South Side of the Sky
South Side of the Sky
South Side of the Sky is a Yes song from their 1971 album Fragile. It runs about 8 minutes and blends progressive rock with jazz-rock and psychedelic influences. It was recorded in September 1971 and released in the UK on November 12, 1971, and in the US on January 4, 1972. The track was written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, with Rick Wakeman contributing piano (uncredited), and produced by Yes with Eddy Offord for Atlantic Records.
The song opens with the sound of howling wind and a thunder-like sting, then bursts into a heavy, riff-driven rock section. Around 2:08, Wakeman’s piano enters as the wind returns. At about 3:19, Anderson, Squire, and Howe add wordless vocal harmonies over the piano, continuing until roughly 5:42 when the heavy riff returns with wind in the background. It fades out to the same wind motif.
Ultimate Classic Rock described the track as one of Yes’ heaviest songs, praising Howe’s fierce guitar tones and Offord’s sharp production. Jon Anderson has said the song is about climbing mountains—dangerous, but a daily necessity for everyone.
Versions and origins
- A new acoustic version of the song, featuring piano as the dominant instrument and without the sound effects, appears on the 2004 U.S. release of The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection. The new version is on the third disc (new material), while the original appears on the first disc.
- The inspiration for the lyrics, according to Anderson, came from the idea that “sleep is death’s little sister,” with the mountain symbolizing a goal humanity strives for, followed by death and the transition to an afterlife.
- Squire explained that Anderson wrote the first verse on acoustic guitar; Squire wrote the chorus riff (the “do-de-do-do-do” part) and a middle section. Howe noted the riff came from his earlier band Bodast, and the song was rarely played live because the vocal part felt too short.
- In the Fragile remaster liner notes, the song is described as about a tragic polar expedition that ends in death, with references to cold, snow, and the harsh environment. The second half shifts toward themes of warmth and dying.
Live and writing credits
- Jon Anderson has reiterated the mountain-climbing metaphor in performance, such as during Yes’ 2003 Montreux concert.
- Rick Wakeman helped write piano interludes for South Side of the Sky and for Heart of the Sunrise, but he was not credited on the original release due to contractual issues.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:35 (CET).