Mr. Tommy Shaw
Written by Bob (Aku Aku) Young
To the tune of Mr. Roboto, written by Dennis DeYoung
Domo arigato, Mr. Tommy Shaw
Thank you very much, Mr. Tommy Shaw
For kicking me when I'm down
Thank you very much, Mr. Tommy Shaw
For answering not a sound
They're wondering where I am (secret, secret, it's no secret)
Why I'm not with the band (secret, secret, it's no secret)
You've gone to tour Japan (secret, secret, it's no secret)
I am the absent man
I've got a secret I've been hiding under my skin
My bandmates screwed me, my blood is boiling, my patience now thin
So if you see me talking 'bout it, don't be surprised
I'm just a man who's, been wronged greatly, Tommy don't hide
You've poisoned my right, to keep Styx alive
Tommy don't hide, Let's keep Styx alive
I'm not a robot without emotions-I'm hurt can't you see
I've called to try to solve our problems, so Styx can be us three
I'm not a villain, you're not a savior, I'm headstrong I know
But at the helm I, guided us to, number one although
I made decisions, that were not pop'lar
I had control-but didn't we go far
I am the absent man, (secret, secret, it's no secret)
Who drove this band to where (secret, secret, it's no secret)
It was a world success (secret, secret, it's no secret)
Now you'll wreck what was there
Domo arigato, Mr. Tommy Shaw, domo...domo
Domo arigato, Mr. Tommy Shaw, domo...domo
Domo arigato, Mr. Tommy Shaw, domo...domo
Thank you very much, Mr. Tommy Shaw
For doing the job that fans didn't want you to
And thank you very much, Mr. Tommy Shaw
For messing this up, the opportunities
Thank you-thank you, thank you
I want to thank you, please, thank you
The problem's plain to see: poor Tommy wants to lead
You couldn't in Yankees. Just with my songs sans me.
The time has come at last (secret, secret, it's no secret)
To throw away your mask (secret, secret, it's no secret)
So everyone can see (secret, secret, it's no secret)
You're true identity...
You're a Killjoy! Killjoy! Back stabbing Killjoy!
Interpretation
It all started with the release of Brave New World. Tommy Shaw and James Young wanted to release the album in the summer of 1999 and immediately tour to support the album. Dennis DeYoung was suffering from a mysterious illness that baffled doctors and left him unable to tour. He also wanted more time to finish the album. The album was released that summer over Dennis' objections, and the band went on the road with Lawrence Gowan filling in for Dennis and Glen Burtnik returning to fill in for Chuck Panozzo, who had previously decided to retire. Rumors started surfacing on the Internet, interviews and on-line chats with band members revealed conflicting and changing stories. Flame wars erupted on the various Styx e-mail lists as the fans polarized over the band's internal issues. Meanwhile, the Styx tour continued without Dennis, whose health improved enough to begin a highly-acclaimed solo tour with a 50-piece orchestra. This parody takes Dennis' point of view in the conflict, offering many of the arguments that both he and his fans have made on the subject.
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