Come Sail Away

For the compilation on 2 CDs, see Come Sail Away – The Styx Anthology.

"Come Sail Away" is a song by American rock group Styx, written and sung by singer and songwriter Dennis DeYoung and featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion (1977). Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" peaked at #8 in January 1978 on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum sales in 1978. It is one of the biggest hits of Styx's career.

"Come Sail Away"
US and Dutch vinyl picture sleeve
Single by Styx
from the album The Grand Illusion
B-side	"Put Me On"
Released	August 1977 (US)[1]
Recorded	1977
Genre	Progressive pop[2] Arena rock[3]
Length	3:10 (Single Version) 6:07 (Album Version) 4:30 (w/o instrumental)[4]
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Dennis DeYoung
Producer(s)	Styx
Styx singles chronology
"Crystal Ball" (1977) "Come Sail Away" (1977) "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" (1978)
Alternate cover

Background

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 offerings, Equinox and Crystal Ball, sold fewer units than expected after the success of the single "Lady".^[5]

Writing

Lyrically, the song uses sailing as a metaphor to achieve one's dreams. The lyrics touch on nostalgia of "childhood friends," escapism, and a religious thematic symbolized by "a gathering of angels" singing "a song of hope." The ending lyrics explain a transition from a sailing ship into a starship, by narrating that "they climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies".

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 of the album version is a minute-long synthesizer-heavy instrumental break.

"Come Sail Away" is in the key of C major.

Personnel

• Dennis DeYoung – lead vocals, piano, synthesizer
• Tommy Shaw – lead guitar, backing vocals
• James Young – rhythm guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals
• Chuck Panozzo – bass
• John Panozzo – drums

Reception

Cash Box said that "a solitary voice introduces the melody to light piano accompaniment" and that then "the pure fury of the drum, guitar and vocal explosion that follows will pleasantly startle expectations."^[6] Record World said that "The melody here is most appealing; the message of escape seems just right for the spirit of the seventies."^[7]

Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated "Come Sail Away" as Styx's 7th greatest song, calling it "one of the all time great power ballads."^[8]

In the United States, "Come Sail Away" reached #8 on Billboard and spent two weeks at #9 on Cash Box. The song also peaked at #9 in Canada. On superstation WLS-AM in their home city of Chicago, the song spent two weeks at #3^[9] and was ranked at #26 for the year.^[10]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1977-1978) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 9 Canada Top Singles (CRIA)[12] 14 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 82 U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[15] 67