Then, Sherwood and Gowdy were asked to come and jam with Chris Squire, Alan White, and Tony Kaye of Yes. Singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Trevor Rabin had left the band and the idea was for Sherwood and Gowdy to replace them in the band. Rabin returned to the band, but demos were recorded by a line-up of Squire, White, Kaye, Rabin and Sherwood. However, Yes were to merge with Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and Sherwood was relegated to a side musician, appearing on one track of the subsequent album Union. Like Trevor Horn before him, Sherwood was uncomfortable with the idea of replacing Anderson as the front man of Yes, but he struck up a friendship with Squire that would lead to work with him throughout the next 20 years.
During the hiatus of Yes, Squire put together the Chris Squire Experiment, having Sherwood as the lead singer while playing some guitar and keyboards. Sherwood then went on to record a project called The Key with guitarist Marty Walsh, though they would not release the album until 1997.
Behind the board, Sherwood worked with Motörhead, Dangerous Toys, and Paul Rodgers (formerly of Bad Company) as producer and engineer. Sherwood also guested on Toto's Kingdom of Desire album, singing and playing bass. He also produced a couple of tribute albums, including Jeffology, a tribute to Jeff Beck. Sherwood then joined Yes on tour as an additional musician, playing guitar and keyboards for their tour in support of Talk.
Sherwood got back together with his band mates from World Trade and released Euphoria in 1995, with Jay Schellen replacing Williams on drums. After this, he worked with a multitude of artists. Most of his work was as producer, mixer and engineer, including on more tribute albums: Dragon Attack, a tribute to Queen; Salute to AC/DC; and Crossfire, a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Sherwood would co-produce, engineer and mix the new studio tracks for Yes's Keys to Ascension and Keys to Ascension 2 albums. Sherwood started work on a third album by World Trade, but the band would fall apart. He would later use much of that material as his debut solo album The Big Peace, released in 1999.
After the two Keys to Ascension albums, Rick Wakeman left Yes. Sherwood's friendship with Chris Squire would then lead him being asked to join the band again. The material that they had written together was used as the basis of what would become Open Your Eyes, released in 1997 by Yes. Sherwood played guitar and keyboards. Igor Khoroshev would join the band before the tour as the keyboardist leaving Sherwood to playing guitar and supplying backing vocals.
After returning from the tour, Sherwood and Yes returned to the studio to record The Ladder. During this time too, Sherwood and Squire started putting the finishing touches on their album Conspiracy, largely based on the Chris Squire Experiment material, which was released while Yes was on tour in support of The Ladder in 2000. Billy also took time to perform on his brother Michael's album Tangletown, released in 1999.
In 2003, Sherwood released another album with Chris Squire, the project becoming known as Conspiracy. The album was titled The Unknown.
More recently, Sherwood has been working on further tribute albums, notably Back Against The Wall and Return To The Dark Side Of The Moon, tributes to Pink Floyd's The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon respectively. The latter includes a new track recorded with Tony Kaye.
In 2007, a new band with Sherwood, Alan White, Tony Kaye and Jimmy Haun was announced, called Circa:.
In the Flesh
Billy Sherwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought ya
Might like to
Go to the show.
To feel that warm thrill of confusion,
That space cadet glow.
I've got some bad news for you sunshine,
Pink isn't well, he stayed back at the hotel
We're gonna find out where you folks really stand.
Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
Get them up against the wall!
There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
Get him up against the wall!
That one looks Jewish!
And that one's a coon!
Who let all of this riff-raff into the room?
There's one smoking a joint,
And another with spots!
If I had my way,
I'd have all of you shot!
The opening lines of Billy Sherwood, Steve Porcaro, and Vinnie Coliauta's song "In The Flesh" introduces the temptation to attend a show and experience deep excitement and confusion. The "warm thrill of confusion" and the "space cadet glow" illustrate a state of mindfulness that can often be achieved through artistic experiences. However, the singer delivers shocking news that Pink, the primary band member, is unwell and left behind at the hotel. Consequently, they have been sent as the surrogate band to perform and interact with the audience on Pink's behalf. As the song progresses, the lyrics transition into a disturbing direction, as the singer questions the norms of society and precedents of discrimination based on religion, race, and sexual orientation. The persona asks if there are any "queers," "coons," "Jewish" individuals, or any other type of person that falls outside the social norm, in the theater. The derogatory language often used with these terms highlights the depth of discrimination portrayed in the song. The singer demands that they be persecuted and placed against the wall. He then identifies a person smoking a joint and another with spots, stating that if he had his way, he would have everyone executed.
The song's interpretation is subjective and open to a spectrum of perceptions. Some believe the lyrics represent the advocate of antisemitism, racism, and homophobia, while others argue that it's a critique of such practices. The song's historical context supports the latter, as it was released in the late '90s and featured in Pink Floyd's album released in 1979. During this time, social norms and prejudices were under scrutiny, and Pink Floyd themselves were known for their anti-establishment and anti-war stance. Pink Floyd's "Wall" album addressed issues of authoritarianism, inequality, and conformity, making "In The Flesh" a continuation of their efforts, highlighting the dangers of discrimination and persecution.
Line by Line Meaning
So ya
Based on your demeanor, it seems like you might be interested in attending our concert.
Thought ya
I presumed that you might enjoy the show.
Might like to
Perhaps you are considering coming along.
Go to the show.
Join us for the concert.
To feel that warm thrill of confusion,
Experience the perplexing fervor that this event can bring.
That space cadet glow.
The psychedelic high of attending a concert.
I've got some bad news for you sunshine,
Unfortunately, I must relay unpleasant information to you.
Pink isn't well, he stayed back at the hotel
The lead musician, Pink, is indisposed and will not be performing tonight.
And they sent us along as a surrogate band
As a replacement, we have been sent to perform on behalf of Pink and the band.
We're gonna find out where you folks really stand.
Through tonight's event, we will observe and judge the audience to see their true positions.
Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
Is there anyone who identifies as homosexual in this venue this evening?
Get them up against the wall!
Bring them forward and confine them.
There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
I have identified one person in the central focus of the audience who appears to be queer or unconventional in appearance.
Get him up against the wall!
Physically restrain him and put him into custody.
That one looks Jewish!
I believe I have found another individual in this audience who identifies as Jewish.
And that one's a coon!
Furthermore, someone in attendance appears to be African American.
Who let all of this riff-raff into the room?
Who is responsible for allowing people of this low social status to attend this concert?
There's one smoking a joint,
I have observed someone partaking in marijuana smoking.
And another with spots!
In addition, I have identified someone with visible blemishes on their skin.
If I had my way,
If the decision were mine to make,
I'd have all of you shot!
I would order the execution of everyone in attendance.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind