Our Song question
Theron Macay Quist
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the ideas behind the lyrics
of this song. I live close to Toledo, Ohio (is there another?) and don't get
the "silver city" reference, or see the connections between the verse
and chorus. Maybe that's asking too much of the band at this phase (I
know that a lot of you don't like this incarnation), but I was wondering
about it.
Theron
Robertson
--
MZ?
Theron Macay Quist
Yes there is. Thank you and another Yesfan for referring me to it. I
still don't really get the gist of the song, but then again this isn't
the first time the meaning of a Yes song has eluded me.
Cutting It Fine...
> I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the ideas behind the lyrics
> of this song. I live close to Toledo, Ohio (is there another?) and don't get
> the "silver city" reference,
I've looked up Toledo, Spain on the Web, and found out some stuff, but no
direct correlation to Toledo as being the silver city, although in the song I
do think they mean Spain's Toledo, not the U.S.'s. Toledo, Spain was little
before the Romans came, with their typical Roman highways. ('good king's
highway'. Spain did have kings, the US didn't :) It's built on a hill, so it
does kinda look like a fort.. (my fortification took me by surprise).
From what I gather, it used to be a capitol of Spain, and had quite an
interisting history... by being conquered mand reconquered, Christians, Jews,
and Moslums came to live together, more or less harmoniously. Toledo became a
center for philosophers, artists, scientists, etc... So 'silver city' may be
an interperitation of all that. Also could just be Jon and his lyric-writing
style, since I recall quite a bit of other alliteration in that song. Know
this is probably more info than you ever wanted to know, but... :)
Andrew Drake
: I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the ideas behind the lyrics
: of this song. I live close to Toledo, Ohio (is there another?) and don't get
: the "silver city" reference, or see the connections between the verse
: and chorus. Maybe that's asking too much of the band at this phase (I
: know that a lot of you don't like this incarnation), but I was wondering
: about it.
: Theron
I lived just outside of Detroit (very close to Toledo, OH) and I remember
when Yes came through that part of the country on their 90125 tour they
received the Key to the City of Toledo from the mayor. I remember it was
because of the Toledo references in 'Our Song'. Would they have accepted
the Key if the references weren't about Toledo, OH? It happened at the
point when '90125' sales were going through the roof.
keith puckett-hart
'awd...@email.unc.edu (Andrew Drake)' wrote:
>I lived just outside of Detroit (very close to Toledo, OH) and I remember
>when Yes came through that part of the country on their 90125 tour they
>received the Key to the City of Toledo from the mayor. I remember it was
>because of the Toledo references in 'Our Song'. Would they have accepted
>the Key if the references weren't about Toledo, OH? It happened at the
>point when '90125' sales were going through the roof
having been to toledo ohio, i have to believe that the song refers to
toledo, _spain_!
>
den...@gmail.com
> I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the ideas behind the lyrics
> of this song. I live close to Toledo, Ohio (is there another?) and don't get
> the "silver city" reference, or see the connections between the verse
> and chorus. Maybe that's asking too much of the band at this phase (I
> know that a lot of you don't like this incarnation), but I was wondering
> about it.
>
> Theron
rolfe...@gmail.com
> I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the ideas behind the lyrics
> of this song. I live close to Toledo, Ohio (is there another?) and don't get
> the "silver city" reference, or see the connections between the verse
> and chorus. Maybe that's asking too much of the band at this phase (I
> know that a lot of you don't like this incarnation), but I was wondering
> about it.
>
> Theron
bill.mut...@gmail.com
>
> Ok, you waited almost 20 years for the correct answer. Yes, to answer your question, Yes (the band) is referring to Toledo Ohio and not our sister sity in Spain. "Our Song" lyrics referred to their 1977 concert in which their maiden stop in Toledo relieved their pre-tour jitters as they played the "hottest" concert of their careers - by hot I mean the 52 deg. C (126 deg. F.) temperatures in the Toledo, Ohio sports arena. They received the key to the city having honored Toledo Ohio in the lyrics of "Our Song" on their album "90125" released six years later in 1983.
