The Quest is the first new YES studio album since 2014’s Heaven & Earth and is also the first featuring the lineup of Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen. And though The Quest first began to develop in the fall of 2019, it is really the culmination of the bond and working relationship that has steadily developed and bloomed over the course of several years of touring.
Personnel
Guitars, Vocals
Drums
Keyboards
Vocals
Bass, Vocals
Additional Percussion
Recommended Versions
Limited Deluxe Edition Box-Set featuring a Gatefold 180g 2LP on exclusive coloured vinyl, 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak (featuring 5.1 mix & backing tracks), 36-page perfect bound booklet, enamel pin badge, 60x90cm poster, slipmat & hand-numbered certificate of authenticity, all housed in a rigid lift-off box.
Very Limited double 180g coloured vinyl in gatefold sleeve with LP booklet, 2CDs and postcard. Exclusive to Burning Shed.
2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, 2CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP+2CD and to stream.
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Lyrics
i EYES EAST
Those that have lived before
They breathe and walk through us
A course relayed
Round our sacred fires
That light up these hillsides
At dawn we shall begin
With fear of extinction
We’re pushed to the edge of the ice
Instinctive direction
X2a drive to survive
All eyes to the east
All eyes to the east
In a vision
Snowflower Elder crossed
He has seen
Snowflower Elder
He has walked forest green
All eyes to the east
Stand tribe to tribe
For we are the lords of the future
True pillars of life
And if we’re to arrive
Through such desperate times
We must stand unified
Traces of ancestral faces
Project on a blizzard torn sky
In a game of do or die
Fly clear with the falcon
Perceive through the eagle’s eye
This is exponential ancient overdrive
No turning back
We must cross the Ice Bridge
Onward to sunrise
In a race against time
ii RACE AGAINST TIME
All eyes to the east
In a vision
Snowflower Elder crossed
All eyes to the east
In a vision
Snowflower Elder walked
Lands of green
iii INTERACTION
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison/Geoff Downes
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocals
Steve Howe: Gibson J15 acoustic, Variax Sitar Guitar, Gibson Les Paul Roland, Fender Electric mandolin
Geoff Downes: piano, Hammond organ, synths
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
I’ve got an idea, been on my mind
I’ll share it with you and see what we find
As a matter of fact, things keep on changing
They’re stirring up patterns that keep on rearranging rearranging
Beauty performs shaped by the wind
Sunsets align with discipline
Feeling a sense of urgency
We live with so much uncertainty
We rest on a breath, hang by a limb
Balancing hope to only win
Rituals to celebrate, words to chant await
Things start to happen, they form in a pattern
Seeing their rays of hope, to really help them cope
They mustn’t be ignored, search the lost chord
WRITTEN BY
Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocal duet
Steve Howe: vocal duet, Gibson ES157D and Les Paul Junior, Martin MC28 and 12 string, Fender Stratocaster rhythm part
Geoff Downes: Hammond organ
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
Fame’s Studio Orchestra conducted by Oleg Kondratenko
Evolution’s tunnel from which there’s no end
Mirror upon mirror, twist, turn and bend
Down the endless hallway of so many doors
Countless lives to choose and explore
Is the key to our survival post -human technology
Do we trust full immersion virtual reality
Vinge’s 2030
The 6th Paradigm
When circuitry augments the mind
It’s a double-edged sword
The Grand Singularity and A.l. autonomy
Building the superman
Building the superman
Minus the man
At any cost perpetuate the post -human lifespan
Down the endless hallway of so many mirrors
Reflecting no years, redirecting the tears
Through every door a new road upon which
to dream
To master each pathway
All, eventually
Will this bring us closer to destiny
Or are we withdrawing further into fantasy
Is the key to our survival post -human technology
Do we trust full immersion virtual reality
Vinge’s 2030
The 6th Paradigm
When circuitry augments the mind
It’s a double -edged sword
The Grand Singularity and A.I. autonomy
Building the superman
Building the superman
Minus the man
Will the survival equation command that it minus the man
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison/Billy Sherwood
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocals
Steve Howe: Gibson ES345, Fender Telecaster
Geoff Downes: synths
Billy Sherwood: Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar, Fender Rhodes piano
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
Fame’s Studio Orchestra conducted by Oleg Kondratenko
i ACROSS THE BORDER
Provocation of the mystics, revel in the shelter bare
Taste the virtue of nothingness, feel the motion from elsewhere
Gazing from the highest cliffs, don’t venture down to the abbys, the abbys
The way ahead is still no distance, just a part of our existence
Heal the pains of this disorder, devise your escape across the border
Loosen up and ease the flow, trust survivors incognito
ii NOT FOR NOTHING
I heard the king has lost his golden wing
– leave well alone
I heard the queen just couldn’t intervene
– leave well alone
I saw the words written in stone
– leave well alone
Not for nothing, but just leave well alone,
– leave well alone
Stories? Stories are told to the prisoners who wait there and still remain
Ideas? Ideas of changing the history written just to entertain
Reasons? Reasons give us quite a rush for a while at the start then get lost
Knowing? Knowing that currents still move us around as the seasons dissolve
iii WHEELS
Instrumental
WRITTEN BY
Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocal duet
Steve Howe: vocal duet, koto, Gibson ES175D and F4 mandolin, Fender Stratocaster and Stringmaster steel guitar, Martin MC38 SH acoustic and autoharp
Geoff Downes: organ, piano, synths
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
Fame’s Studio Orchestra conducted by Oleg Kondratenko
We are one constellation
The celestial sea, the ocean of humanity
Know that you play a sacred part as deep as your heart can feel
And however far that you may roam you are one step from home
Only one road for us
Turning the corner
Challenging everyone to come together again
What if then through life lessons learned we may return and thus transcend
Watching the new day come
Cry aloud
Calling to everyone
The sky, the sky am I!
