America
Yes · Other Songs - Yes
let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together,
I've got some real estate in my bag,
so we bought a pack of ciggarettes, and mrs wagner's pies,
And we walked off, walked off, walked off, to look for america.
Kathy, I said, as we boarded the greyhound in Pittsburg,
Mitchigan seems like a dream to me now,
Took me four days to from Saginaw,
They've all gone to look for amer-america,
all gone to look for amer-america
Laughing on the bus, playing games with faces,
she said the man in the garberdian suit was a spy,
I said be careful, his bowtie is really a camera.
Kathy I'm lost, I said,
though I knew she was sleeping,
Well, I'm empty and aching and I dont know why I'm,
Counting the cars on the NewJersey Turnpike,
And they've all gone to look for amer-america,
All gone to look for amer-america.
*instrumental*
Kathy I'm lost, I said,
Although I knew she was sleeping,
Well, I'm empty & aching & I don't know why I'm,
Counting the cars on the NewJersey Turnpike,
And they've all gone to look for amer-america,
All gone to look for amer-america,
All gone to look for amer-america...
America - Yes
Released in 1971, "America" stands as a defining track in the progressive rock canon, showcasing the band's signature blend of intricate instrumentation and soaring vocals. The song features the iconic opening guitar riff and the distinctive vocal performance by Jon Anderson, who delivered the lead on this recording. It was a commercial success, reaching the top of the UK charts and becoming a staple of the band's live repertoire for decades. The composition exemplifies the Yes style of the early 1970s, characterized by complex time signatures and melodic depth, while also serving as a bridge between their earlier psychedelic experiments and the more polished sound of their subsequent albums. Its enduring popularity ensures its place in the collective memory of rock music history.