Shoot High, Aim Low
Encyclopedia
"Shoot High, Aim Low" is a song by Yes
. It appears on the 1987 Big Generator
album. The song appears to have never released as a single, but reached position #11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the '80s. It appeared on every show on the Big Generator tour, but nowhere else to date.
's announcements on many shows of the tour, is about war; specifically, a future in which mankind will live beyond war. In most of these announcements, Anderson explains that the "blue fields" mentioned in the first line are in Nicaragua
. At the time the album was being worked on, a legal battle between the U.S. and Nicaragua had occurred over U.S. aid to anti-government guerrillas.
Anderson also explains on some occasions that Trevor Rabin
, who performs lead vocals on the song (alternating with Anderson) is singing in "dreamtime
", while Anderson is singing in real time.
" and "I'm Running", is often considered to be the saving grace of the album by fans of the band's 1970s incarnation, who generally dislike Big Generator for being "too poppy." The song is the second-longest on the album, clocking in at 7:03. It is the third track on the first side.
A label upon the plastic wrapping of LP copies of the album announced that the album contained this song, which emphasizes its popularity, most likely as a staple AOR track.
". It would typically last, discounting announcements, for about 8 minutes 30 seconds. Rabin's electric guitar solo was somewhat extended live, but typically only by a short amount of time. By November 22, 1987, this song was performed after "Big Generator."
A live version can be found on the live
box set The Word is Live
.
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
. It appears on the 1987 Big Generator
Big Generator
Big Generator is the twelfth studio album by progressive rock band Yes. It was released in 1987 on Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary label and was the follow-up to the massively successful 90125 album.- History :...
album. The song appears to have never released as a single, but reached position #11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the '80s. It appeared on every show on the Big Generator tour, but nowhere else to date.
Meaning
The song, according to Jon AndersonJon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
's announcements on many shows of the tour, is about war; specifically, a future in which mankind will live beyond war. In most of these announcements, Anderson explains that the "blue fields" mentioned in the first line are in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. At the time the album was being worked on, a legal battle between the U.S. and Nicaragua had occurred over U.S. aid to anti-government guerrillas.
Anderson also explains on some occasions that Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
, who performs lead vocals on the song (alternating with Anderson) is singing in "dreamtime
Dreamtime
In the animist framework of Australian Aboriginal mythology, The Dreaming is a sacred era in which ancestral Totemic Spirit Beings formed The Creation.-The Dreaming of the Aboriginal times:...
", while Anderson is singing in real time.
On the album
The song, along with "Final EyesFinal Eyes
"Final Eyes" is a song by Yes. It appears on the 1987 Big Generator album. The song was apparently never released as a single, but reached position #20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the '80s...
" and "I'm Running", is often considered to be the saving grace of the album by fans of the band's 1970s incarnation, who generally dislike Big Generator for being "too poppy." The song is the second-longest on the album, clocking in at 7:03. It is the third track on the first side.
A label upon the plastic wrapping of LP copies of the album announced that the album contained this song, which emphasizes its popularity, most likely as a staple AOR track.
In the live setting
In live performances, the song usually appeared just prior to "Big GeneratorBig Generator (song)
"Big Generator" is a song by Yes that appears on their 1987 album, Big Generator. The song was released as a single exclusively in the U.S., and was backed with itself. It appeared on every show on the Big Generator tour, but nowhere else to date....
". It would typically last, discounting announcements, for about 8 minutes 30 seconds. Rabin's electric guitar solo was somewhat extended live, but typically only by a short amount of time. By November 22, 1987, this song was performed after "Big Generator."
A live version can be found on the live
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
box set The Word is Live
The Word is Live
The Word Is Live is a live box set by progressive rock band Yes and was released in 2005 through Rhino Records.Considered the live companion to 2002's studio In a Word: Yes box set, The Word is Live serves to document the band's live story from early BBC recordings in 1970 with Peter Banks to 1988...
.
Personnel
- Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
- Vocals - Chris SquireChris SquireChristopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
- Bass, Vocals (Background) - Trevor RabinTrevor RabinTrevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
- Producer, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Mixing, Keyboards, Engineer, String Arrangements - Tony KayeTony Kaye (musician)Tony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
- Keyboards - Alan WhiteAlan White (Yes drummer)Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
- Drums, Percussion - Trevor HornTrevor HornTrevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
- Producer