Turn of the Century
Yes Lyrics

Realising a form out of stone
Starting to create sculpture out of stone

Set hands moving
Beginning to work on the sculpture and get into the flow state of mind

Roan shaped his heart
The sculptor infused his work with great passion and emotion

Through his working hands
The sculptor's hands show the great effort and dedication he puts into his art

Work to mold his passion into clay, like the sun
The sculptor works to translate his innermost feelings into an artistic creation, like the sun that brings life to the earth

In his room, his lady
The sculptor's muse, who inspires him with her presence and artistic talent

She would dance and sing so completely
The sculptor's lady would express herself fully, without any reservation or inhibition

So be still he now cries
The sculptor asks for quiet and peace, so he can focus on his work

I have time, oh let clay transform thee so
The sculptor has all the time in the world to create his masterpiece, and he hopes that his vision will be realized through the clay

In the deep cold of night
During the darkest and quietest hours of the night

Winter calls, he cries "Don't deny me!"
The sculptor is consumed by his work and doesn't want anything, not even the cold and dark of winter, to stop him from creating

For his lady, deep her illness
The sculptor's muse is seriously sick, and he fears losing her

Time has caught her
The lady's time is running out, and the sculptor is aware that he can't do anything to stop it

And will for all reasons take her
Death is inevitable, and the sculptor knows that his lady will succumb to her illness

In the still light of dawn, she dies
The lady passes away peacefully, and the world seems still and quiet as it happens

Helpless hands soul revealing
The sculptor's hands, which had been so strong and masterful before, seem frail and powerless now that his muse is gone

Like leaves we touch we learn
Life is like a journey where we constantly touch and interact with new people and things, and learn something from each experience

We once knew the story
At some point in our lives, we felt like we knew everything and had a clear sense of purpose and direction

As winter calls he will starve
The sculptor will deprive himself of basic needs like food and warmth, so he can keep his focus on his work

All but to see the stone be life
The sculptor is willing to make any sacrifice, as long as he can bring his stone to life and create something truly beautiful

Now Roan, no more tears
The sculptor has cried enough and resolved himself to carry on and complete his work

Set to work his strength
The sculptor uses his art as a way to channel his inner strength and process his emotions

So transformed him
The work of art not only changes the stone which it is made of but also the artist who creates it

Realising a form out of stone, his work
The sculptor works tirelessly and endlessly to create something of beauty out of stone

So absorbed him
The sculptor is fully immersed in his work, and it becomes his entire existence

Could she hear him?
The sculptor wonders if his lady's spirit is present and can feel his devotion and love

Could she see him?
The sculptor imagines his lost love watching him, almost as if she were still there with him in the room, inspiring him to create

All aglow was his room dazed in this light
The sculptor's workroom is illuminated by a special kind of light or energy, almost as if it's alive with a magnetic force

He would touch her He would hold her
The sculptor imagines his lost lover is there with him, and he pretends to hold and touch her, reliving the memories of their time together

Laughing as they danced
The sculptor is able to escape into his work and forget about his troubles, and he imagines dancing with his lover, enjoying the beautiful moments they shared

Highest colors touching others
The colors of the sculpture, which represent the artist's passion and emotion, evoke a sense of awe and wonder in others who see it

Did her eyes at the turn of the century Tell me plainly
The sculptor is wondering if his lover gave him any kind of sign or message before she passed away, something that he could interpret as a reassurance or a direction

When we meet, how we'll love, oh let life so transform me
The sculptor is hopeful that he will be reunited with his lover one day, and he prays that he will be a better person for the experience, someone who is more refined and who has learned the lessons of life

Like leaves we touched we danced We once knew the story
The sculptor remembers the time when he and his lover were alive and carefree, and they danced and touched like leaves floating in an autumn breeze. They felt like they knew everything and had their whole lives ahead of them.

As autumn called and we both Remembered all those many years ago
As they grew older and wiser, the sculptor and his lover remembered the good times they had in the past, and they tried to make the most of their present.

Was the sign with a touch As I kiss your fingers
The sculptor remembers the moment when he kissed his lover's fingers, and he felt like it was an omen or a sign that this relationship was meant to be.

We walk hands in the sun Memories when we're young Love lingers so
The sculptor is left with memories of his lover, the times they spent together, and the bond they shared. These memories will never die, and their love will continue to linger on, even after death.

Was it sun through the haze That made all your looks As warm as moonlight?
The sculptor tries to recall the little details of his lover, like the way she looked in different lighting or weather conditions, how her beauty was always radiant and vibrant, even when the world around them was dark and gloomy.

As a pearl deep in your eyes Tears have flown away All the same light
The sculptor sees a deep sense of beauty and wisdom in his lover's eyes, even as she sheds tears and struggles with her illness. Her spirit remains pure and bright, like a pearl that glows from within.

Like leaves we touch, we see We will know the story As autumn calls we'll both remember All those many years ago
The sculptor and his lover touched many lives and created many memories together, and even as they face the autumn of their lives, they can still recall the joys and wonders of their youth.