Released 1972 Label Atlantic Records | Length 10:09 | |
A-side "And You and I (Part I)" B-side "And You and I (Part II)" Writer(s) Jon Anderson, Steve Howe (except "Eclipse"), Chris Squire, Bill Bruford | ||
"And You and I" is the second track from the album Close to the Edge by the English progressive rock band Yes. The song is just over ten minutes in length and consists of four movements. The first and second parts of the song were released as a single edit and reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Contents
- I Cord of Life
- II Eclipse
- III The Preacher The Teacher
- IV Apocalypse
- Other appearances
- Personnel
- References
Introducing the song live in 1972, Anderson said they called it "The Protest Song" when they were making the Close to the Edge album.
TV producer and writer Joss Whedon allegedly named his production company Mutant Enemy Productions after the line in this song.
I. Cord of Life
The song opens with Steve Howe on 12-string acoustic guitar, and his voice can be heard at the beginning of the track, then playing mostly natural harmonics, played around what will become the central melody, using a 12-string acoustic guitar which quickly forms into a simple chord progression over distant organ chords. Then, the Moog enters for a simple solo, presenting a subsequent phrase, albeit differently arranged. The vocals begin at about 1:40. The line "All Complete in the sight of seeds of life with you" is sung, which is repeated throughout the song. At about 2:50, there's a distinct change: Anderson sings a sharper melody, accompanied by a second vocal track by Anderson harmonizing with himself, plus Chris Squire and Steve Howe providing a counter-melody and alternate lyrics, with their voices fed through a Leslie speaker.
II. Eclipse
"Eclipse" is the slowest part of the song based on a measured and deliberate melody reminiscent of Sibelius. It is led by Rick Wakeman's epic Mellotron and Minimoog with a thematic quote from "Cord of Life" played by Steve Howe on a delay-soaked Sho Bud Pro1 Pedal Steel guitar. The lyrics are all from the first stanza of "The Cord of Life", but are sung in a different melody, which is also epic and slightly sad. In this section, the song cycles from the key of D to the key of A, E, and finally B, in which it remains for the duration of the song. It ends with the 12-string acoustic guitar leading into "The Preacher, The Teacher".
III. The Preacher, The Teacher
The melody and lyrical structure is very similar (for the most part) to that of "The Cord of Life", with some variations. The exception is that "The Preacher, The Teacher" has a fast synthesizer solo by Rick Wakeman at one point during the song. The last stanza again consists of lines from "The Cord of Life", now sung in a different order and a completely different mood. At 8:34 there is a reprise of the previous section "Eclipse", which lasts until 9:12. The section ends with a cadenza-like orchestral statement, on Mellotron and Minimoog, reminiscent of neo-Wagnerian compositions from Strauss or Bruckner.
IV. Apocalypse
"Apocalypse" is the shortest piece of the song, only about 40 seconds long, it consists only of four lines, accompanied only by Howe's guitars. The lyrics are taken from "Cord of Life", but are sung in the key of B, making them more upbeat:
And you and I climb, crossing the shapes of the morning.
And you and I reach over the sun for the river.
And you and I climb, clearer, towards the movement.