[5] The song changes mood, rhythm, tempo and style continually, but according to Yes biographer Chris Welch, it still manages to "hang together".
[6] Authors Pete Prown and Lisa Sharken describe the "Würm" section as "a Bolero-paced chord sequence that builds into an explosive solo".
[3][5] Anderson has stated that the lyrics: Mother life hold firmly onto me Spread my knowledge higher than the day Release as much as only you can show refer to "the point within yourself that knows you," which we call "God.
"[9] Pitchfork Media considered "Howe's slow, spacey guitar build at the end" of the song to be "one of the great Yes moments.
"[11] Pop Matters critic Sean Murphy rated "Starship Trooper" as the 36th best progressive rock song of all time, calling it "perhaps the definitive showcase for Howe, allowing him to illustrate his utter mastery of the instrument (both acoustic and electric).