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.
What Have They Done To You
Styx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There must be something real
Well this mystery's a nightmare
And I don't know what to feel
Well I heard you had a hell of a time there
I guess it chilled you down to the bone
If there's one thing I can tell you
It'll never leave you less than alone
In spite of everything you told me
In spite of everything I've heard
There's nothing here that I call holy
Not a solitary word
Could you tell me what it's like on the outside
Were you really lost and out of control
Were you reaching for your freedom
When the gatekeeper called for the toll
Oh-oh, what have they done to you
Where, where have you gone
Oh-oh, I want to run to you
In spite of what you're saying
I still can't let you go
Well they say you witnessed some kind of lefe there
Was it something real or nothing at all
Or is your imagination all that's there to catch you
If you start to fall
Oh-oh, what have they done to you
Where, where have you gone
Oh-oh I want to run to you
In spite of what you're saying
I still can't let you go
Oh-oh, what have they done to you
Where, where have you gone
Oh-oh I want to run to you
In spite of what you're saying
I still can't let you go
What have they done to you
The lyrics to Styx's song "What Have They Done To You" explore the theme of a person's experience with a mysterious and possibly traumatic situation. The singer suggests that the mystery is like a nightmare, leaving them unsure what to feel. They have heard of someone else's experience and ask for details about what it was like and whether it was real or not. Despite the other person's protests that they are fine, the singer cannot let go of their concern for them.
The lyrics suggest a sense of disorientation and confusion, both for the person who experienced the mystery and for the person trying to understand it. The use of the phrase "in spite of" several times suggests a struggle to reconcile what is known with what is felt. The use of repetition in the chorus underscores the singer's longing for clarity and connection with the other person.
Overall, the lyrics to "What Have They Done To You" reflect a common human experience of grappling with unknown or confusing circumstances, as well as the urge to connect and empathize with others who may be going through similar situations.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be something out there,
The singer is expressing their belief that there is something beyond what they see in front of them.
There must be something real
The singer hopes that what they seek is not just a figment of their imagination or a dream.
Well this mystery's a nightmare
The singer feels that this unknown thing they are searching for is causing them distress and anxiety.
And I don't know what to feel
The artist is unsure of how to process their emotions regarding this mystery they are trying to solve.
Well I heard you had a hell of a time there
The artist has heard that someone they know experienced something difficult or traumatic.
I guess it chilled you down to the bone
The traumatic experience was so intense that it deeply affected the person experiencing it.
If there's one thing I can tell you
The singer is about to offer some advice or insight based on their own experiences.
It'll never leave you less than alone
Whatever the person experienced will continue to haunt them, leaving them feeling isolated and alone.
In spite of everything you told me
The artist is acknowledging that the person who had the traumatic experience has already shared their story with them.
In spite of everything I've heard
The artist may have heard rumors or other people's accounts, but they still want to know the truth from the person who experienced it firsthand.
There's nothing here that I call holy
The singer does not believe in any higher power or divine intervention that could make what happened okay.
Not a solitary word
The artist has not found any explanation or solace in anything they have heard or read about the situation.
Could you tell me what it's like on the outside
The singer wants to know how the person who suffered the traumatic experience feels now and what their life is like.
Were you really lost and out of control
The singer is wondering if the person felt completely helpless and without agency during the traumatic experience.
Were you reaching for your freedom
The singer is asking if the person tried to escape or find some way to break free from the traumatic situation.
When the gatekeeper called for the toll
The artist is using an analogy to describe how the person was caught in a situation where they had to pay a price or suffer the consequences.
Well they say you witnessed some kind of life there
The artist has heard that the person witnessed something profound or important while they were going through the traumatic experience.
Was it something real or nothing at all
The singer is skeptical and wants to know if the thing the person witnessed was legitimate or just a hallucination or delusion due to the extreme circumstances.
Or is your imagination all that's there to catch you
The singer is suggesting that maybe the person is holding onto a fantasy or an ideal in order to cope with the trauma.
If you start to fall
The artist is saying that the person may feel like they will lose control or become overwhelmed if they let go of this fantasy they've been holding onto.
Oh-oh, what have they done to you
The artist is expressing their concern and empathy for the person who went through the traumatic experience.
Where, where have you gone
The artist is acknowledging that the person may have changed and may not be the same as before the traumatic experience.
Oh-oh, I want to run to you
The singer is expressing a desire to comfort and support the person who suffered the traumatic experience.
In spite of what you're saying
The artist is acknowledging that the person may not want help, but the artist still feels compelled to try to offer support.
I still can't let you go
The singer cares deeply for the person who suffered the traumatic experience and cannot simply let them go without trying to help.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind