Standout features of the song include the catchy, heavily distorted introductory guitar riff, which establishes a motif for the song; producer Trevor Horn's innovative use of jarring, heavily synchopated orchestra hits and other high-tech sound effects; Rabin's disorienting, schizophrenic guitar solo, which was played through an MXR Pitch Transposer, which mixed the original note with one a perfect fifth higher.
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" has been remixed several times, most notably by Max Graham in April 2005; his version reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart and the music video is still popular. 808 State also did remixes ('2 Close To the Edge Mix' and 'Not Fragile Mix'). and Kyper used riffs of the song in his own song "Tic-Tac-Toe". The title is also covered by 2 Ruff in year 1998. The song is also covered by Colin Blunstone, backed by an orchestra. Yet another remix was done in 2004 by Deep Dish. The track had also been sampled by the group Dubstar; a sample of the drum fill can be heard at the beginning of "No More Talk" (on their Goodbye album). Turkish electronic music singer Hande Yener has sampled "Owner of a Lonely Heart"s melody throughout her song Hipnoz. Also rapper Rufus Blaq sampled the main riff (but slowed it down) on the track "Make It Hot" from the 1998 album Credentials
The song's falsetto titular refrain is actually sung by producer Trevor Horn as well as (lead singer) Jon Anderson.[citation needed] Rabin also ably performed this song during his 1989-90 solo tour, with a bit of difficulty on the higher vocal range. Invariably, the Rabin-era band performed this song, preceded by a truncated "Make it Easy" intro. Jon Anderson has also performed "Owner", even though Yes guitarist Steve Howe has repeatedly expressed dislike for the song.
At the time of recording, everyone was already ready to leave. As the song was being recorded, drummer Alan White's drums were being taken away, until he only had the bass drum and snare drum. He used these two for the first recording, then played each individual instrument (crash, hi-hats, toms) separately and dubbed them over the original track to make what is heard in the recording.
Cover versions include a soft jazz one by Icelandic duo Kristjana & Agnar on their album Ég um þig (Me for you).
Owner of a Lonely Heart
Yes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You always live your life
Never thinking of the future
Prove yourself
You are the move you make
Take your chances, win or loser
See yourself
You are the steps you take
Shake, shake yourself
You're every move you make
So the story goes
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Say, you don't want to chance it
You've been hurt so before
Watch it now
The eagle in the sky
How he dancin' one and only
You, lose yourself
No not for pity's sake
There's no real reason to be lonely
Be yourself
Give your free will a chance
You've got to want to succeed
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
After my own indecision
They confused me so
Owner of a lonely heart
My love said never question your will at all
In the end you've got to go
Look before you leap
Owner of a lonely heart
And don't you hesitate at all, no no
Yow!
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Sooner or later each conclusion
Will decide the lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
It will excite, it will delight
It will give a better start
Owner of a lonely heart
Don't deceive your free will at all
Don't deceive your free will at all
Owner of a lonely heart
Don't deceive your free will at all
Just receive it
Just receive it
(Owner of a lonely heart)
The lyrics to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes serve as a motivational anthem, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives and pursue their dreams. The opening lines, "Move yourself, you always live your life, never thinking of the future," suggest that the singer has been coasting through life without any concrete goals or plans for the future. However, the lyrics quickly shift to a place of empowerment, with the singer urging the listener to "prove yourself" and "take your chances, win or loser." The repeated phrase "you are the move you make" emphasizes the importance of taking action and creating one's own destiny.
The chorus of the song is particularly catchy, with the refrain of "owner of a lonely heart, much better than a owner of a broken heart" serving as a reminder that it's better to be alone than to be with someone who doesn't truly value and understand you. The lyrics also caution against letting past hurts and disappointments hold you back from pursuing new relationships or opportunities. The final lines of the song encourage the listener to "just receive" their free will and take control of their life instead of being held back by fear or doubt.
