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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This is a 3 part song. Part 1, Life Seeker, was written by John Anderson. Part 2, Disillusion, was written by Chris Squire, and part 3, Wurm, is an instrumental by Steve Howe. (thanks, Marlon - NYC, NY)

Though "Disillusion" is credited solely to Chris Squire, Jon Anderson later revealed that he and Squire wrote the song together, taking 2 lines each. (thanks, Adrian - Brookings, SD)

Comments:

I particularly like the cross-imaged soloing at the end. Two different guitar sounds brought forward in the production alternately - from memory I'm pretty sure the non-dominant solo continues in the background anyway while the other channel is to the fore.
- John, Melbourne, Australia

The middle part of Starship Trooper (acoustic guitar w/the vocal duet) is directly adapted from a section of their earlier song "For Everyone." (Check out the BBC and Millennium compilations.) It's circa 1969, with Peter Banks on guitar -- and a surprise in the middle! Suddenly Chris Squire takes lead vocal and sings the now-familiar line "Lonliness is a power that we possess..." with Jon Anderson shifting to harmony. Great fun, hearing what they re-used later on in its original form. And I for one think Chris Squire had a lovely voice.
- Liz, Wilton, NH

"Würm" originally evolved from a song called "Nether Street" by Steve Howe's earlier group Bodast. While "Wurm" (without the umlaut over the "u") means "worm", the Würm is a river in Germany.
- Rick, Mount Ephraim, NJ

"Würm" originally evolved from a song called "Nether Street" by Steve Howe's earlier group Bodast. While "Wurm" (without the umlaut over the "u") means "worm", the Würm is a river in Germany.
- Rick, Mount Ephraim, NJ

Speaking of books, here there is an obvious- literal- literary connection here. But just what does this song have to do with Heinlein's "Starship Trooper"?
- hilarleo, berkeley, CA

Love this song. Heard it a dream I had when I was in high school. I could not figure out who made it. Then one day my Physics teacher gave me a Yes cd to listen to. I heard Heart of the Sunrise & Starship Trooper. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard it. How can a song like this play in my head in a dream & not even a week later I hear it on the radio. I guess I'm just weird like that
- erica, barrington , IL

This is my favourite song by my favourite band that few if any of my friends have ever heard of... I'm 16 and it's a shame that people tend to listen to stuff that gets old almost instantly.
- Michael, Oxford

Hello to all the Yes fans out there. Starship Trooper was always one of my favorites as well, unbelievable live. An amazing group of musicians (classic lineup: Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, Bruford). Was pumped in '77 when Wakeman came back. Another great one (among many): Heart of the Sunrise.
- Mike, Stratford, CT

There are several great LIVE versions of this song. The first was from "Yessongs". The others are on "anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe" and "Keys to Ascension". There might even be one on the "house of Blues" live album. Each one has a different take on "Wurm" but they all rock!
- Dave, Scottsdale, AZ

Saw these guys in '71, opening for Humble Pie and Black Sabbath. Ozzy got sick and Sabbath didn't play. Yes did all the songs from The Yes Album and encored with The Rascals "It's Love". Humble Pie had just released 'I Don't Need No Doctor', as a single, and did a 3 minute version of the song.
- Lester, New York City, NY

This was the 1st (so called) Hard Rock Group back in the day I ever saw in concert. Starship Trooper when I 1st heard it I knew it would be a classic at least in my house. It in fact was the 1st live song I ever heard & every time I hear it,it brings back so many good memories. I just wish we were to be able to go back to that time even for just a little bit for that reason.
- Jon, Pittsburgh, PA

If you like great bass guitar, then Starship Trooper should be on your top ten list.
- Wayne, Crockett, TX

Wurm is evolved from a song by Steve Howe's former band Bodast called "Nether Street."
- Max, Sydney, Australia

This is strange, But alot of YES songs remind me of books, and, the books have NOTHING to do with the songs! This song, starship trooper, reminds me (has anyone heard of R.L Stine?) of R.L Stines' new book seires...And the song, Ritual, Reminds me of the (Heard of Darren Shan?) Darren Shan's Cirqe Du Freak Seires!! its wierd....
- Max, Sydney, Australia

I've always like the Disillusion part with the acoustic guitar but Yes is most definitly my favorite band
- Patrick, Des Moines, IA

In reference to Anderson, not JOHN JON!
- Alex, Cave Creek, AZ

This is the first album that steve Howe did with yes. And he shows us in wurm what a fantastic job he can do!! :D
- Max, Sydney, Australia

Yes did a fantastic job in this all of it good. and at the last part of the song (wurm) thats my favourite part in the song and i don't think anyone could do that for 4 mins!
- Max, Sydney, Australia

deffinetly there best song. Steve Howe is a great guitar player. this song is awsome to just to get lost in. one of my favourite songs
- john, vancouver, Canada

I Love Yes and this is by far one of their best songs. Their sound is so much different than anything I have ever heard and this is one of the reasons why I like them so much.
- Justin, Albany, NY

Amazing lyrics, amazing solo , amazing music. This song is perfect, a great tune to get lost in. I love the figuritive language.
- Marlon, NYC, NY