That the truth of the man maturing in his eyes,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.

Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid,
As a moment regained and regarded both the same,
Emotion revealed as the ocean maid,
A clearer future, morning, evening, nights with you.

And you and I climb, crossing the shapes of the morning.
And you and I climb, over the sun for the river.
And you and I climb, clearer, towards the movement.
And you and I called over valleys of endless seas.


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Bill Bruford/Steve Howe/Chris Squire


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drumsn


Don’t forget to seek out the world
If you want to stay [stake out] Your actions speak much louder than words
And you get to realise
Just as long as you have control
Holding the fire
Just as long as you can control
This point of your desire

Great days, it will all come to you [Wait as it will …] Feel another future response [Feel it as a…] You get the heaven you like
You get the heaven
You get the heaven you need
You get to heaven now

Just as long as you bring the power
From the inside
Just as long as you hold the key
From the inside
Ascend and create
Ascend and create
Ascend and create
Ascension

They will bring you rain
They will move the sky
They will give you light
It will lift you long [It will live you long.]

To the eyes of child
To the song of songs
It will bring the moon
It will transfer you

Whole [Home] Pushing for the time to call
Dancing on the moon
Giving it out [Digging it out]

In the night of nights
It will shine for you
With the wings of flight
It will make it through

To the eyes of child [Through the eyes…] And the test of song
It will comfort you
It will make you feel

Whole
Looking for the chance to call
Making the world
Independently

Whole
Watching for the place to run
Dancing, dancing, move

We will make it right
We will dance for you
On this night of nights
They will make it through

Through the eyes of child
And the wish you are
As the thought that comes
From a distant star

Whatever thoughts you have
Can become a new dream
For the perfect stance
Take you there and back again

And you believe you are
Independently whole
Waiting for the signs, whole [home] Reaching for the farside show

Whole
Dancing for the moon
Dancing for the light

Whole
Pushing for the mind drive
Dancing for the hour [earth] Dancing for the light
Whole

Dancing for the light

They will bring the rain
They will make it right
It will transfer you
Each and every night

With her wings of hope
They will cover you
They will make it right
They will shine for you

With the golden wings
Close around your soul
It will count for you
It will make you whole

To the eyes of child [Through the eyes…] And the song of songs
It will make you move
It will transfer you

And so it comes to this now
When you walk into the bliss that
Holds down the fire
As pleasure will divide [divine]

So close, so let your heart enter
Succumb and let your heart enter this [So come, and let…]

So close, and let yourself lose control
Heaven help the love that you send
Heaven has the love you send.
Reeeeeeeeallly [Breathe]

Whole
Watching for the time to call
Dancing in the light
Making it right
Dancing
Dancing

Whole
Waiting for the signs
Whole [home] Reaching for the sight to show
Whole
Independently
Whole
Pushing for the mind drive
Dancing on the out [earth] Dancing in the light

They will bring the rain
They will shine the light
Understanding this
It can come tonight

For the love of love
And the answers, too
It begins with me
It begins with you

Whole
Wishing for the time to call
Looking for the sign
Making it right
Dancing
Dancing

Whole
Waiting for the time to call
Dancing in the harmless sun
Entering the mind drive

Don’t forget to seek out the world
If you want to stake out
Actions speak much louder the words [than words] And you get to realize
Just as long as you have control
Holding the fire
Just as long as you get to keep
This point of your desire

When tense, it will come to you [Wait as it will come to you] Fear of the future response [Feel it as a future response] You get the heaven you like
You get to heaven
You get the heaven you need
You get to heaven now


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Alan White/Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world
My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world

My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world
My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world

(Only when you stop to listen)
Looking for the mystery in the woman
(Only when you start to see) [stop to see] Dancing with the teacher in the circle
(Only when you watching for them) [… you want direction] Watching for the reasons we are going
(Only when you stop to listen)
Getting ready for the big bang

Everybody looking for that great connection
Somebody help me find that universal dream
Everybody watching
Is something happ’ning? [There’s something happening] See what I mean?

(Only when you stop to listen)
Looking for the real man
(Only when you stop to breath)
Looking for the teacher
(Dancing with the majesty of knowing)
Dancing with the circle
(Only when you start to see) […you stop to see] Looking for the real world

Everybody knows where we’re going to
Don’t forget to leave good footprints behind
Never let the grass grow over your soul
Only time will tell
Leave good footprints behind

I can see the way [I have seen the way] The way is clear
To save your love

High upon the sky
The forces come [The force has come] To break me free [To break you free]

Forgiving is what you have
Forgiving is what you see
Forgiving is what you know
Forgiving is all you are

I have seen the way
The way is clear
Beyond your soul

I can see the way [I have seen the way] The way is clear
To save your love

High upon the sky
The forces come [The Force has come] To break me free [To break you free]

Forgiving is what you have
Forgiving is what you see
They say the soul
Has so many lifetimes

My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world

Only when you stop to listen
Only when you start to see

Forgiving is what you have
Forgiving is what you see
Forgiving is what you know
Forgiving is all you are

I can see the way
The way is clear
To save your soul

I have seen the way
The way is clear
Beyond your soul

My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the coming revolution

My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world
My eyes see the coming revolution
My eyes see the glory of the world

Don’t forget to leave good footprints behind

Don’t forget to leave good footprints behind


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Steve Howe/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


This day began the matrix of the real world thinking
This way is meant to surface through the net
This train is set to mystify

This day began the history of the future
This train is set to justify

Whether you’re ready or not
This day is of the meeting now

If they don’t give us the keys
How are we supposed to get ready?

If they don’t give us the keys
How are we to survive?

Cover me up and bring me to the power
Cover me up and bring me to the power
Cover me up and bring me to the power

All I know is all I want to give you
Cover me up me -?- to the fire
Cover me up get closer to the power
Cover me up get closer to the power
Cover me up get closer now
Cover me up get closer to the power

Got talk Got talk
Got talk Got talk
Revelation

Got talk Revelation
Got Got talk Got talk
Revelation

If they don’t give them the keys

If we don’t give them the keys
How are they supposed to be ready?
If we don’t give them the keys
How are they to devine?

If we don’t give them the keys
How are they supposed to be ready?
If we don’t give them the keys
How are they to survive?

Cover me up and bring me to the power
(Cover me up get closer to the power)
Cover me up and bring me revelation

If we don’t give them the keys
How are they supposed to be ready?
If you don’t give them the keys
How are they to survive?

The power of love can open
Every heart in everyone
Minute by minute


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


Distant as the distant thunder
Where equal rights for [will] rent asunder
Equal rights for equal people[This] Disregard for love’s equality

Bringing back the signs to no-man’s land
Where diamonds and gold in hand
Will barter as the homeless burn
Someday will it be our turn?

Why this consciousness this desire
To expand the flame of revolution
With a [the] gothic hand in [of] fire persecution
Blood-letting and [in] spinning pain?

Why this hungry media delivering
Questions answers blessed forgivers [plus forgive us] Millions of racial inequalities
We all are one
All are sacred

Be the birth of a nation
Stop this aggravation
So uninspired
And [to] question man’s inhumanity
And lack of love for his cosmic god

Children of light Don’t be afraid
Children of light Haven’t you heard
Gone are the days In black and white
Children of light Don’t be afraid

Distant as the distant thunder
Where equal rights for [will] rent assunder
Equal rights for equal people[This] Disregard for love’s equality

Bringing back the signs to no-man’s land
Where diamonds and gold in hand
Will barter as the homeless burn
Someday will it be our turn?

Someday will it be our turn?
Someday will it be our turn?

Children of light Don’t be afraid
Children of light Haven’t you heard
Gone are the days In black and white
Children of light Don’t be afraid


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Vangelis/Chris Squire


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums


Instrumental


WRITTEN BY

Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: lead vocals
Chris Squire: bass, backing vocals
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals
Rick Wakeman: keyboards
Alan White: drums