From Wikipedia:
The first part of the song, "Your Move", uses various allusions to the game of chess — such as the phrases "move me onto any black square", "make the white queen run so fast", and "the goal is for us all to capture all we want". It can be attributed to Lewis Carrol's "Through The Looking Glass". In looking glass land if you want to be "satisfied" and "on your way". You must walk backwards on life's chessboard to move ahead "don't surround yourself with yourself" ie. Live worry free and "give peace a chance". This is opposite of what we were taught: Fight with might and force to get ahead. At the final part of "Your Move" the chorus of John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance can be heard in the background.
In the studio recording on The Yes Album, the song opens with Jon Anderson singing the sentence "I've seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I'm on my way" twice a cappella, in three-part harmony. This is followed by a solo intro by Steve Howe on a 12-string laúd. As the laúd begins a repeated four-bar phrase, it is joined by bass drum as Anderson resumes singing the lyrics, solo and in three-part harmony. Dual recorders enter on the third verse. Finally, a Hammond organ joins them, playing the same chords as the laúd until the first part of the song ends on a loudly sustained and unresolved organ chord.
The second part, "All Good People", consists of many repetitions of the sentence "I've seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I'm on my way" sung to the same melody as before, but over a driving rock accompaniment, ending in a powerful vocal harmony and organ phrase which begins on a chord progression of E, D, C, G, then A. Each repetition of the verse is one whole step lower than the previous as the song fades out.
Just before the three minute mark of the song the chorus to John Lennon's Give Peace a Chance is heard panned hard to the left channel and very low in the mix. The song also references Lennon's "Instant Karma!", in the lyrics "Send an instant karma to me - Initial it with loving care."
Lyrics:
[I Your Move]
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
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
'Cause it's time is time in time with your time and
its news is captured...for the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want
(Move me on to any black square)
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 it's time is time in time with your time and
its news is captured...for the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(Don't surround yourself with yourself)
Don't surround yourself with yourself
(Don't surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
(Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care
(Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time is time in time with your time and
its news is captured...for the queen to use!
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 is time in time with your time and
its news is captured...
[II All Good People]
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...
