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From Wikipedia: “Long Distance Runaround“ is a song by the progressive rock group Yes first recorded for their 1971 album, Fragile. Written by lead singer Jon Anderson, the song was released as a B-side to “Roundabout“ but became a surprise hit in its own right as a staple of album-oriented rock radio. The song's 3:30 running time was uncharacteristically brief for a group known for expansive songs often longer than ten minutes; though, it and “The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)“, into which it segues, may be considered a single opus, of 6:09. Yes co-founder Jon Anderson wrote the lyrics to this song while allegedly remembering his encounters with religious hypocrisy and competition he experienced in attending church regularly as a youth in northern England. “Long time / waiting to feel the sound“ was a sentiment toward wanting to see a real, compassionate, non-threatening example of godliness. The bass guitar performs most of the parts of the song. The song starts out with a guitar solo before transitioning into the main 7/4 section. Its only lyrics, the subtitle of the song, appear towards the end of the piece, are repeated several times and fade out with it. In concert, the song is used as an extended bass jam for Chris Squire, and the piece is drastically rearranged. There are only two points in the song that are in 7/4 and are similar to the studio version; the rest is a series of different common time improvisations by Squire with varying beats and backing melodies, often including bass parts from other Yes songs such as “Tempus Fugit“, “Sound Chaser“ and “On the Silent Wings of Freedom“. This solo can last up into the ten-minute range, as can be heard on Yessongs. Live performances of The Fish have sometimes been titled “Whitefish“, referring to Alan White & Squire performing the piece as a duet. “Whitefish“ can be found on 9012Live: The Solos. Because the song “Long Distance Runaround“ directly transitions into “The Fish“, the songs are frequently played together on classic rock radio stations. The origin of the song's title has been attributed variously over the years. One story says that Squire was given the nickname by Bill Bruford, who gave it to Squire after he flooded his hotel room in Oslo, Norway while taking a shower. Bruford has also stated that when he and Squire shared a house in Fulham, Squire would spend long periods of time in the bathroom. Furthermore, his astrological sign is Pisces (Fish). It may also be a reference to the bass (fish), whose name is homonymous with the bass guitar. Subsequently, Squire made reference to his nickname by titling a solo album Fish Out of Water. Schindleria praematura is the Latin scientific name for a marine fish known as the infantfish or Schindleria. Lyrics: Long distance runaround Long time waiting to feel the sound I still remember the dream there I still remember the time you said goodbye Did we really tell lies Letting in the sunshine Did we really count to one hundrer Cold summer listening Hot colour melting the anger to stone I still remember the dream there I still remember the time you said goodbye Did we really tell lies Letting in the sunshine Did we really count to one hundred
