Roundabout is a song by the English progressive rock band Yes, first released on their 1971 album Fragile and later issued in a 2008 remastered edition. Its distinctive guitar introduction helped make it one of the band's best-known tracks, and it gained a second life online when it became closely linked with the To Be Continued meme format, where the riff plays over a freeze-frame before an arrow appears. That association turned a classic rock opening into a widely recognised punchline for cliffhangers, keeping it popular with editors and meme creators decades after its original release.
About this sound
The opening guitar riff from Yes's classic song Roundabout, taken from its 2008 remaster, used in memes, video edits and nostalgic intros and transitions.
This short clip captures the bright, instantly recognisable acoustic guitar introduction to Roundabout, played in a quick, intricate fingerpicked pattern that bounces between high and low notes before the full band joins in. The tone is clean and lively, with a warm, almost playful energy that feels both retro and timeless, and it immediately signals that something epic, quirky or nostalgic is about to unfold. Even listeners who do not know Yes by name often recognise the riff within seconds, which makes it a powerful shorthand for adventure, a dramatic reveal or a fond look back at classic rock.
