Come Sail Away

by

Styx

Album: The Grand Illusion

Released: 1977

Charted:

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This contains an allusion to the Bible verse of Ezekiel chapter 1:1-28 where a large wheel/cloud (depending on text) appears to Ezekiel and gives him instructions from God: "A gathering of angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said... (later in song)... I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise, they climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies." Some people believe the figure Ezekiel saw was not a messenger sent from God but an alien space craft or a time machine from the future. (thanks, tommy - indianapolis, IN)

This regained popularity in 1999 when it was used in the raunchy, animated cartoon show South Park. One of the characters, Cartman, was compelled to sing it every so often. Cartman's version was released on a soundtrack album and the song was introduced to a new generation.

Styx performed this during the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa. Swashbucklers sailed into the stadium pirate ship while the band performed.

This being the '70s, radio stations played a big role in promoting songs, and program directors could often be swayed with gifts of money and drugs. Payola, was of course, illegal, but that didn't stop Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw and the band's promo man Jim Cahill from traveling to many of the stations with bags of cocaine in an effort to get more airplay for this song. The tactic worked; Cahill explained on the Styx Behind The Music that program directors were like penguins, since they'd follow you around if you had "snow."

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Comments (53):

One of the best songs of all time. The entire Grand Illusion is awesome. Styx is the most awesome band ever.

- Sean, Chicago, IL

Saw Styx and REO Speedwagon together several years ago and it was just an amazing show. REO opened they just tore it up. They used to really rock before they got into the power ballad garbage in the early 80s. But Styx was just amazing. This song was done near the end of their set and they just let it rip.

- Terry, Colchester, VT

Best song Styx ever did! Amazing! This song is wonderful! I love when bands play this at halftime shows or competitons because usually it's a trumpet solo at the beginning and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!

- Megan, Stevenson, AL

Come sail away;Yes!This song is not about sailing in the water;is a massage from Heaven.Each time l listen to this music,my soul raises to heaven and i experience inner peace.Godwin Raphael, Nigeria.

- Godwin Otinyi, Abuja, Nigeria

What I never understood was why the single edit of this song was chopped down so much. I could see taking out the bridge, since to some people, that tends to go on and on, but why take out the second verse? That was a little overkill, IMO. By doing that, they pretty much hacked the song in half.
- Chris , LaPorte, IN

This song, in its full version, clocks in at over 6 minutes in length. Back in 1977, AM radio ruled the day and they didn't play songs that were much over 3 minutes. A lot of singles from that decade received similar treatment, unfortunately.

- Cheryle, Columbus, OH

I have to say I first heard this song on South Park, but the original is still the best. It makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time.

- Kyl, Mesa, AZ

I simply love this song. It's probably one of the few songs that can get me to cry.

- Zachary, State College, PA

This song was on the pilot episode of 'Freaks and Geeks' best show ever. Love this song

- Karissa, Olympia, WA

Oh by the way, I must confess myself amused by this below comment "I always thought they were saying 'f...ing sail away with me'." Haha... Andra, I'm gunna think those words into the song every time I hear it. Probably not even on purpose!

- Drew, B'ham, AL

The bridge in C-Sharp minor (G-Sharp minor chords, of course) sounds somewhat watery, sci-fi-ish, & highly celestial. Very relevant right after the lyrics "A gathering of angels appeared above my head". Every time I hear the bridge I picture ascension into heaven. Styx is one of a kind! Keep it up!

- Drew, B'ham, AL

I've always thought Dennis DeYoung was one of the best enunciators in the music business. Great song by any standard.

- Wayne, Crockett, TX

If you want to read more on the Ezekial reference as being an extraterrestrial visitation, read Erich von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods"

- Cyberpope, Richmond, Canada

I love the beginning of this song with the singing and instrumental background and I like the seond half where it becomes a sci-fi fantasy song, but I wish the first half could've been a longer song completely separate from it's second half! Ya know, two totally different songs! :)

- Janetlee, Panama City, FL

This song is amazing and I love this song live. I never got to see them with Dennis, but Lawrence Gowan is AWESOME. I love how he intros the song, he just revs the crowd up for it knowing that it is going to be a sing-a-long every time. Great song!

- Mia, Syracuse, NY

Come Sail Away is obviously a metaphor. It's always reminded me about the story The Odyssey [which some people think is also a metaphor...], especially since their name is Styx.

- Rachael, Caledonia, IL

I always thought they were saying "come sail away, come sail away, f...ing sail away with me"

My kids still bust me for singing the wrong words, but of course I never sang this version in front of them.

- andra, vista, CA

- Chris, LaPorte, IN

omg! i love the chorus of this song! it's the best part! does anyone else but me recognize this song from the Virgin Suicides? i love that movie and they play this song at the prom! i love it!

- janet, Mallorytown, ON

The Cartman version is funny, but Styx is alot better in general.

- Jake, Columbia City, IN

I love this song to death!!!!
The piano gets me every time

- Allie, Pine Knob, MI

"This song is so cheesy, bad and over the top, that it's good; gotta love early 80's arena rock...
- J, NYC, NY"

Except for the fact that it was released in 1977 and in no way could possibly be considered early '80s arena rock. Two completely different eras.

- Cindy, Tempe, AZ

By the way, this song is so uncool, that this makes it cool. Think about that!

IHOP Club RULES!!!!!!!!

- Rob, Detroit , MI

One of my personal theme songs. I love it. Also, my favorite use of it was when it soundtracked the finale to the first episode of the now defunct, vastly underrated TV program, "Freaks and Geeks," which also happens to be my favorite TV show. Just thought I'd mentiont that.

- Rob, Detroit , MI

I freaking love this song! It makes me wants to go away and sail away!

- Andrew, Bartlett, TN

Ahh, this song is unique. Styx runs this song through in C minor (well, it sounds major in many ways). Styx runs into the bridge in C sharp minor; it makes you think it's gonna stay in that key to the end. But then, when the bridge is over, it's back down one half step - the key in which it began. That's pretty spiffy and catchy. Long live Styx!!

- andrew, birmingham, United States

Posted on 11/5/2007. Has got to be considered as one of the greatest classic rock songs of all-time. This song just soars! Styx was one of my favorite bands back in the late 70's & early 80's, and this was probably their signature song. I was lucky enough to have seen them in concert twice when Dennis DeYoung was still with the band in 1996 & 1997, and have seen them several times since without him. They held their own, but the 2 shows with Dennis were very good shows. I also saw Dennis not too long ago in 2005 solo. He was good. Too bad he & the band are no longer getting along.

- David, Deerfield Beach, FL

When I swore my alliance to only punk/new wave in the late 70's this song had to go. Now that I am older I can appreciate it again. It really is a great song.

- Scott, Palm Desert, CA

Alice Cooper claims this is probably the gayest rock song ever.

- Genevieve, North Melbourne

I don't care what anyone says, I will always like this song, and I will always love the Cartman version.

- J, Jackson, GA

I saw Styx perform with Aerosmith in Providence RI back around 1978-79. I was there for my belowed Aerosmith but I remember being blown away by Styx' performance of this song. Wow, it was like Yes meets Bad Co.

- Lalah, Wasilla, AK

Sometimes I have trouble believing that Styx actually wrote this song. Boy oh boy. That first one minute and 30 seconds (piano and vocal only) man...LOL...even Mozart would have applauded. This song was their moment in the sun. Well done.

- Richard, NYC, NY

Does anybody else think Final Fantasy when they hear the music.

- Noah, Fortaleza, Brazil

This is the best effin song EVER. Period.

This was gonna be my eighth-grade graduation class song...but no, I was denied also. There is no other song in the world that can even it up with "Come Sail Away"...this is the song of all songs! Alleluia and amen! No matter who you are, or what music you like...you gotta love "Come Sail Away." There is nothing more magical than when you're at a Styx concert and everybody raises their lighters into the darkness and sings along with the epic lyrics to "Come Sail Away".

I cry every time.

Styx owns, bebe!

- Donna, Neosho, WI

This song is so cheesy, bad and over the top, that it's good; gotta love early 80's arena rock...

- J, NYC, NY

Has anyone ever read the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", this is what I think of when I hear it.

- Adam, greenfield, IN

loved the piano intro; i should try and play it. i didn't like the faster, second half. i manage to get through it, but the first part is the best, imho.

- Grace, conway, AR

i was at a club/restaurant in Ashville North Carolina last week. In the downstairs, there was the bar area where the houseband performed. They did covers of songs. This was one of them, and the lead singer sang the second verse just like Cartman. After that he sang the theme-song to the Southpark Musical. I really don't watch Southpark, but this was funny! When the guy wasn't singing like Cartman, he sounded a little like Billy Jole. The guy singing was laughing and had a hard time keeping it together.

- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

best song ever.

- Bob, Rio Vista, CA

The album this song comes from, "The Grand Illusion" was a themed album, like "Kilroy". The entire theme of the album is that things are not always what they seem. "Come Sail Away"'s reference to aliens in the starship (I thought that they were angels, etc..) follows this theme. The dreams the singer had in the past, which he thought would come true, haven't.

- Jay, Glen Burnie, MD

i am a young child who is not caught up in the new wacky hip hop age and this song is my favorite it has awsome singing and love the slow to fast tempo love this song

- Matt, Haddon Hieghts, NJ

awesome song. sadly, styx has very few songs that i could say this about, one of them being the Grand Illusion

- Travis, Phoenix, NY

This is such a great piece to play on piano!!! I play it at least everyday.

- Deo, Annandale, VA

I tried to get this to be my class song... sadly I was denied...

- Clayton, Blount County, AL

Sweet song! must bye CD it calls to me! My precious!

- Erica, Hampstead, NC

Used by a commercial TV station in Sydney Australia as a promo piece, it was set to video of an 18ft skiff sailboat sponsored by the station travelling flat out across Sydney Harbour in a stiff wind. For anyone who has ever sailed anything quick, or gone fast in or on anything at all this should put shivers up the spine!!

- Rob, Sydney, Australia

Every time I hear this song I'm like Cartman I have to sing it, it's just one of those things.

- Erica, Hampstead, NC

Patches together Dennis DeYoung's somewhat shmaltzy verses with a rocking chorus by Tommy Shaw, with a sequenced synth break in the middle. I don't think the song is about anything much. Pretty standard rock-superstar-now-a-space-star thing, which was all the rage at the time. (Calling Occupants, Spaceship Superstar, Mission (A New World Record)).

- Chris, Port Hawkesbury, Canada

The chorus of the song (with different lyrics) is from a song from Tommy Shaw's old band MS Funk, called "Ain't Going Down"

- Brian, Medford, OR

not a bad song.. I have had the chance to see them in concert...Loved every bit of it.

- Jonathan, Oklahoma City, OK

This song is not about sailing in the water; it deals with aliens.
"A gathering of angels appeared above my head"
"I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies"

- Ben, Winston-Salem, NC

How is take me apart a parody on come sail away the tune could not be the same.

- aaron, Seward, AK

Best Styx song ever. Guitarist James Young does bridge synth part. The song itself is mostly about childhood goals and dreams, but the last verse is about alien abduction.

- Robert, Chicago, IL

This was also used for Unionvilles Grade 10 Clown show! Oh ya

- Sarah, Toronto, Canada

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