Lady Gaga is set to release “The Edge of Glory” today at 1pm PT / 4pm ET, kicking off iTunes’ “Countdown to Born This Way” promotion leading up to the album’s May 23rd release.

“The Edge of Glory,” which features E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons,

was inspired by the death of Gaga’s grandfather in late 2010.  In her interview for Musicians@Google Presents: Google Goes Gaga, Gaga explained that the song is “about your last moment on earth, the moment of truth, the moment before you leave earth.”

Rolling Stone writer Matthew Perpetua reviewed the track in February, writing “This one sounds crazy in print — it’s a massive power ballad with heavy club beats that features Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band wailing on his saxophone — but somehow it all seems totally natural when you actually hear it…  The inclusion of Clemons is an inspired touch that amplifies the song’s Eighties stadium rock vibe, but his actual performance is amazing and ranks among the best of his career.”