‘I've Seen All Good People’ is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes, written by frontman Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire and recorded on their third studio album, The Yes Album (1971). The almost 7-minute song is in two parts; the first, titled ‘Your Move’, was released as a single in 1971 which peaked at number 40 in the US, which helped the group build momentum. The second part is entitled ‘All Good People’.
The tune is an anti-war song. The term "I've seen all good people" is ALL the people, including the so-called enemy. The tune uses chess as a lyrical, if incoherent, metaphor for navigating interpersonal relationships, and contains several allusions to the music of John Lennon. It has received positive reviews from several critics and has been considered one of Yes's best-known songs, with AllMusic's Mike DeGagne stating that "the harmonies are resilient from start to finish" and that the track "still stands as one of their most appealing" works. Music critic Robert Christgau has also singled it out for praise.
The line, "Don't surround yourself with yourself" refers to self-righteous behavior; "Move on back two squares" is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy. War is like a game of chess.
In an interview, Yes frontman Jon Anderson, he explained: "The song is about initiation of yourself into the idea that there is more to life than war and fighting within religions and things like that. So when we were singing 'see all good people,' it's like, 'we can see you all in the audience because you're good people no matter what, and when you're with music you're enlightened, you're good, you're happy, you're excited.' And music is the kingpin of it all. It's not just Yes, it's music that brings people together like no other energy on such a level."
Label – Atlantic
Songwriters – Jon Anderson, Chris Squire
Producers – Yes, Eddy Offord
SONG LYRICS
[Refrain/Intro]
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I.Your Move
[Verse 1]
Take a straight and stronger course
To the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasn't got time to make you a wife
[Chorus]
Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use
[Verse 2]
Move me on to any black square
Use me any time you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want, anywhere (Move me on to any black square)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an Instant Karma to me
Initial it with loving care
Don't surround yourself
Cause his time is time, in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use
[Bridge]
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit
Didda (Don't surround yourself with yourself)
[Chorus]
Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares (Don't surround yourself)
Send an Instant Karma to me
Initial it with loving care (Send an Instant Karma to me)
Don't surround yourself
Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use
[Bridge]
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(Is give peace a chance)
Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
II. All Good People
[Refrain]
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
Yeah, yeah
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way