Head in the heavens yet with feet firmly on
the ground
Inspired by the dreams for a new way of living
No longer can we ignore the depths of all we truly are
And however far we may roam we are one step from home
We feel the times, we heed the signs
Link your stars to the grand design
May all our hearts align
Watching the new day come
Where could we ever go where their light would not follow
Along the western edge we go
The art of all inner knowing innate
Cry out to the sky, the sky am I!
We, the celestial sea, the ocean of humanity
Along the western edge
Know that you play a sacred part as deep as your heart can feel
And as high as your dreams might carry you on sing out to the sky
Along the western edge
Through opal flame and starry eye claim all that is your true birthright
Just behind the rainbows bend, beyond the storm clouds end
Know however far you may roam you are
The western edge
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison/Billy Sherwood
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: lead vocals
Steve Howe: Martin MC28, Fender Stringmaster steel
Geoff Downes: synths
Billy Sherwood: vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar and Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
In the mirror of the mind projecting
All I want my life reflecting
To revere the stars, far and free
Yet keep them near and dear to me
All I seek to find through Universal Mind
Must surely come to pass
Future Memories Future Memories
Steal away, there are shadows at play
When the black night is too long to bear
Beware Beware
From this moment forward
I don’t want to make another memory
without you
From this moment forward
I don’t want to make another memory
without you
Without you
Through all of life’s complexities I often miss
the scenery
Reflected in the mirror the longings of the heart
Of many moons ago
All that tomorrow holds
Time encircles time expanding
Ripples on the surface of my mind
Waves of clarity Waves of clarity
Composing the dream upon the mirror’s
canvas screen
Swirling colours call to me as if from a
higher century
From a higher century
Future Memories
From this moment forward
I don’t want to make another memory
without you
From this moment forward
I don’t want to make another memory
without you
Without you
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: lead vocals, Fender F-310-12 guitar
Steve Howe: Fender Stringmaster steel
Geoff Downes: organ
Billy Sherwood: vocals and Spector fretless bass guitar
Move towards your goal
Take back all control
Go to the waters edge now
Sail the oceans and make your pledge
It’s music to my ears, music to my ears
Music to my ears, you’ve found the way
You don’t have to ask
Or question every task
There’s a strength you’ve found
Step by step moving around
It’s music to my ears, music to my ears
Music to my ears, you found the way
It’s a blessing in disguise,
As the darkness disappears
Music to my ears, you found the way
Restless to sleep, carefree to wake
Hoping to finish all that’s at stake
As the evening passes so free
It’s good to know we’re good company
It’s music to my ears, music to my ears
Music to my ears, you found the way
It’s a blessing in disguise,
As the darkness disappears
Music to my ears, you found the way
WRITTEN BY
Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocal duet
Steve Howe: vocal duet, Telecaster volume and tone pedal rhythm guitar, Gibson ES175D lead, Fender Stratocaster, Martin MC38 SH and 12 string acoustics
Geoff Downes: piano, synths, mellotron
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
i BRAVE THE STORM
In the West Atlantic, beyond the
Windward Chain
A living coral island where we can start again
A world gone mad, on the last plane out we flew
There’s no one with whom l’d rather brave the storm than you
You’re my heart, you’re my home
(You’ll never have to go it alone)
Is this a paradise or a prison
Approaching ships now I espy
Danger or solution
We hope, we pray
(Day to day)
Never knowing where this crazy world’s going
I can pick up the pieces so long as you’re right beside me
Here with me
United at risk, divided we must stand
This is the current state of the world we’re living in
Unfettered by fear, empowered by the science
Let us learn to be the wiser by this time next year
You’re my heart, you’re my home
(You’ll never have to go it alone)
Is this a paradise or a prison
Approaching ships now I espy
We hope, we pray
Never knowing where this crazy world’s going
Just you and me beneath the living island sun
Watching from our hill top the whole world come undone
ii WAKE UP
And the voice of the Mother so loud, so clear
Rebirth, now
Earth rebirth, now!
