This seminal progressive rock song is full of cosmic, transcendental imagery.
Jon Anderson was inspired by the classic Robert Heinlein novel, Starship Troopers:
“Starship Troopers” was a great title of a book by Heinlein. And I just like the idea of Starship Trooper being another guardian angel an...
I. Life Seeker
[Verse 1]
Sister bluebird flying high above
Shine your wings forward to the sun
Hide the myst'ries of life on your way
Though you've seen them, please don't say a word
What you don't know, I have never heard
[Verse 2]
Starship trooper, go sailing on by
Catch my soul, catch the very light
Hide the moment from my eager eye
Though you've seen there, please don't tell a soul
What you can't see, can't be very whole
[Chorus]
Speak to me of summer
Long winters longer than time can remember
The setting up of other roads
To travel on in old accustomed ways
I still remember the talks by the water
The proud sons and daughter
That knew the knowledge of the land
Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways
[Verse 3]
Mother life, hold firmly on to me
Catch my knowledge higher than the day
Lose as much as only you can show
Though you've seen me, please don't say a word
What I don't know, I have never shared
II. Disillusion
[Bridge]
Loneliness is a power that we
Possess to give or take away forever
All I know can be shown by your
Acceptance of the facts there shown before you
Take what I say in a different way
And it's easy to say that this is all confusion
As I see a new day in me
I can also show it you and you may follow
[Chorus]
Speak to me of summer
Long winters longer than time can remember
The setting up of other roads
To travel on in old accustomed ways
I still remember the talks by the water
The proud sons and daughter
That knew the knowledge of the land
Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways
III. Würm
[Instrumental]
Starship Trooper was written by Chris Squire & Steve Howe & Jon Anderson.
Starship Trooper was produced by Eddy Offord & Yes.
Yes released Starship Trooper on Fri Feb 19 1971.