Yes - Machine Messiah Lyrics






[Part I]

Run down a street
Where the glass shows
That summer has gone
Age, in the doorways
Resenting the pace of the dawn.
All of them standing in line
All of them waiting for time.
From time, the great healer,
The machine-Messiah
Is born.

Cables that carry the life
To the cities we build
Threads that link diamonds of life
To the satanic mills
Ah, to see in every way
That we feel it every
Day, and know that
Maybe we'll change
Offered the chance
To finally unlearn our lessons
And alter our stance.

[Part II]

Friends make their way into systems of chance
[reply - friends make their way of escape into systems of chance]
Escape to freedom I need to be there
Waiting and watching, the tables are turning
I'm waiting and watching
I need to be there.

I care to see them walk away
And, to be there when they say
They will return.

Machine, Messiah
The mindless
Search for a higher
Controller
Take me to the fire
And hold me
Show me the strength of your
Singular eye.

[Part III]

History dictating symptoms of ruling romance
Claws at the shores of the water upon which we dance
All of us standing in line
All of us waiting for time
To feel it, all the way
And to be there when they
Say they know that
Maybe we'll change
Offered the chance
To finally unlearn our lessons
And alter our stance.

Machine, machine Messiah.
Take me into the fire

Hold me, machine Messiah
And show me
The strength of your singular eye.





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Yes Machine Messiah Comments
  1. D.... S....

    супер!!!!!!!!

  2. T.... G....

    As real as the studio track fantastic wonderful magnificent execution

  3. B.... ....

    Steve is like: Damn, we have to play this song again?

  4. b.... ....

    I think it’s fair to say that I am a Yes purest. When this record came out I was highly skeptical. I liked some of it, didn’t like a lot of it and ultimately pretty much left alone. It’s now January 2020 and I just listened to it in it’s entirety after many years of not having heard it. I can safely say that it is their last truly great album. The synth is a bit corny, it’s trying to be a pop record, sometimes they sound like they’re trying to mimic the Police, And as far as production and technology are concerned it is inextricably grounded in 1980. And yet somehow it flies. It manages to be an 80s synthpop record that sounds like yes. And this particular composition is a masterpiece. It’s fucking epic. It’s technically insane. The time signatures are mindbending. It represents everything the band has always been about. And this performance is really a pleasure to watch. Thanks for posting.

  5. D.... P....

    Prog's great masterpiece

  6. M.... K....

    I don't know how many people know this but here's some trivia to dazzle your friends. That guy sounds similar to Jon Anderson.

  7. A.... ....

    Jesus Christ I'm stunned. For those who saw them live, I'm jealous.

  8. I.... D....

    when Drama was published, everyone hated it. Me too. Now its one of my favours...
    And Oliver Wakeman is a hero here.
    Greetings from Bavaria!

  9. T.... B....

    A very well done version. I always loved listening to Chris sing.

  10. 4.... ....

    Even though Jon Anderson wasn't a part of this album, I still love every second of it.

  11. J.... L....

    Great performance of a great song, with Steve on "the instrument"

  12. D.... L....

    LOve Jon of course, but Benoit was a more than capable stand in. You could tell he had great respect for Jon (although this number wasn't Jon on vocal) and Yes music, that is clear in his performances

  13. a.... ....

    This line up was way superior to the present one

  14. p.... d....

    Heavy rock from Yes

  15. J.... C....

    Benoit David was really good at singing the 'Drama' songs.

  16. D.... ....

    Benoit looks like Trevor

  17. M.... H....

    “Ten Years Gone...” in the blink of an eye. My friends and I were so grateful for the latter years (starting with Keys to Ascension) and all the iterations of our heroic band Yes. The peak would be Masterworks, 2002 and the years that followed with Rick and Jon. It kind of sucked when Jon left, and the band chugged along for awhile. But these last few years seeing Steve and Alan in such decline have been untenable.

  18. J.... P....

    Thanks for share....Great YES...performance and arrangement...

  19. D.... M....

    Deus ex machina

  20. D.... M....

    Great rendition! ✌🏻

  21. A.... D....

    Nobody can beat Jon Anderson, but Benoit was MILES better than Jon Davison. Fight me.

  22. m.... m....

    Got to See This Tour Live @ the "Fillmore" San Fran on 7/2/09. "Asia Opened and "Steve" played both Sets. That was a REAL TREAT!!

    m.... m....

    Sorry, Saw @ the "Warfield" San Francisco on 7/2/09!!!!

  23. K.... J....

    Wow. Whos this new vocalist? Sounds exactly Jon Anderson

    K.... J....

