Styx is best known for the hit songs "Lady", "Come Sail Away", "Babe", "Boat on the River", "The Best of Times", "Too Much Time on My Hands", "Renegade" and "Mr. Roboto". The band has had four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.
Heavy Water
Styx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the kind of place we were meant to be
Out here kinda lost in space now
Pondering life's mysteries
All of minkind worship at the altar
Of old mythology
But the genie's out of the bottle
Collision course with eternity
Young children playing in the chat room
With the freaks and the satellites
Upload the nearset planet
Burnin' out at the speed of light
Better living for the masses
With the new technology
But some fool went and pushed the button
He didn't get an apology
Feeling good is a new sensation
Panacea for the Prozac nation
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Sacred cow sizzling in the fire
As we all go up in flames
With millions of true believers
And their unfamiliar names
On the road to good intentions
Blown to hell by our own inventions
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Unholy, holy water
Leading us like lambs to the
Custom made for the self reliant
Lemonade for the thirsty giant
Heavy, heavy water
Won't wash away the sins of the father
Unholy, holy water
Leading us like lambs to the (slaughter)
The song "Heavy Water" by Styx is a commentary on the modern world and the intersection of technology with spirituality. The lyrics suggest that while science and technology have brought many benefits to society, they have also created problems and conflicts that threaten our very existence. In the first stanza, the singer muses on the meaning of life and the contradictions between scientific knowledge and mythology. He or she seems to suggest that the danger lies in our inability to control technology, which may lead to catastrophe if we are not careful.
The second stanza focuses on the impact of technology on humanity. Children play in chat rooms with strangers while satellites orbit the earth, and we are all connected by the internet and new technology. The lyrics suggest that while technology has brought many positive changes, it has also made us vulnerable to attacks and disasters. The reference to a fool who pushed a button and received no apology suggests that even in our modern age, we have not learned to respect the power of technology.
The chorus repeats the idea that heavy water cannot wash away the sins of the father, suggesting that our past mistakes continue to haunt us and threaten our future. The references to sacred cows, lemonade for the thirsty giant, and lambs led to slaughter suggest that we are blindly following outdated beliefs and practices that may ultimately lead to our destruction. Overall, the song paints a bleak picture of the modern world, but also suggests that there is hope if we learn to use technology responsibly and find new ways to live and prosper.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' here on terra firma
I am currently sitting on solid ground
It's the kind of place we were meant to be
Earth is the perfect planet for humans to live on
Out here kinda lost in space now
Although we are on Earth, we are still lost in space
Pondering life's mysteries
Contemplating the unknown aspects of life
All of minkind worship at the altar
Humans have a tendency to believe in and follow mythical beings or ideas
Of old mythology
These myths have been around for a long time
But the genie's out of the bottle
Certain things have already been done and cannot be undone
Collision course with eternity
This is leading us to a permanent end
Young children playing in the chat room
Children are engaging in technology-related activities
With the freaks and the satellites
They are interacting with unusual people and objects
Upload the nearest planet
They are sending information or attempting to reach the closest planet
Burnin' out at the speed of light
They are doing this quickly
Better living for the masses
New technology can improve the quality of life for many people
With the new technology
Innovative tools and devices can help humans
But some fool went and pushed the button
Someone triggered a disastrous event
He didn't get an apology
No one admitted fault or expressed regret for their action
Feeling good is a new sensation
The feeling of satisfaction or happiness is novel
Panacea for the Prozac nation
It can be a cure-all for a society that is prone to depression
Heavy, heavy water
Something significant and potentially harmful
Won't wash away the sins of the father
It will not cleanse past mistakes or wrongdoings
Sacred cow sizzling in the fire
A revered symbol or person is being destroyed
As we all go up in flames
Everything else is burning and being ruined
With millions of true believers
Many people still have faith in something
And their unfamiliar names
These believers might not be well-known
On the road to good intentions
People are trying to do the right thing
Blown to hell by our own inventions
Unfortunately, their creations may lead to disaster
Unholy, holy water
Something that appears holy could actually bring harm
Leading us like lambs to the slaughter
We are being led to our impending doom without realizing it
Custom made for the self reliant
Technology caters to people who can do things on their own
Lemonade for the thirsty giant
New innovations are like refreshment for people who want more
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dennis De Young, James Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind