I've heard this 100s of times since the day it was released, but here I am, age 62, covered in goosebumps all over again.

The little Steve Howe lick at the end - that is where your feet come back to touch the earth after going on this journey with them; that's settling back to reality, ready to live what you have learned.  Welcome back.

"Awaken" is a religious experience. Live, it is phenomenal.

I think Howe's ferocious fast playing perfectly expresses the angst of someone struggling to come to terms with the realities of the ruthless world around him. The song is about Awakening from this state into another perspective, another way of being. The song does not work without this raw passion.
  There's a great story about a clarinet player rehearsing a new Stravinsky piece under the baton of the composer himself. "Maestro," he said. "I can not possibly play this part correctly. It's physically impossible."
Stravinsky replied, "I meant it to sound incorrect."
  Music is not about perfect technical execution. It's about expressing the many facets of existence.

This song always brings tears. Music isn’t supposed to be like this. This isn’t a song. It’s an experience

If Steve Howe wants to play a lot of notes, Steve Howe gets to play a lot of notes. ;)

This is not a song, this is a fucking masterpiece, another from YES

Yes fans understand why Howe threw that little ditty in at the end.

This is one mammoth complex piece of music. I absolutely love it.

This entire album is a masterpiece of music and should have gotten much more acclaim than it did I feel!!!

I have always said Yes did not write songs, they wrote journeys.

"Like the time I ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me..." What a gorgeous lyric.  An absolute masterpiece from Yes.

One of the most beautiful songs ever written, Jon's voice is so crystal clear, Steve guitar work is brilliant and Rick's organ work just soars.. also some of Alan and Chris's best work, super tight.

Not just my favorite Yes song, but my favorite song by anyone ever.

That little guitar lick at the end is the sun saying 'Good Morning' and everything is alright. It is creation's  seal of approval on the day.

My 15-year-old ears were blessed by this! Insanely brilliant music.

At the end of the track, the deep bass and drums as Jon sings, for the second time, "Like the time I ran away, turned around and you were standing close to me", just gives me goosebumps. Yes music moves you, it really does.

This may have been mentioned already,  but if not, Jon Anderson's version with the Icelandic band Todmobil along with a symphony and full chorus is absolutely jaw-dropping. I weep every time I watch it.  Seeing Jon get utterly lost in the music is so heartwarming.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE1pnDERWU0

I think the final guitar lick gently lands us back in daily reality, where 'we can be'.

When I saw Awaken performed in concert I truly felt that if my life ended then and there that it was complete.  This song has always had a mystical effect on me and to see it live was absolutely one of the most profound moments in my time seeing musical performances.