Are we yet waking up from the nightmare
Are we yet waking up from the nightmare
(How we’re ever so shaken up by the nightmare)
A nightmare of fools that pull the levers when the curtain’s drawn
And play us as their pawn
Their fear and greed
Undermining every countermeasure
iii WE WILL REMEMBER
Nation to nation
We’re in this together, though together apart in isolation
So here’s to you
To the spirit of community
Here’s to us
To our humanity
Here’s to the frontline saviors
And the every day heroes unseen
To you with sad spirits
Who mourn dear ones now gone
To their memories
We dedicate this song
And the time will certainly come
Their courageous stories shall be told
As deeply we hold
Hold them in the highest honor
We will remember!
Yes, each courageous story will be told
As deeply we hold
Hold them in the highest honor
In our hearts love
Forevermore
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison/Geoff Downes
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocals
Steve Howe: Martin MC28 acoustic, Gibson Les Paul Roland
Geoff Downes: piano, Hammond organ
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
Where have you gone
Your heart full of song
Oh, sister of my soul
Timid and bright
You clung to my side
Through all those teenage magic tragic nights
The hazy crazy daze of our youth
Thinking we were bullet proof
But you went too far
It was then that I lost you
You’re burning out, my shooting star
Yeah, you went too far
It was then that I lost you
Sister sleeping soul
Sister sleeping soul
Where are you now
Far across the wide sea
Sleepwalking some city
By your liquid dream you’re carried down stream
Spun way out of all control
Caught by the undertow
In your heart was a song
Where have you gone
In my heart you belong
Too high, so low
Sister sleeping soul
You went too far
It was then that I lost you
You’re burning out, my shooting star
Yeah, you went too far
It was then that I lost you
Sister sleeping soul
Sister sleeping soul
Where are you now
You live it all like you’re ten feet tall
Hey, can you free your mind
Enough to know you matter
No less than all the stars through time
Hey, can you free your mind
Enough to know you matter
No less than all the stars through time
Brighter than all stars through time
Sister of my soul never refuse to shine
Sister sleeping soul
Sister sleeping soul
Where are you now
You live it all like you’re ten feet tall
Gonna crash and burn
When will you ever learn
WRITTEN BY
Jon Davison/Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: lead vocals
Steve Howe: vocals and Portuguese 12 string guitar
Geoff Downes: synths
Billy Sherwood: Spector fretless bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
John was a fighter, his fist in a glove
Across the universe, he spoke of love
Paul was a worker but he got the blame
When the party was over, we all felt the same
They let it be like they’d never been born
We heard the silver hammer till the break of dawn
Shining like the moon, the stars and the sun
They knew the revolution had already begun
George played guitar like ringing a bell
Ringo held the beat till the axe fell
Brian was the glue that held it together
Neil and Mal survived the stormy weather
They let it be like they’d never been born
We heard the silver hammer till the break of dawn
Shining like the moon, the stars and the sun
They knew the revolution had already begun
They gave us pins and needles on their Mystery Tour
Through the bathroom window without going out of your door
They came at a time, we’d lost our principles
Never did we sleep, we thought we were invincible
They’d always said you could take yourself higher, higher
As the muddy waters broke the lions heart
They should have known better but they fell apart
Shining like the moon, the stars and the sun
They knew the revolution had already begun
They gave us pins and needles on their Mystery Tour
Through the bathroom window without going out of your door
WRITTEN BY
Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: lead vocals
Steve Howe: vocals, Fender Telecaster,
Martin MC28 acoustic
Geoff Downes: Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Hammond organ
Billy Sherwood: vocals and Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion
Come help us save, save this damaged world
Come help us save, save this damaged world
Paint me as a rogue or paint me as a child
The evidence of nature in the wild
In the light of what’s been said
Am I the one who’s most been misled
Never knowing where to stand
On the stormy sea or the shifting sand
Out across the wind blown shore
The sea so blue, white waves galore
Dreams so clear but almost lost
Over words either dotted or crossed
Not every story can really be told
So often there’s more to unfold
About the times that shadows fall
It’s now we heed, we heed the call
Come help us save. save this damaged world
Come help us save, save this damaged world
A valiant master of disguise
Runs a mock, breaking the ties
Among friends we reunite
Lay to rest all the best to rest
Come and save this damaged world
Come and save this damaged world
Come and save this damaged world…
WRITTEN BY
Steve Howe
PERFORMED BY
Jon Davison: vocal duet, Martin D28 rhythm guitar
Steve Howe: vocal duet, Steinberger GM4T, Martin 0018 ‘Nashville tuning’ acoustics & MC38 SH, ES175D leads and Sho Bud Pedal Steel guitars
Geoff Downes: synths, Hammond organ
Billy Sherwood: Spector bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Jay Schellen: additional percussion