Tormato Released 20 September 1978 Recorded December 1977–June 1978 Personnel: Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Alan White
Circus Of Heaven (Jon Anderson)
The day the Circus of Heaven came to town Local folks lined the streets in a Midwestern town Waiting anxiously for the parade to begin all around On the very last day
A unicorn headed the mystical way Surrounded by what seemed a thousand golden angels at play Behind were Centaurs, elves, bright fairies all in colours of jade On the very final day
For what seemed only just a moment in time Seven solemn flying silvered regal horses rode by Seven golden chariots in tow, a wonder to behold The Seven Lords of the Mountains of Time There then arose where nothing really stood there before A giant tent rising one thousand feet high frofrom the floor Towns people flocked inside with their eyes all amazed To greet the Seventh Lord of the seventh age A fanfare rang out in an incredible sound Bringing out the strangest visions perfect harmony round Any dreams he asked would they like to have seen From historical or mythical scenes
Then there above their heads just as vivid as life Each vision transported multitudes inventing light Grecian galleons, the sack of Troy, to the Gardens of Babylon A play of millions roared along The gigantic dreams of Alexander the Great Civil wars where fbrothers fought and killed their friendship with hate All seen by Zeus performing scenes in the magical way The day the circus came to town
Outside great animals as tame as the trees Angels high in starlight dancing streets Turning their colours with indigo and gold Dropping violet, red and emerald snow As the circus finally changed it's invisible course A new world to be found
On the dreamy ground we walked upon I turned to my son and said "Was that something beautiful, amazing, wonderful, extraordinary beautiful?"
"Oh! It was OK!! But there were no clowns, no lions, tigers or bears, Candy-floss, toffee apples, no clowns."