    But Jon Anderson singing Drama?

  24. J.... D....

    Rest in peace Chris gone but never never forgotten

  25. B.... R....

    WOW sounds amazing. Ricks son on keys is killer. RIP Chris you are sadly missed-bass Pioneer! WHAT a magnificent sound for only 5 guys, hey you country artists who need 12 people on stage to create basic 3 chord shite- look and learn as this is sheer BRILLIANCE!

  26. R.... G....

    I don't see any love for Oliver Wakeman
    dude is amazing ............
    Yes gets on my nerves
    they think their fans are always going to put up with their bullshit
    No .

  27. r.... d....

    Who's singing lead? NEVER seen the kid. RIP christopher squire.

  28. Z.... M....

    pretty damn awesome

  29. D.... P....

    9:12 very funny, happy old guy.

  30. D.... W....

    Steve and his ES-175D... THAT'S the definition of iconic

  31. H.... V....

    One of my favorite Yes albums!

  32. T.... A....

    I really miss Benoit David. I thought he was the future for Yes. Davison just doesn't get it for me. And dig that Fish Rickenbacker!

  33. T.... C....

    at 8 minutes be warned A GRAMERLY COMMERCIAL AHHHHHH JOLTED ME here smelspel this gramrtubis im a YES again I guess you have to go red Nah

  34. R.... D....

    Mag-ni-fi-cent !

  35. K.... G....

    これはまぁまぁですね!良い!

  36. T.... R....

    What a brilliant song that is..

  37. H.... P....

    From other dimension

  38. y.... k....

    This is the best performance of Machine Messiah.I like this so much. They are so cool!

  39. r.... S....

    Chris is so badly missed today 🙏

  40. D.... A....

    Rock on

  41. r.... ....

    One of my all-time favourite satanic music piece, along with the song remains the same's version of dazed and confused, or Fame by Bowie. Many try to write devilish music and end up producing B-movies trash for toddlers (Hello Manson and Reznor ). THIS has class. Nobility even. By the way, I don't worship Satan. I'm just glad he's around to shake us sometimes.

  42. C.... M....

    That was awesome!!! Chops to pull this off live

  43. C.... ....

    Steve’s facial expressions are hilarious

  44. c.... t....

    That is one cool rickenbacker.

  45. M.... v....

    John is getting older but David is also very good.

  46. I.... N....

    underrated Yes song obvioulsy. Thanks for this great video

  47. F.... D....

    buon sangue non mente...Oliver Wakeman è tutto suo padre!!!

  48. �.... 3....

    Красавцы!

  49. J.... C....

    Great, great album. Extremely underrated

  50. N.... A....

    Oh dear.... when I just heard Chris' voice, my heart hurts again. We are lucky to have so many recordings.

  51. d.... B....

    Drama is a great record !

  52. G.... J....

    This singer is so much better than that lame pretty boy Howe has now. The keyboard guy is better than Downes too. Howe's more in the background too, balanced out, as it should be. Apparently Squire made all the difference in the decision making. Without him - and in Howe's hands - it all fell to pieces.

    G.... J....

    They all have their sounds and music, so just appreciate man, its all good!

  53. G.... J....

    Listen to the audience here, and then compare to the rather muted audience with Steve Howe's new cover band.

    G.... J....

    Come on man, quit throwing him under the bus

  54. r.... ....

    That was tight. Even though the fire burned a bit lower, it was still burning.

  55. N.... M....

    I like the part where it goes machine machine Massiah take me into the fire from your singular eye

  56. F.... C....

    Steve Howe has a sound that can't be duplicated exactly by anyone else. What an outstanding guitarist, and complimented by the sweet sound of Chris Squire's bass playing... I don't have the words to describe my joy in hearing those men play.

  57. C.... ....

    1:30 epic.. so epic

  58. l.... s....

    Chris t Squire )) RIP giant

  59. A.... R....

    YES!!!!

  60. B.... T....

    There aren't many live performances of MM; this is definitely the best I've enjoyed! I just hope to see Chris' Black customized Rick/Fender Jazz hybrid (?) someday (what is that bass really?)

  61. M.... C....

    Extraordinary song, great to see it played. It's like from… 1971 (has the spirit of The Yes Album), but with an Eighties groove. An instant Classic.

  62. a.... ....

    onore e gloria ai maestri . Steve santo subito.

  63. d.... ....

    Before Benoit David hurt his throat, he was good..

  64. F.... C....

    essa foi a primeira formação que eu ví ao vivo.

