This, That, and the Other

My theme for this year’s A to Z Blogging Challenge is classic rock songs. Each day during the month (except for the first four Sundays, I will post a classic rock song: a video from YouTube, along with a brief bit of background about the song and the recording artist(s).

This is much more difficult than I thought it would be. For every letter of the alphabet there are dozens of fantastic classic rock songs to choose from and picking just one song for each letter is maddening. But this is what I signed up for. My I song is “I’ve Seen All Good People” from Yes.

“I’ve Seen All Good People” was by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was written by frontman Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire and recorded in 1971 on their third studio album, The Yes Album. The almost 7-minute song is in two parts; the first, titled “Your Move,” was released as a single in 1971. It peaked at number 40 in the U.S. The second part is entitled “All Good People.”

Anderson said that on the “Your Move” portion of this song, he was using the game of chess in this song as a metaphor for life’s spiritual challenges. The line, “Don’t surround yourself with yourself” refers to self-righteous behavior. “Move on back two squares” is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy.

Anderson added, “The song is about initiation of yourself into the idea that there is more to life than war and fighting within religions and things like that. So when we were singing ‘see all good people,’ it’s like, ‘we can see you all in the audience because you’re good people no matter what, and when you’re with music you’re enlightened, you’re good, you’re happy, you’re excited.’ And music is the kingpin of it all.”

With the line, “Send an instant karma to me, initial it with loving care,” this song references John Lennon’s song, “Instant Karma,” which recorded by Lennon a year earlier. Lennon was a huge influence on Yes, who covered The Beatles song “Every Little Thing” on their first album.

Here are the lyrics to “I’ve Seen All Good People.”

I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way

Take a straight and stronger course
To the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasn't got time to make you a wife

'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want (Move me on to any black square)

Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)

'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!

Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Don't surround yourself with yourself)

Don't surround yourself with yourself (Don't surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me (Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)

'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!

Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance

'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And it's news is captured

I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way

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