Come Sail Away 1988828 225446141 2008-07-13T19:04:39Z Anger22 1008387 Revert to revision 225104142 dated 2008-07-11 22:08:26 by J Milburn Bot using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] {{Infobox Single | Name = Come Sail Away | Cover = ComeSailAway.jpg | Artist = [[Styx (band)|Styx]] | from Album = [[The Grand Illusion (album)|The Grand Illusion]] | B-side = Put Me On | Released = [[1977]] | Format = [[vinyl record]] 7" | Recorded = 1977 | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | Length = 3:10 (single) <br> 6:07 (album) | Label = [[A&M Records|A&M]] | Writer = [[Dennis DeYoung]] | Producer = [[Styx (band)|Styx]] | Certification = | Chart position = * #8 <small>([[USA]])</small> | Last single = "[[Crystal Ball (Styx song)|Crystal Ball]]"<br />(1977) | This single = "Come Sail Away"<br />(1977) | Next single = "[[Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)]]"<br />(1978)| }} "'''Come Sail Away'''" is a song by [[Styx (band)|Styx]] from their album ''[[The Grand Illusion (album)|The Grand Illusion]]''. One of the band's biggest hits, it was released in 1977 (see [[1977 in music]]), rising to number 8 on the Pop Singles chart and helping ''The Grand Illusion'' reach multi-platinum sales. Musically, "Come Sail Away" combines a plaintive, ballad-like opening section (including piano and synthesizer interludes) with a bombastic, guitar-heavy second half. In the middle of the second half is a [[psychedelic]] minute-long synthesizer instrumental. The lyrics, inspired by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord Of The Rings]]'', use the [[metaphor]] pursuing your goals. Styx member [[Dennis DeYoung]] revealed on ''[[In the Studio with Redbeard]]'' (which devoted an entire episode to the making of ''The Grand Illusion''), that he was depressed when he wrote the track after Styx's first two [[A&M Records|A&M]] offerings, ''[[Equinox (album)|Equinox]]'' and ''[[Crystal Ball (Styx album)|Crystal Ball]]'', sold fewer units than expected after the success of the single "[[Lady (song)|Lady]]". The track would be the regular closing track during the band's live set before the encore. DeYoung now closes nearly all of his live concert performances with a rendition of "Come Sail Away". As he approaches the end of each verse, he stops singing and cues the audience to finish the verse for him, which they do heartily. The audience can be heard very clearly singing along with DeYoung and his band during the chorus of "Come Sail Away" on DeYoung's comeback live album, ''The Music of Styx--Live with Symphony Orchestra''. ==Covers== *[[Me First and the Gimme Gimmes]] - ''[[Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah]]'' (2004). *[[Bermuda Triangle Band]] - ''Bermudas II'' (1984), ''The Missing Tapes'' (2007). ==In popular culture== {{Trivia|date=October 2007}} *The song is used as the theme of the 3rd season on ''[[Deadliest Catch]]''. *The song was featured in a school-dance scene at the end of the [[1999]] pilot episode of ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', which is set in [[1980]]. *[[Phil Hendrie]] ended the 16-year run of ''[[The Phil Hendrie Show]]'' with one of his characters singing the song. *[[South Park]] character [[Eric Cartman]] has the odd compulsion to always finish the song if he hears part of it. *In the 7th season ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' episode "Sailing Away", [[Mark Greene]] is seen playing this song at a high volume in his workshop. *In a fourth season episode of the [[NBC]] show ''[[Ed (TV series)|Ed]]'', the character Phil uses the song as part of his tribute to the recently-deceased bowler, Mr. Fish. *In July of [[2004]] the comedy improv group [[Improv Everywhere]] performed a synchronized swimming routine in a [[New York City]] fountain set to "Come Sail Away". *The song was featured in the film [[The Virgin Suicides]] during the prom scene. *Come Sail Away is a songe featured in the music video game [[Karaoke Revolution]] Presents: American Idol Encore. == External links == *[http://www.styxworld.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=137045&PT=The+Grand+Illusion Lyrics at STYXworld.com] *[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:9v6xlffescxw Song Review] at [[Allmusic]] {{Styx}} [[Category:1977 songs]] [[Category:Styx songs]] [[Category:Pop ballads]] [[ru:Come Sail Away]]