Interesting facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
Move yourself
Take action and make things happen
You always live your life
You're used to doing things your way, not thinking of the effect on others or future consequences
Never thinking of the future
You're living in the moment and not considering future outcomes
Prove yourself
Show your worth, take risks and see what possibilities you can create
You are the move you make
Your actions define who you are
Take your chances, win or loser
Be prepared to take risks and accept whatever outcome occurs
See yourself
Reflect and realize the effect you have on your own life
You are the steps you take
The choices you make, the actions you take, all define who you are
You and you, and that's the only way
Ultimately it is up to you to define your own actions and choices, and the effect they have on yourself and others
Shake, shake yourself
Wake up and take control of your life
You're every move you make
As you control your life, each decision you make is important
So the story goes
This is just a common scenario many people find themselves in
Owner of a lonely heart
The singer is describing themselves
Owner of a broken heart
Being a lonely person with a heart that has been damaged before
Say, you don't want to chance it
Risk-taking is scary when you've been hurt before
You've been hurt so before
Past pain influences current decisions
Watch it now
Be careful and cautious in your actions
The eagle in the sky
Referring to someone or something that stood out in the past
How he dancin' one and only
This person stood out by being unique
You, lose yourself
When you quickly get lost in thought and stop being present in what's going on around you
No not for pity's sake
The artist doesn't want sympathy or pity from others
There's no real reason to be lonely
The feeling of loneliness is not a logical one
Be yourself
Stay true to yourself and your own desires
Give your free will a chance
Take control of your own life instead of letting someone else take over
You've got to want to succeed
Success is a product of the effort you put into your life
After my own indecision
Coming out of a state of indecisiveness
They confused me so
Something or someone caused confusion in the past
My love said never question your will at all
The artist was advised to stick by their own desires and choices
In the end you've got to go
Ultimately your journey is your own responsibility to undertake
Look before you leap
Take some time to consider the consequences of your actions
And don't you hesitate at all, no no
Once you make a decision, move forward with certainty
Yow!
Expression of enthusiasm
Sooner or later each conclusion
Each decision eventually leads to a conclusion
Will decide the lonely heart
One's decisions have an affect on their happiness in life
It will excite, it will delight
Making good decisions brings happiness and excitement in life
It will give a better start
Making good choices is the foundation for success and happiness
Don't deceive your free will at all
Stay in control of your own life and desires, don't let someone else make your choices
Just receive it
Accept your own choices and desires
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Musicnotes, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Trevor Rabin, Trevor Horn, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dharesh Singla
Move yourself
You always live your life
Never thinking of the future
Prove yourself
You are the move you make
Take your chances, win or loser
See yourself
You are the steps you take
You and you, and that's the only way
Shake, shake yourself
You're every move you make
So the story goes
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Say, you don't want to chance it
You've been hurt so before
Watch it now
The eagle in the sky
How he dancin' one and only
You, lose yourself
No not for pity's sake
There's no real reason to be lonely
Be yourself
Give your free will a chance
You've got to want to succeed
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
After my own indecision
They confused me so
Owner of a lonely heart
My love said never question your will at all
In the end you've got to go
Look before you leap
Owner of a lonely heart
And don't you hesitate at all, no no
Yow!
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
(Much better than a)
Owner of a broken heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
Sooner or later each conclusion
Will decide the lonely heart
Owner of a lonely heart
It will excite, it will delight
It will give a better start
Owner of a lonely heart
Don't deceive your free will at all
Don't deceive your free will at all
Owner of a lonely heart
Don't deceive your free will at all
Just receive it
Just receive it
(Owner of a lonely heart)
PREDATOR
THIS SONG IS TIMELESS AND FOREVER
PREDATOR
40 YEARS OLD SONG AND GOLD HIT FOREVER
TheAncientTale
I agree. Preach it brother.
A current name 🐦
If you like this, check out “Rhythm of love” it’s also another banger from them and one their underrated ones
Gaudalupr Jimenez
Thank you
ר. פ.
And the video is also timeless
Sheri Lyn
Still a classic... 80's rocked
10-30-23
L.C.T
That beginning riff is flipping amaaaazing! This now 52-year-old inner city black girl had this on full blast back in the day.
Larry Carter
Amen sister
L.C.T
@larrycarter3285 : Thanks! Well, it's true. I grew up in the inner city but now live in an apartment in the suburbs..still jamming out to these incredible 80s hits. ❤❤