Inspiration Behind Come Sail Away:
The concept for Come Sail Away came during a band trip to Hawaii in April 1977. Styx was performing at the Crater Festival when founding member Dennis DeYoung composed this song. While on the beach, DeYoung was looking out at boats in the ocean and began imagining a journey toward something bigger. The lyrics are a metaphor chasing dreams as well as finding a better place in life.
Biblical Application:
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm, Mark 4:35-39.
Exegesis of Come Sail Away:
I’m sailing away
Set an open course for the Virgin Sea
‘Cause I’ve got to be free
Free to face the life that’s ahead of me
While observing ships from the beach, Dennis uses Virgin Sea as a metaphor to illustrate a fresh start, freedom, and the unknown. This clean slate leads to a sense of freedom as he thinks about his future.
On board, I’m the captain
So climb aboard
We’ll search for tomorrow
On every shore
And I’ll try, oh Lord, I’ll try
To carry on
Dennis is now the captain of his own boat, inviting others to come aboard as he leads the way. Before this search for tomorrow begins, Dennis offers up to pray to God tor strength to carry on in life.
I look to the sea
Reflections in the waves, spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
The waters from this beach are like a mirror, able to reflect memories from the past. This time of reflection triggers childhood dreams that Dennis may have given up on.
We lived happily forever
So the story goes
But somehow we missed out
On the pot of gold
But we’ll try, best that we can
To carry on
Story book endings sound good but are far from reality. Missing out on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Dennis musters up the strength to press on in life.
A gathering of angels
Appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope
And this is what they said
Whether part of a dream or some sort of angelic encounter, Dennis received a song of hope within his mind with the chorus listed below.
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me, lads
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me, baby
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
A call to begin again by sailing away to chart out a new path in life.
I thought that they were angels
But to my surprise
We climbed aboard their starship
We headed for the skies
An image inside of Dennis’ dreams, referring to an alien encounter, A friendly one like ET.
Singing “Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me, lads
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
The chorus serves as an invitation, to come aboard to begin a new journey in life.
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me”
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
The chorus is repeated like a final call before this ship takes off.
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Join me on this new adventure.
Final Thoughts:
Human beings all come to a crossroads in life where you have to decide if you keep going on your current path or you decide to stop for a moment of reflection. Sometime your current financial state may limit your options. However, if your mental health is worsening, drastic changes must be made. Change is never easy but as C.S, Lewis once wrote, “success is the process of arriving.” As you set sail for your next phase in life, never stop learning to avoid complacency. Go with God and God will go with you.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 