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.
The Grand Finale
Styx Lyrics
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Sail away superstars
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Cause your neighbors got it made
Just remember, please, it's a grand illusion
And deep inside we're all the same.
The opening lines of the song "Grand Finale" by Styx is an invocation to all the superstars out there to sail away. The song is believed to be the conclusion to the rock opera "Paradise Theatre" which portrays the story of a legendary theater and its rise and fall to evade antipathy with modern technology. The lyrics here become a commentary on the American Dream, which has always been a double-edged sword, where individuals have to navigate their way through misery to get a shot at success. The lyrics urge the superstars who have made it to this point to escape the realities of the world, which lay bare the illusion of the dream. The superstars are called upon to be free from the worldly obligations that bring confusion and be able to enjoy the fruits of their success.
The lyrics then take an ironic turn with the next lines of the song. The audience is reminded that no matter how different and impossible it might seem, everyone is connected by their shared humanity. The words advise that people should not give up hope regardless of the circumstances because everyone is all the same deep within. The lyrics here suggest that the world should not be viewed from one’s immediate surroundings but rather from the larger picture. Therefore, the song is a reflection on the American Dream and a commentary on the state of society at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sail away superstars
Go on, superstars, sail away.
Sail away superstars
The message is so important, superstars. Sail away.
So if you think your life is complete confusion
When you feel lost or overwhelmed, uncertain of what direction to take in life.
Cause your neighbors got it made
Because you see your neighbours living lavish lifestyles and presume they have it all.
Just remember, please, it's a grand illusion
Keep in mind that these material possessions are fleeting illusions and not the key to happiness.
And deep inside we're all the same.
At the core, we are all human beings with the same basic needs for love, acceptance, and belonging.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS DE YOUNG, JAMES V. YOUNG, TOMMY SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind