Magnification
Magnification is YES‘ nineteenth studio album, released in 2001. It was the band’s first album of the new century, and their second with a full orchestra (the first being Time and a Word from 1970). It marked the band’s last studio album to date with vocalist Jon Anderson.

Released between the departure of Igor Khoroshev the previous year and Rick Wakeman’s fourth return in 2002, it is the only album in the band’s history to not feature any keyboardist, and the only one involving only four YES members.

Personnel

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

Recommended Versions

Magnification
Close To The Edge is available as:
CD at Amazon
LP at Amazon
MP3 Downloads at iTunes, 7 Digital, Microsoft Store
Streaming at Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer

Listen

Spotify


Artworks from the Magnification CD Booklet



Lyrics

Click on the song title to view the lyrics.

Days that we speak
I believe that you are right
Shouldn’t chase the demons and the phantoms
of the night

Some treat as lovers
Some treat as slaves
This fusion of insight is all that we imagine

Speak to me clearly
You’re the magnet to my soul
I get so distracted trying to reason with it all
Like the faithful
I’m clinging to the edge of every world
Spinning creation
So afraid to let my feelings really show

Teach me to teach me
How the key unlocks the door
As we open we surrender, holding hands
with many more
There’s a feeling coming
There’s a feeling so real
To justify, to magnify, to realize that
Everything is love

Now, after all the love you have
You can always get it back
Knowing how you really see
Knowing it will come back to you
Knowing it can really be

Magnificate, magnification
Magnificate, magnification
First you’re smaller being alive
Growing taller learn to survive
Magnificate, magnification
Magnificate, magnification
First your smaller being alive
Growing taller learning to survive

Perception of living
I realize I’m not alone
The rings that divide
Break again on solid stone
I will show you a necklace
Where the pearls would all be lost
Without the thread between together
This would be the golden thread of trust

Speak to me, teach me
Magnify the truth you are
Waiting for the rebeginning birth of every star

A symbol is planted
On the brow of every child
To justify, to magnify
To realize that everything is love

Now giving all the love you have
You always get it back
Giving all the love you have
You can always get it back
Giving all the love you have
Giving all the love

Magnificate, magnification
first you’re smaller being alive
Growing taller to survive


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

In this world the gods have lost their way

Can’t keep this picture from out of my mind
This fear hand in hand crossing innocence
Time surrounding creation they caught in a trap
The youngest offenders will witness confusion

They drive him so fast not a care in the end
Escaping collision every twist every bend
When you’re young invincible nothing to lose
Keep seeing the picture standing in a circle
The gods have forgotten to switch on the light
Who’s lost in the dark will crash in the night

These lessons we’re living the lies of the day
Expect them to honor and never disobey
Yet greed is controlling the elders display
No wonder the younger look at them in shame

The spirit of survival
Who’s teaching the hatred
The spirit of survival
Or the class of your school
The spirit of survival
The color of your money
We’re standing in a circle
We don’t understand at all

They don’t understand at all

In this world I truly do believe there is a safer place
In this world I truly do believe there is a safer place

The younger the older the wiser become
Recover misfortune this true life as one
Our genius is shining the past has all gone
What’s left is the clearer perception of one

The spirit of survival
To magnify the power
The spirit of survival
To magnify the soul
The spirit of survival
To magnify the love
We’re standing in a circle
We don’t understand at all
We don’t understand at all
In this world


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Don’t be so cruel hurting yourself
Don’t be so greedy making it bad
Don’t be so dark echoing out
Don’t spend a day waiting for me

After all you didn’t have to do it
You broke your own heart; it hurt you so bad

Why don’t you take your defence down a little
Or you won’t understand at all

Don’t Go Don’t Don’t let it
Don’t Go Don’t Don’t let it
Don’t take love for granted

We were supposed to be together forever
Don’t take love
We were supposed to be together forever, yeah yeah
Don’t take love

Don’t be so sad scream at the moon
Don’t let your words come out too soon
You beat yourself up
So don’t spend a day, hey, Waiting for me
I can see you had to be your own father
I know he walked out on you
Hey, but that’s in the past
You see you don’t have a leg to stand on
You’re just fooling yourself again

Don’t go take it out
Don’t go let it
Don’t go take it out
Don’t go let it
Don’t take love
We were supposed to be friends forever, yeah yeah
Don’t go take it out
Don’t go let it in
We were supposed to be friends forever, yeah yeah
Don’t go take it out
We were supposed to be friends forever…

So he booked himself a trip, extended holiday
None of this always working late
The porter took him to his room;
He headed for the bar
To get another drink

She got a phone call saying her lover had ran away
Just another phone call, another bad day
She packed her keys and got out of town
Stole her best friend’s car
Promised she would bring it back
That’s what friends are for

Hey, do me a favor call me sometime
Do a good deed
Don’t waste a minute waiting for me
Don’t take love, take take take it in
For granted, take take take it out
We are supposed to be together forever, yeah yeah
Don’t take love for granted
We are supposed to be together forever, yeah yeah
Don’t go take it out
Don’t go let it in


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Standing here on sacred ground
Some days it’s a mad world let it be
Words of promise fill the air, empty voices
How long have we waited?

