Roundabout
Yes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound of
In and out the valley

The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound of
In and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see
I'll be there with you

I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distant atmosphere
Call it morning driving through the sound of
Even in the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see
I'll be there with you

Along the drifting cloud
The eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind
The sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagle's dancing wings
Create as weather spins out of hand

Go closer hold the land
Feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time
A thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears
We stand surrounded by million years

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
Twenty four before my love and I'll be there

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
You spend the day your way
Call it morning driving through the sound of
In and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too




Twenty four before my love you'll see
I'll be there with you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Yes's song "Roundabout" paint a vivid picture of natural surroundings and the passage of time. The song opens with the singer suggesting that they will be the roundabout, perhaps metaphorically symbolizing the cyclical nature of life. The following lines mention spending the day the listener's way and driving through the sound of the valley, which could be interpreted as enjoying life's journey and taking time to appreciate one's surroundings.


The second verse mentions the music and its effect on children, which may be referencing the joy and freedom that comes from listening to music. The following lines, which mention mountains coming out of the sky and standing, could be interpreted as nature's majesty and the feeling of being small in comparison. The reference to ten true summers and twenty-four before love suggests the passage of time and the shortness of life.


The final verse mentions an eagle and sailor, which could be interpreted as the natural connection between land, water, and air. The lines "Go closer hold the land, feel partly no more than grains of sand" could showcase that humans are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Finally, the song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll be the roundabout
I will be your guide, leading you in the right direction


The words will make you out 'n' out
My words will clarify everything and help you to understand


I spend the day your way
I will follow your lead and support you throughout the day


Call it morning driving through the sound of
We are starting our journey in the morning with the sound of...


In and out the valley
We'll be traveling through various landscapes and surroundings


The music dance and sing
The music will inspire and uplift us, making us happy and carefree


They make the children really ring
The music inspires joy and excitement in the hearts of children


In and around the lake
We are approaching a body of water


Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
We are admiring the majestic mountains that stretch into the sky


One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
We will travel a bit further and then be able to see you


Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
We will be there with you for ten years of happiness and laughter


Twenty-four before my love, you'll see
You will see that I was there for you long before you realized it


I'll be there with you
I will always be there to support and guide you


I will remember you
I will never forget you and the time we spent together


Your silhouette will charge the view
Your image will fill me with energy and excitement


Of distant atmosphere
Even though you are far away, you are still present in my thoughts and emotions


Even in the valley
We will still find happiness and contentment in our surroundings


Along the drifting cloud
We follow the cloud on its journey, being carried along by life


The eagle searching down on the land
We see the eagle soaring above, searching for its prey


Catching the swirling wind
The eagle is able to ride the winds and find its way to its destination


The sailor sees the rim of the land
The sailor sees the land ahead, knowing that he is close to his destination


The eagle's dancing wings
The eagle's wing movements are graceful and rhythmic, like a dance


Create as weather spins out of hand
Despite the chaos of the natural world, the eagle maintains control and composure


Go closer, hold the land
We draw closer to the land and appreciate the beauty of our surroundings


Feel partly no more than grains of sand
We recognize our own smallness and impermanence in comparison to the majesty of nature


We stand to lose all time
We realize that our time on earth is limited and precious


A thousand answers by in our hand
We have endless possibilities and opportunities in life


Next to your deeper fears
We stand next to you, supporting and understanding your deepest fears


We stand surrounded by million years
We are reminded of the vastness of time and the insignificance of our individual lives


You spend the day your way
You are free to choose your own path and live your life as you see fit




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jon Anderson, Steve James Howe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions