Styx - Mother Dear Lyrics






Lonely feelings in the city
One room flat with crumbling walls
Sirens play a distant melody
Neon shadows paint the halls

In the thirteen months I've spent here
With my manuscript and rhymes
I've paid in cash for foolish pleasures
Mother dear you'd call them crimes

Raise the roof
Light the lite
Mother dear I'm returning tonight
Now I see
Your concern
Mother dear how you taught me to learn

I been a Roman for survival
Showing two sides of my face
I need the comfort of your wisdom
I'm coming home to your embrace

If by chance I pass before you
Don't discount my gratitude
You're responsible for me here
And of course my attitude

Raise the roof
Light the lite
Mother dear I'm returning tonight
Now I see
Your concern
Mother dear how you taught me to learn

Stayin' up half the night
Wonderin' if what I'm doin' is right
Raise the roof
Light the lite
Mother dear I'm returning tonight





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Styx Mother Dear Comments
  1. c.... b....

    great album!

  2. T.... B....

    MY ALL TIME FAVE STYX TUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. T.... H....

    Great album great song♥️👍🏻

  4. B.... B....

    I've loved this song for 43 years since, I'd first heard it on the album! ❤️❤️❤️

  5. p.... d....

    best styx album

  6. 6.... ....

    i remember going to our local record store when this album came out and the guy is like ; hey bud have you heard this new STYX album ? i’m like no never heard of them..then he proceeds to drop the needle on “ born for adventure “ and the middle part that goes wo wo wo and the delay effect ... wow 😮 had never heard anything like it at the time ... SOLD ! 👍🏻☮️🇨🇦 long live classic rock 🤘

  7. E.... C....

    This is one of my favorite Styx songs of all time. I've searched and searched for a live version of this song, but can't find one. Can anybody help me out?

  8. D.... W....

    ah to be 17 again junior in high school again great album great time to be alive. ah yes the days living in cicero illinois miss those days bad

  9. P.... S....

    Styx ---my Band!

  10. V.... S....

    This is my all-time-favorite Styx tune. I've been a fan for 45+ yrs.

  11. V.... M....

    lol. What hunks.

  12. i.... ....

    styx- the pride of chicago!!!!!

  13. S.... &....

    Great song indeed.

  14. s.... ....

    Many people may not know this, but John Curulewski died in 1988 of a brain aneurysm. I was stunned when I found out. RIP John.

    s.... ....

    smalltownman73 His alcoholism caused his death.

  15. B.... A....

    Excerpt form my childhood's soundtrack!

  16. R.... D....

    Our state of Illinois may be run by complete corrupt idiots but make no mistake we Illinoisans produced some kick ass bands in the 60's, 70's , 80's including Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, Survivor, Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes, The Boyzz, The Hounds, Head East, and of course Styx

    R.... D....

    CHICAGO....the band :-)

    R.... D....

    how could you not even mention Chicago Transit Authority

  17. P.... D....

    Live forever you guys in Styx.What an inspirational song.If i was feeling down in the dumps and needed something to lift me up out of the pit well this song would do it.

  18. R.... F....

    I love the great "fade in" at the beginning.

  19. P.... D....

    This song should be played to every Mother on Mothers Day.What an ass-kickin song.

  20. W.... H....

    JC's only contribution to Equinox. Great song, very atmospheric. I wonder if they played it during the album tour with Tommy?

    W.... H....

    Only 1yr late but yes they did. They played the entire Equinox album on their Crystal Ball tour. I saw that tour in Feb of 77 and it remains one of my fondest memories.

  21. S.... M....

    Written by the late great John Curulewski. Styx definitely lost some of that classic hard rock sound when he departed. Tommy brought his own skills but boy, John was a magnificent guitarist

    S.... M....

    Stephen Moore Actually, he was a fairly weak guitar player.

  22. G.... W....

    Great use of synths on this track.

  23. J.... F....

    One of my favorite songs from the album!

    J.... F....

    Mine, too!! ❤️❤️❤️

  24. G.... C....

    Great album. I was 15 when this was released. Did a lot of growing up to this record. Chicago area.

    G.... C....

    I was 14

    G.... C....

    I was not born for decades but this song is still amazing.

  25. W.... H....

    HOLY ... FREEEKUN..mmmm...MMooooolie!

  26. h.... ....

    Lonely feelings in the city
    One room flat with crumbling walls
    Sirens play a distant melody
    Neon shadows paint the halls
    In the thirteen months I've spent here
    With my manuscript and rhymes
    I've paid in cash for foolish pleasures
    Mother dear you'd call them crimes




    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight
    Now I see
    Your concern
    Mother dear how you taught me to learn




    I been a Roman for survival
    Showing two sides of my face
    I need the comfort of your wisdom
    I'm coming home to your embrace




    If by chance I pass before you
    Don't discount my gratitude
    You're responsible for me here
    And of course my attitude




    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight
    Now I see
    Your concern
    Mother dear how you taught me to learn




    Stayin' up half the night
    Wonderin' if what I'm doin' is right
    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight

  27. i.... ....

    Grew up a stoner listened to all the typical stuff...tired of it all. Only listened to a couple of Styx songs but never knew they were Styx songs. I heard they came out with new album called The Mission so I figure id try it out. Holy Jesus, Amazing! All Of IT!

  28. K.... L....

    fan of Equinox - DDY is awesome - kinda a pain in the ass. Whatever. Great band!

  29. W.... C....

    Played this in the high school halls in 1977. Had a cassette player in my Adidas gym bag.

    W.... C....

    World Coming Down 5777: My high school's discjockey would play this song and "Light Up" every morning. Reminds me well of those days in 1977. Good times prevailed.

    W.... C....

    I forgot about high school disc jockeys in the cafeteria. The AV room.
    2 high school cassettes survived...this and Dire Straits Communique.

  30. B.... S....

    I had this album in 1980 and listened to it a lot and always liked this song the most for some reason.Great overall album.

    B.... S....

    I still have their early albums...
    Styx was and is my band

  31. J.... C....

    Yeah it sounds like early The Who or Yes

  32. F.... S....

    my first apartment second floor home sick for my girl friend nobody spoke English in my neighborhood 3000 miles from home this song played on my record player each night stoned off my ass.

  33. F.... S....

    Lonely feelings in the city
    One room flat with crumbling walls
    Sirens play a distant melody
    Neon shadows paint the halls

    In the thirteen months I've spent here
    With my manuscript and rhymes
    I've paid in cash for foolish pleasures
    Mother dear you'd call them crimes

    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight
    Now I see
    Your concern
    Mother dear how you taught me to learn

    I been a Roman for survival
    Showing two sides of my face
    I need the comfort of your wisdom
    I'm coming home to your embrace

    If by chance I pass before you
    Don't discount my gratitude
    You're responsible for me here
    And of course my attitude

    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight
    Now I see
    Your concern
    Mother dear how you taught me to learn

    Stayin' up half the night
    Wonderin' if what I'm doin' is right
    Raise the roof
    Light the lite
    Mother dear I'm returning tonight

  34. A.... Y....

    They sound like a Yes/Kansas hybrid.

    A.... Y....

    Alex Yamach all prog rock

    A.... Y....

    No. It sounds like Styx. Because it's Styx!

    A.... Y....

    I've always said in their prime Styx would have crushed Carry on My Wayward Song

    A.... Y....

    @Mike O'Moran I don't see how anybody could do a better version of "Carry On". Great song! Awesome arrangement! Awesome vocals!

    A.... Y....

    They sound like Styx in their prime.

  35. B.... I....

    ITs 1979 ( im 13 years old ) and we are Cruising around our small town in a 67 Chevelle with my neighbor and listening to this smoking a joint and it was right then that I became cool. Thanks for posting - took me right back to that day ! Wow how music does that to ya :) hell yeah ! Rock and Roll Brothers !!

    B.... I....

    Me too but I had a 69 Firebird!

  36. E.... C....

    Interesting song as far as synthesizers are concerned ....  Dennis is playing the fat, lead synth lines on a Minimoog (Equinox was the only Styx album to feature a Minimoog) while JC plays various sound effects (resonance sweeps in the intro and white noise sweeps elsewhere) on his ARP 2600.   Nice use of delay effects on the synths, organ, piano, and guitars give this song a very progressive space-rock vibe reminiscent of early Pink Floyd.

    E.... C....

    Actually, they used a Moog on "The Serpent Is Rising" also. Also on this song, they used either real or imitated whale songs for some of the sound effects.

    E.... C....

    It's not his only album he used Moog on, but one of the few. Their debut album featured the Moog 10 modular synthesizer, which they were recording when ELP's "Lucky Man" came out on the radio, the first hit song from a rock band to use a synthesizer. DDY's cover story in the Jan 1981 Keyboard Magazine explained from album to album. This song "Mother dear" more than any on this album makes use of the Moog. "Suite Madame Blue", the best known song from this album, still featured the ARP Pro Soloist for the solo. Sadly, the only known film/video of a live performance his Pro Soloist cut out in the middle of the solo. Probably a bad cable. The ARP & Oberheim share some design since Tom Oberheim had schematics and was an ARP dealer before designing his own synths. So when DDY switched to Oberheim, his solos still sounded similar to the ARP.

    E.... C....

    @n8goulet
    The System 10 was the least costly modular system Moog produced then. Later, it was the System 15, which lasted through the early 1980s.

    E.... C....

    I know DDY said he used a MiniMoog on Equinox in the 1981 Keyboard magazine article, but he's been known to make mistakes recalling his gear when talking to KB before.

    I think what he meant was he used a MiniMoog on this album. It does not mean he didn't "also" use his trusty old ARP Pro Soloist on the album as well. He used it for most albums prior, and continued to use it on Crystal Ball, such as the synth solo on the title track & "Put me on"

    I owned the exact same model Pro Soloist he had. In fact, I had Dennis sign it for me on stage!

    When I hear the synth solo in "Suite Madame Blue", it sounds like a Pro Soloist to me, not a Mini Moog. Further evidence, on YouTube you can see him playing it back in 1976 on the Pro Soloist. Sadly, the only known film of him playing the Pro Soloist, after a couple notes either he had a bad 1/4" cable to the instrument, mixer, etc or the Pro Soloist failed. This is one of the reasons I replaced my Pro Soloist with a software clone. Also, the autograph did not come up. Bad pen we gave him! Only a slight impression if you were to spray paint it or something. I'm hoping someone has a cell phone video of him talking to me in front of the audience about signing this synth.

    Now, if you have other evidence he really did use a MiniMoog for the solo of Suite Madame Blue (one of my favorite tracks), I'd like to hear about it.

    E.... C....

    @n8goulet N8, I agree with 99.999% of everything you say, but the synth that Dennis solos on in the album version of "Suite Madame Blue" is absolutely a Minimoog and sounds exactly like my Minimoog. The only way it could possibly be a pro-Soloist is if it was multi-tracked and I seriously doubt it. The "Live at Winterland" version of "Suite" uses the Pro-Soloist and it sounds exactly like my Pro-Soloist. In fact, my Pro-Soloist used to cut-out the exact same way Dennis' did in that video until I replaced the jack and fixed a bad solder joint that connected that jack to the filter board via a pair of twisted wires.

  37. M.... ....

    One thing about Styx is that their music makes you visualize things. no one comes close to their style of music. They seem to be able to seamlessly blend other genres like Jazz and classical to name a couple. They have a real ethereal / atmoshperic sound, plus they harmonize so well. You can lay down and just imagine things. The only other group I can say is a distant 2nd is Rush.

  38. M.... ....

    Love the album, and I think Chuck came up with some of the most boss art concepts for albums that I've ever seen, but the photo at 3:45 is probably one of the most gayest photos of heterosexual men (excluding Chuck) I've seen.

  39. S.... B....

    Somebody made a comment they have never heard and for 40 years a fan ??? . Must have lived in an area that had a crappy radio station and only 1 rock one to pull in. Hugely.... it is due to the demise of AOR radio, and there could be at night at least but it all ties into classic rocks formula of playing discount bin music. Just like the video store where movies are 5 for a buck or free, this is what radio stations play as some have to just to stay on the air but others are due to be clueless or to cheap to pay for music and those stations can be known by the lack of open request phone lines. Call your local station and tell them to start playing this.

  40. g.... ....

    Great song... great album. Thanks for posting.

  41. D.... ....

    Last song with lead vocals by John C.

    D.... ....

    Sadly he would not get a chance to reunite with his former bandmates... he died in 1988 of complications from his being afflicted with a brain aneurysm!

    D.... ....

    That John C on the synth intro or DDY?

  42. c.... m....

    This was a quintessential American progressive hard rock album.  This is the genre that should land Styx easily in the rock and roll hall of fame.  Tommy Shaw mentioned that this was his favorite Styx album before he joined the group and toured this album.  Styx was a great, great band even before Tommy joined.  He of course made it even better in my view.

    c.... m....

