These Are The Times by Styx

Album: Cyclorama (2003)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Sung by guitarist James Young, "These Are The Times" is a track from Cyclorama, the first Styx album without Dennis DeYoung. Young explained: "'These Are the Times' is really an intervention song and what the lyrics are have kind of evolved - what they are at this stage and what they were when Tommy and I first wrote it. When we first started working on it was seven years ago, it was more about, Tommy was heavily involved, and still is, with drug interventions, and very supportive of a lot of groups that do work in that field and I've been through a number of those, notably with our dearly departed first drummer John Panozzo. The song was about intervening in someone's life, kind of in a way that Chuck (Panozzo), who is now openly a gay man who has come out and announced that he's HIV-positive and his struggles with this - it's about supporting him. Ultimately, what the lyrics finally evolved into, in a way, was the passing of my younger brother from a lymphoma and when we had to take him off life support. When we were in his room, everyone was around crying and it was very emotional and from the next room comes the sound of Jimi Hendrix' 'Purple Haze.' This is in the intensive care unit and I said, 'This is my brother speaking to me, speaking to us.' And it lightened the mood. 'I hear voices from beyond the veil,' it sort of inspired that line, Tommy and I collaborated on that. So that song has kind of become about helping those, that there is something to live for, for those that think there isn't."

Comments: 5

Sandra Buckett from WiEvery time I hear this song I think of all my family that I have lost, my sister and concert buddy, and I think of JYs lovely wife Susie.
Mia from Syracuse, NyThis is a very moving and heart felt song. I really,really like this song. Bob was already addressed so I won't repeat. I really like the Cyclorama album and the band is very proud of that work. Tommy and JY are an AWESOME team!
Sam from Lockport, IlOkay, for those of you who aren't truely Styx fans, aka those who commented before me, this song is in fact titled "These Are The Times" which is a song off of the newer album Cyclorama. It was written after John's death, and does pretty much signify what Styx is about. I'm 20 and I know this. Plus, the carrot that is tattooed on my ankle is the cover of this album. Thank you.
Scott from Chattanooga, TnBob, The Best of Times was released prior to Johns(Panozzo)death, on the Paradise Theater album. This, unfortunately, is a song that I am unfamiliar with. Due to the splits that this great band endured thru the years, I stopped listening to anything that didn't include the original members.(from Tommys entrance into the band)The band broke... J.Y., Tommy, Chuck, and Dennis, due to strained relationships, musical direction, and health problems. I owe my love & inspiration for being a guitarist to Tommy and J.Y., so the past comments are in no way ment to be taken as negative.(As I speak Queen of Spades is playing in the background...)
Bob from Rio Vista, Caits supposed to be "the best of times".

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Radio Free EuropeR.E.M.

Michael Stipe hadn't finished the lyrics when R.E.M. recorded "Radio Free Europe." He calls the vocal "complete babbling."

Cathy's ClownThe Everly Brothers

The first single to simultaneously top the UK and US charts was The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" in May 1960.

We were all party rocking in 2011 with the global smash "Party Rock Anthem," but rap fans know the "Everyday I'm shufflin'" line is a take on "Everyday I'm hustlin'" from the 2006 Rick Ross track "Hustlin'."

Afternoon DelightStarland Vocal Band

The Starland Vocal Band got the title "Afternoon Delight" from the late-afternoon appetizer menu at the restaurant Clyde's Of Georgetown in Washington, DC.

ZombieThe Cranberries

"Zombie" by The Cranberries is about an IRA bombing in England that killed two children.

ChangesDavid Bowie

The movie The Breakfast Club opens with a passage from David Bowie's "Changes" ("And these children that you spit on...")