1971 Classic, Over 11 Minutes Long, Is Still a Beloved Rock Epic 55 Years Later

As one of the most influential bands in the progressive rock genre,Yes is known for being rather fearless when it comes to recording a song. This is especially true with one of their most beloved hits, "Heart of the Sunrise," off the band's fourth album, Fragile. In 2023, the publication Ultimate Classic Rock ranked the 1971 epic, which lasts 11 minutes and 26 seconds, as the 19th best long rock song ever recorded.

Former singer and songwriter of Yes, Jon Anderson, opened up about writing the 1971 song in a 2009 interview. Anderson, now 81, said the song conveys the stress of living in a large city. He explained that he grew up in "the country," which made residing in London a jarring experience.

"The idea of the introduction was like a juggernaut of energy, like the city. Then at that time, you know, I was exhausted with the city of London. I just wanted to get out of there and live in the country part of England," said the musician. "So living in the city after a while, it just was getting too much."

He clarified that he and his bandmates didn't "set out to make music" about wanting to leave London. Anderson also shared the song's lyrics are about the power of meditation.

During the interview, Anderson commented on the musical changes throughout the song.

"Suddenly it's lovely, a very simple song. But eventually becomes very symbolic at the end," noted the British singer during the 2009 interview.

Anderson explained that he and his bandmates wanted "Heart of the Sunrise" to impress their audiences during live performances.

"I think in those days, it was all about what's really going to sound great on stage. You know, we'll record it. 'This is a great track, but man, it's going to sound great on stage. And the performance will be really electric, to perform this kind of music," said Anderson.

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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 12:26 PM.