“The Living Tree” — Anderson and Wakeman | Becoming is Superior to Being

“The Living Tree” — Anderson and Wakeman Leave a comment

My Living Tree, Full of Wisdom and Beauty — Image by kenne

Back in the 70s and 80s, one of my favorite progressive rock group was YES – we all remember, “Owner of A Lonely Heart!” Or, “Starship Trooper!” Or, “Roundabout!” Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were two of the original members. The world has change a lot, and so too have those of us who first heard Yes with Anderson and Wakeman ib the early 70s. Some forty years later, Yes is still around, but not with Anderson and Wakeman. However, the two are still producing great music together. In 2010, the album, “The Liiving Tree” came out. Two of the songs are “The Living Tree (Part 1 and Part 2)” are about the beauty and wisdom of trees.

The Living Tree

There was a sacred lady
So inspired
Who felt that every child
Should know how to love
So daily laid a trail of light
That clearly followed close
Yet no one really understood it’s you,
You love the most

Learning to love
Learning to love again
Learning to love yourself

Know that the wheels are turning round
To show you every step
We dance around the living tree
And love is what we get

Learning to dance
Learning to dance again
Learning to dance again

There was a sacred man
Who sailed the seven lives
He would ask this question
Always on his mind
He would sing…for the secret learning,
Searching for the words to say
Sing…Of the perfect meeting
Part of his life in every way
Living in the living tree
Living in the learning

Living in the living tree
Living in the learning

In the pages that you sing your song again,
You will write yourself a life
In the book that comes with every tale,
You will realize

— Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman

An interesting thing about their collaboration on this album, Wakeman wrote the music in his home north of London and sent it to Anderson in Costa del Sol, Spain, where he wrote the lyrics. The story goes that they were never in the same room till pre-tour rehearsals began. Here’s a taste of the old and the new. Enjoy.

kenne