  65. F.... B....

    Wow, I'm not of a big fan of the "Elder, Anderson-Free" version(s) of Yes, but this sounds pretty damn good. We miss you Chris.

  66. M.... v....

    This line up was way better than the Davison/Downes thing.

  67. A.... D....

    Great to see Wakeman junior on keys. Would liked to have seen him stay on but the politics of Fly From Here dictated otherwise. New found appreciation for Benoit after hearing this. A bit saddened with White though. Heavy hitters don't last forever. Hitting hard is their Achilles heel. Don't get me wrong....love the guy to bits. For example, Peart (heavy hitter) called it a day when he knew he had to. Age is not a criticism...just reality.

  68. Z.... ....

    such a clarity. I can hear every instrument.

  69. G.... M....

    The keyboard player is Rick Wakeman's Son, Oliver Wakeman. Just for people who doesn't know.

  70. F.... C....

    C H R I S S Q U I R E. Superb.

  71. c.... ....

    And in a mere 6 years he would be dead. What a tragedy.

  72. K.... M....

    That sacred music was just fine in it’s extant form.

  73. J.... H....

    Benoit David se lució en esta versión. "Drama" fue un gran disco, que tuvo la mala suerte de ser opacado por las "viudas de Jon Anderson".

  74. J.... G....

    I love Drama, but the reality is that Trevor Horn wasn't cut out for live performance and all of the live recordings of the Drama tour are marred by his consistently flat vocals; I love that they were able to give the album a worthy live airing before Chris passed. RIP Chris, you grumpy tall man, you are missed.

    J.... G....

    Oh, yeah, and Oliver has much better tone selection than his father has been capable of since the late 70's. Too bad he had to be pitched overboard for the technically capable but overly lazy Geoff Downes.

  75. D.... S....

    I'd like to say...Sir Squire. rise from your sleep... but I'm not God. just a man... bless your memories

  76. K.... M....

    He was wrong, Awaken is not pretentious.

  77. g.... ....

    Benoit David>Jon Davison

  78. M.... B....

    Steve Howe, criminally underrated is one of the best guitar players of all time. Same for Chris Squire on bass. And both of them have those slightly off-key voices that made for the most amazing harmonies with Jon Anderson/other singer here.
    There was a band called Starcastle. Kind of an America Yes, but they all had nearly the same vocal ranges and the harmonies didn't come close to Yes. Still a good band though and worth a listen if you've never heard them.

  79. G.... ....

    Best 11 mins. You can spend.

  80. J.... s....

    i wish they take out the ful concert in bluray for a long time.... amazing and really good cameras, squire was the best

  81. R.... ....

    Chris playing his signature Rick with the Fish out of Water finish. It's the 1st time I've seen him gig with it.

  82. K.... M....

    Awaken is Jon, Steve, and Ricks beautiful song, for that matter, Awaken is everyone’s beautiful song!!!.......

  83. K.... M....

    Chris used to tell me that Awaken was pretentious........?

    K.... M....

    I'm a big yes fan and I always thought awaken sucked, just never went anywhere, this , on the other hand, rocks

  84. K.... M....

    So the young longhair must be Oliver Wakeman. Unfortunately, I know too well the big fellow with the funky blonde hair. It’s just me, Kate or as some people might remember, Katy. I miss Jon, Jon was there for me when I needed him to let me know that I wasn’t crazy being so familiar with the magic of Yesmusic, I can sense Chris rolling over in his grave as I type this. Bless you, Jon.

  85. K.... M....

    Wow!!!........

  86. K.... M....

    Drama is a great record!!!!!!!.

  87. K.... M....

    I still insist on my favorite guacamole recipe. Lots of that stuff is really healthy!.......

  88. K.... M....

    I meant Oliver Wakeman, didn’t I?.......

  89. K.... M....

    I guess that that’s Oliver Howe on keys. Obviously I know nothing. I am aware of that.

  90. s.... ....

    Outstanding!

  91. M.... B....

    Steve Howe; basically note perfect as always.

  92. f.... ....

    Wakeman Junior is as good on keys as his father

  93. n.... h....

    Of course Benoit David was the best.The group like to change the musicians.only Steve Howe is still there

  94. E.... G....

    Steve Howe and Chris Squire always awesome. It's a complex piece and the band pulled it off wonderfully.

  95. P.... D....

    my god...

  96. J.... J....

    I used to bitch about Benoit's voice in Yes. Key words...used to. Clearly, I was wrong...as were many of us.

  97. R.... s....

    Show muito bom