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.
On the Way
Styx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith
Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know
Show me the way, Show me the way
Bring me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away
And show me the way
And if I see your light, should I believe
Tell me how will I know
Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I'll get there someday
And please show me the way
Every night I say a prayer
In the hope that there's a heaven
"Show Me the Way" by Styx is a reflective song that expresses the singer's struggles with their faith and confusion in the world. The opening lines illustrate their prayer to go to heaven every night, but the hypocrisy of saints turning into sinners leaves them confused. The idols and legends of their childhood have fallen to clay, which has left them feeling emptiness and a loss of their faith. The first chorus repeats the plea for someone to show them a way out of their disillusionment by cleansing them in the river and washing away their illusions.
In the second verse, the singer dreams of a sacred world where there is peace, but the world is still full of hatred, and every morning, they turn on the news and see how much further they have to go. They are hopeful for a sign of what to do or where to go, but they fear they won't know it when they see it. The second chorus repeats the plea for someone to bring them to a mountain and show them a way to clarity, fulfillment and understanding. Finally, the bridge shows the singer's questioning and fear; that they will know what they're looking for when they find their way.
Overall, "Show Me the Way" is a powerful journey of spiritual questioning, pain and hope. The lyrics express the thoughts of many people who are struggling to find clarity in a confusing and turbulent world. The singer's search for guidance and meaning in life is one that we can all relate to, and the song's message is clear: we are all searching for answers, and we need guidance to show us the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven
I pray every night, hoping that there is a place called heaven.
And every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
I feel more confused every day as religious people do immoral, sinful things.
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
The people I thought were brave, admirable, and legendary have become corrupt and fake.
And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith
I feel a void in my heart, afraid that I have lost my religious beliefs.
Show me the way, show me the way
Guide me, help me find direction.
Take me tonight to the river
Take me to a place of purity and cleanliness.
And wash my illusions away
Help me be rid of my misguided beliefs and perspectives.
And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
As I fall asleep, my dreams feel special and significant for a moment.
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
I imagine a peaceful world, despite the reality of a world full of hate and violence.
That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go
Every morning, I am reminded of how much work there is to do to make the world a better place.
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know
Despite my doubts, I hope for some sort of guidance or indication that I am on the right path.
Bring me tonight to the mountain
Take me to a high place where I can gain perspective and see a broader view of the world.
And take my confusion away
Help me be less confused and more assured of my beliefs.
And if I see your light, should I believe
If I see some sort of divine indication, should I interpret it as a sign that my faith is justified?
Tell me how will I know
I am uncertain how to interpret a sign or indication that I may receive.
Give me the strength and the courage
Grant me the power and bravery to achieve my goals.
To believe that I'll get there someday
To have faith that I can eventually succeed and find fulfillment in life.
And please show me the way
I ask for guidance and direction to lead me towards a better life.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: DENNIS DEYOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S Mc
I remember when this came out in 1990. I was 23-years-old.....
.....seems like yesterday.
Where did the years go?
I blinked, & nearly 30 years have passed.
Enjoy your youth.
It passes much quicker than you realize.
Lady Willow
My husband is in a coma, I'm playing this for him now. Show him the way back to me and our children!!
Lizzie Jones
Prayers for you.
Mario Cioli
Have your husband you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Lady Willow
@Mario Cioli he passed away 😢😭😭. December 18, 2020😭😭💔
Lady Willow
@Lizzie Jones he passed away 😔😭😭
Ron Timmons
This is probably my favorite Styx song with such a positive message. So underrated. God bless us all and show us the way
Christine Sun
God bless us all and show us the way ... ~
Richard Wilde
It's my favorite as well.
Shallnot
No it's not underrated
Rick123691
Absolutely ! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🇺🇸