The Revealing Science Of God by Yes

Album: Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973)

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"The Revealing Science Of God" takes up the entire first side of the double album Tales From Topographic Oceans - each album side is filled with just one song. Lead singer Jon Anderson based the lyrics of these songs on part of Paramhansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. Yogananda was an Indian guru who came to the US and taught Eastern spirituality to his followers, including many self-realization techniques. The passage in the book describes the four-part Shastric scriptures - texts which not only take care of religion and social life, but also of medicine, music, art, architecture.
The song is about the dawn of light, thought, our power, and of love, to the creation and beginning all of the good things which bring happiness to our lives. That these wonderful forces seem to have been lost by the human race through their own negligence. >>
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Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for above 2
Jon Anderson is a lover of nature, and he wanted to record the Tales From Topographic Oceans album outdoors in a woodland area north of London. He envisioned a makeshift studio in a tent, capturing the sounds of the woods on the recording. His bandmates nixed the idea, so Anderson showed up at the sessions with bales of hay, trees, and cardboard cutouts of animals that he placed around the studio.
When Yes toured in support of Tales From Topographic Oceans, they played all four sides of the double album, straining the attention of some listeners with a full blast of new music, but delighting others who relished in seeing the album brought to life.

This song in particular was one of Jon Anderson's favorites to perform. He told Songfacts: "People would just sit there and listen for 20 minutes each time, and feel the energy at the end of the piece. We were so convinced about the music, we played it like it was a symphony, and then we finished the piece totally exhausted."

As the tour progressed, the set list was altered to include some of the band's old favorites. It was a trying time for keyboard player Rick Wakeman, who left Yes after the tour.
This song runs 20:23, and that was after the edit. Steve Howe says that in its original form, the song lasted 28 minutes, but they had to make cuts just so it would fit on vinyl. He says that he and Jon Anderson considered this song the "accessible" part of the album.

Comments: 14

Jules from The Great White NorthThis is my calming song. Whenever life is getting to me and anxiety builds, I sit and sing this. I love the music, the words and the voices. It's a masterpiece. I was 13 when this album came out and couldn't get enough of it.
Ramsa from UkWhat is the name of the "four part shastric scriptures" mentioned? I've often wondered. We didn't have the internet to find out back when I first got into this album.

Anyone who puts this in a list of the worlds worst albums can't have actually listened to it. It's awesome.
Mark from Jefferson City, MoTrippy!
Stephen from Cape Canaveral, FlWhat is interesting, is to correct the punctuation as written out. For example, "Disjointed but with purpose we fled to sea. Whole" If doing this throughout the song it takes in more meaning that as simply disconjointed parts. ..of which make a whole...which is the essence of much of all of their music. Young Christians see it.
Claude from Kingston, MaThe other night for my own entertainment I was looking at a lists of the worst albums of all time. I almost fell off my chair when I saw Tales included. The opening of this album is one of the most spine chilling moments I've ever heard. I still get goosebumps when it builds to the crescendo ".....for the freedom of life everlasting!"
Julie from Marquette, MiI agree and LOVE the Keys to Ascension version. This is probably my favorite song of ALL time. I am a HUGE Yes fan and this song never gets old. It is an amazing piece of work...as is so much of what Yes does.
Rick from Mount Ephraim, NjThis song is breathtaking. The live version on "Keys to Ascension" is magnificent. It seems that, with newer technologies in music, that Yes' older music sounds better now than it did when first released on record.

Like the Beatles, it is mind boggling what they've been able to do with equipment that was primitive by today's standards.
Mike from Baltimore, Mdmind blowing album. haven't got a clue as to what anderson is singing about and don't care. the music is awesome. it's a shame it drove wakeman away from the band. but he came back. even now i can cruise down the road with "Tales" on the ipod singing at the top of my lungs. yeah, i know the lyrics by heart....just don't know what they mean. so what
Mars from Edinburgh, ScotlandPerforming the album "Tales From Topographic Oceans" live on tour in 1974, Jon Anderson introduced this song as "A jumble of trips".
Reg from Kemptville, OnPersonally, I've always been impressed by the music, not the lyrics. Imagine -- a rock album in 4 movements rather than a collection of pop songs. I had been waiting for such an album for quite a while before this was released. No surprise it came from Yes. I could sit in my darkened bedroom and listen to the entire piece without the need for any visual stimulation. (I'm still that way vis-a-vis videos.)
Max from Sydney, AustraliaThe Revealing Science of God can be seen as an ever-opening
flower in which simple truths emerge examining the complexities and
magic of the past and how we should not forget the song that has
been left to us to hear. The knowledge of God is a search, constant
and clear.
Max from Sydney, AustraliaThis concept album is based on the four part Hindu Shastric scriptures
Max from Sydney, AustraliaI think this song is really good because it really does reaveal the science of God such as somtimes waiting all your life for a great,fantastic moment.In the lyrics they say "I must hav waited all my life for this, moment moment moment."
Nick from Nyc, Nylet them rape the forrest

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