YYZ

YYZ is the code for Toronto Pearson International Airport. Its beacon broadcasts the letters in Morse code, and the band was introduced to the rhythm as Lifeson flew them into the airport. The introduction renders Y-Y-Z in Morse in 10/8, with Peart playing the pattern on crotales. Peart said airports were rich with symbolism in the band's life, and the middle section carries that feeling, along with a guitar solo in an eastern mode.

The music started when Lee and Peart were jamming as a warm-up: Lee found the main riff and Peart suggested a mellower section with Lee on keyboards. The band wanted to repeat the experience of recording La Villa Strangiato in a shorter form. They recorded it at Le Studio in the summer of 1980, and the crashing noise between the breaks in the solo is wind chimes tied to a sheet of plywood and slapped against a table.

YYZ was nominated for the 1982 Grammy for best rock instrumental performance and lost to The Police's Behind My Camel. Live versions on Exit...Stage Left and A Show of Hands include drum solos. An animated video was released on 11 March 2022 for the 40th anniversary of Moving Pictures.