And every time I hold your hand
You bring to me this promised land
I live for you this promised land

Tkake me there and back again
Some days it’s a sad world let it be
What’s the point of looking for this power divine?
It’s already in my changes

And every time I hear your voice
I realize I have a choice
To live again I deserve this choice
To live again

Our hand will be now
You are the song from the book of time
To realize what is yours is mine
We are meant to be
All because our love has always been
You are the center of my day
You are my guide in every way
We were meant to be
All because our love has always been there
Giving me the light, yes it’s been there
giving me the light

Second nature sings to me
Some days it’s a dark world let it be
I define my right to be
I can follow those who’ve lost their vision

And every time I hold your hand
You redesign my promised land
I live for you, this promised land
I live for you

You are the song from the book of time
To realize what is yours is mine
We are meant to be
All because our love has always been
You are the center of my day
You are my guide in every way
We were meant to be

All because our love has always been there
Giving me the light, giving me the light
Yes it’s been there giving me the light

You are the song from the book of time
To realize what is yours is mine
We are meant to be
All because our love has always been
You are the center of my day
You are my guide in every way
We were meant to be
All because our love has always been there
Giving me the light, yes it’s been there
giving me the light

Give love each day
Give love each day


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Can you imagine what it’s like seeing life
From the other side
Do you imagine darkened light starless night
You might need a guide

And will the illusion confuse you play with your thoughts
And alter your mind
Or become a delusion include you
Change your existence
For another kind

See what you see for yourself till your heart
Is open wide
Wish what you wish for yourself and you find it there
And you believe it
And you believe it

Can you imagine what its like seeing life
From the other side
Do you imagine darkened light starless night
You might need a guide

And will the illusion confuse you play with your thoughts
And alter your mind
Or become a delusion excuse you
Change your existence
For another kind

See what you see for yourself till your heart
Is open wide
Wish what you wish for yourself and you find it there
And you believe it
And you believe it


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Answers never clear again
This turning of the page
This turning look away

There I took a left turn
Before I came of age
I agreed to let it out
I agreed to let it go
I agreed to turn around
I agreed to turn my face away

Danger is the most important
Fear you’ll ever know
The transporting of refugees
The silent night is cold

And all the time
We looked around
As we were never told

But we agreed to let it out
We agreed to let it go
We agreed to turn our backs
We agreed to turn our face away, away

Thousands to million
Sisters, Grandmothers and more
ItÕs not the feast we throw away
ItÕs the way we close the door

Their silence deafens every sound
We try just to ignore
To waste their future freedom
We’ll regret forever more

I believe in
I believe in
These are the days that we will talk about
I believe in

I believe in
One understanding what is real

If we are one
Then we are refugees
We are the prisoners of our own design
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love
Perpetuate this song of love
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love
If we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song
Perpetuate this song of love

Now we build the bridges
That we walk upon together
At the last count many lonely Souls

The sadness always kills

Each breaking point is waiting
For the promise to fulfil

When we agree to turn the page
When we agree to help them free
When we agree to let it out
When we agree to let it shine
When we agree to let it run
When we agree to let it change

I believe in, our lives
I believe in, our lives
These are the days that we will talk about

When we are one
Seen through the eyes of child
We will perpetuate this song of love

Seeing through the eyes of child
Seeing through the eyes of child


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Soft as a dove
Touching the hand that lays next to me
Innocent light
Leading us through a moment in time

Then you came home
I let you cry like a father should do
Innocent light
Leading us to a moment in time

Soft as a dove
Touching the hand that lays next to me
Innocent light
Leading us through this moment in time
Thoughts run away
You’re overcome by a flood of believing

Just like a dove you’re flying away
Everything beautiful coming your way

Everything beautiful coming your way


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Dreamtime begins
Where every song is the perfect place
words never spoken
Are the strongest resounding

Life force is meant for us
To remember the stars, the earth

Still we forget
So asleep in this dreamtime
Lost in this dreamtime day
Take me up to that freedom place and justify
Electrify the senses sharpen than the soul intensify
Nominate that we can break out
Take, take, take, together
Hesitate and you will dance on this earth,
to forever

You are the choice forever trying
Give you wings forever flying
You can fly, you can glide, you can dream
You can see through this interactive
vision streaming

You’ve got the faith
So busy trying
So let it go
Forever flying

To the sky, to the earth, to the moon, to the sea
To the sun, to the stars, to the dream, you become

Nothing left to lose
Nothing more to prove
With wings of gold
You’ll fly away

Talk among the prophets
Give you something
Talk among the teachers
Tell you something
Talk among your one true self now
Forever, Forever, forever, forever
Dreamtime begins
Where every song is the perfect place
Words never spoken
Are the strongest resounding

Life force is meant for us
To remember the stars, the earth
Still we forget
So asleep this dreamtime
Lost in this dreamtime day

Take me up into that freedom place and justify
On the silent wings of gold my soul intensify
Nominate that we can
Take, take, take, take, take, together
Demonstrate that we can break it out
and take it forever

Here’s what you know
Here’s what you’re asking
The soul everlasting

You can fly, you can dream,
you can see
Through this interactive vision streaming

You’ve got the faith
So busy trying
So let it go
Forever flying

To the sky, to the earth, to the moon, to the sea
To the sun, to the stars, to the dream, you become
Nothing left to lose, nothing more to prove
When wings of gold will fly away

Talk among the prophets
Give you something
Talk among the teachers
Tell you something
Talk among your one true self now
Forever, forever, forever, forever


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Deeper than every ocean
Deeper than every river
That’s what your presence brings to me

Revealing the words I listen
Seeing you in my silence
Learning I’m with you constantly
As I was before

If we were flowers we would worship the sun
So why not now
This high is shining brightly
Brighter than before

As the door was open wide
There inside was a diamond chair
Where I sat when I was young
I wrote down the words

Only when the young at heart
Can enter the real world
This chance I’ve waited for
For you to see

If I had chances, I would spend them with you
To hold you close
And let your love surround me
Deeper than before

(Deeper than every ocean)
(Deeper than every river)
And I know this love is real
Realize this is not to be
You are listening to how I feel
So expectedly
From the ocean to the sky
Every river to the sea
We can hear love constantly
This is for you and me
____
Turn around and come deeper now
So, what happens when I touch you there
You feel the words roll over you (over you)

Thinking of the better scenes
The memories
As everybody else just hasn’t got the time
To help you anymore (anymore)

Cause if the reason for the things that pleasure us
To please ourselves
Not pressure us
To give our ego some pleasure time

Can you imagine any reason
To know you’re only fooling yourself
And then you’ll understand why
You’ll understand why

So if we choose to realize
All existence is a dream
This perfect resume to you from me

Just had a tough time with magic
The death of ego, the moon
It was just coming through

Send me such a good time in a letter form, tell me
The pleasure, no pressure
Pure imagination in a metaphoric dream
____

I get amazed like a true beginner
I get amazed like a true believer
I get amazed when I see you there, and I come alive

I believe I’m a true beginner
I believe I’m a true beginner
In your arms I could see it all, I can see it all

If we were flowers we would worship the sun
So why not now (So why not now)
This light is burning brightly (This light is burning brightly)
Brighter than before (Brighter…)
Brighter than before (Brighter than before)
____

Turn around and remember that
When it gets so low
As you finally hit the ground

Turn around and remember that
Now I’m standing tall
Standing on my sacred ground

Turn around and remember that
When it gets so low
As you finally hit the ground

Turn around and remember that
Now you’re standing tall
Standing on sacred ground

Standing on sacred ground

Standing on sacred ground

Turn around and remember that
When it gets so low
As you finally hit the ground

Turn around and remember that
Now you’re standing tall
Standing on sacred ground

Standing on sacred ground

Standing on sacred ground


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner

Time has saved us
Time has moved
Night has come at last
To shine on you

Last night
I looked inside the moon
And I knew
You were real

So every time
I look at you
You know
Exactly how I feel

Time has saved us
Time has moved
Night has come at last
To shine on you

Take the time
To know how you
Will fill my life
Revolving in my heart

Time has saved us
Time has moved us
Night has come at last
To shine on you again


WRITTEN BY

Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Chris Squire/Alan White


PERFORMED BY

Jon Anderson: Lead Vocal, Midi Guitar and Acoustic Guitar
Steve Howe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Steel, Mandolin and Vocals
Chris Squire: Bass Guitars and Vocals
Alan White: Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Piano

Orchestral music composed and arranged by Larry Groupé

Produced by YES and Tim Weidner