    "Styx" actually refers to the mythical River Styx in Hell. After guitarist/singer James (J. Y.) Young joined the existing quartet of Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards), John (J. C.) Curulewski (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and the brothers Panozzo (Chuck, bass; and John, drums) before signing with Wooden Nickel Records, this name was chosen because "nobody hated it."

    c.... m....

    Well yeah, I already know the story and everything. I was introduced to the band before I could walk, so I just didn't know it *then.* Some of my earliest memories are of asking my dad if we could listen to Castle Walls again.

    c.... m....

    Kansas was the quintessential band!

    c.... m....

    This was the BEST Styx album. Awesome

  43. S.... s....

    JC may be singing on this but i hear Dennis as well.  vocal harmonies.  

    S.... s....

    @ybrix101 I've always been confused as to who sang lead on this song. My guess is JC sings the verses and Dennis sings the chorus. Also, has anyone figured out what they're singing at the very end?

    S.... s....

    @TAFARockWarrior97 At the end, I'm pretty sure they are saying "bye-bye, soon you'll know". Pretty interesting, in that I think they are referring to (anybody's) mother, perhaps in her life's dying twilight, offering a last little bit of wisdom for her precious son: Be good, stay on the straight and narrow; you'll soon perfectly understand for yourself what I was trying to teach you about.

    S.... s....

    @Paul White Or they were referring to JC who was leaving the band soon afterward. Unfortunately JC died at age 38 in 1988 from a brain hemorrhage.

    S.... s....

    @Diostillrocks It's possible, though a book I read about Styx says that isn't likely.

    S.... s....

    I know everyone says that JC sings this but I gotta say it sounds more like Dennis than JC.

  44. s.... ....

    Who was the deaf tight ass that disliked this?!

    s.... ....

    Now there are 5 of them! LOL

    s.... ....

    Well those 5 can kiss my ass!

  45. m.... ....

    listen to this in 77'. read the hobbit,saw star wars

    m.... ....

    Did RUSH lead you there ? To the Hobbit I mean !

  46. E.... ....

    Styx fan for 40 years and never have heard of this album or the songs off of it.  What a shame... (exception of Lora lei).... Never heard any of the others... why not?  Was anything on the radio on this one?  Anyone? 

    E.... ....

    @ELLEON1959
    Perhaps the reason you never heard of Styx on the radio is that Styx didn't exist then. The artists you mentioned were popular years before Styx even formed.

    There are 3 songs from this album that gets quite a bit of airplay and Suite Madam Blue has been a Styx concert staple for years.

    E.... ....

    A lot of that album got airtime here, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada. Midnight ride was real big around here when I was a teen.

    E.... ....

    Light Up and Suite Madame Blue got a fair amount of airplay in the late 70s and early 80s here

    E.... ....

    Jimmie Z No, that was four triple platinum in a row, for illusion, pieces, cornerstone and p. Theater. Equinox didn't go platinum in America, only Canada, and Crystal Ball didn't go platinum either.

    E.... ....

    Jimmie Z Well, Cornerstone might have only gone double platinum.

  47. F.... ....

    Still have it on Vinyl!!!

    F.... ....

    got it on 8 track!

    F.... ....

    Cassette here!

    F.... ....

    Reel to reel (columbia never gave me my nickel back!)

  48. f.... s....

    the first time i listening STYX uauuuuu.

  49. W.... ....

    HEY.....

  50. W.... ....

    this a cool song regardless of whatever had to live it. HOKA

  51. S.... ....

    Of course. And me too. :)

  52. S.... ....

    Age doesn't matter; There are only people with good taste in music. It's ultimately their loss, and it's not just "kids" -- There are "old" folks who were around when this came out but don't like it.

  53. S.... ....

    A lot of Styx fans will point you to The Grand Illusion or Paradise Theater if they ask you about the best Styx albums...

    But for me; I could never overlook Equinox. it's not THE best Styx album, but it's among the best. I actually like it a little more than Crystal Ball.

    Mother Dear and Lonely Child are two of my personal favorites and both underrated songs.

    This isn't quite where they were at with The Grand Illusion but it's pretty close. Definitely a must-listen-to if you're a fan.

  54. B.... C....

    hartley81848184 is right; there's a group photo on the inner sleve of the Equinox LP. Unfortunately, Styx CDs are shit. I don't think they've been remastered or rereleased since the CD first emerged as a format! So, in addition to being too quiet, and lacking bass, the Equinox CD does not have the picture, or even a lyric sheet.
    I also remember the Crystal Ball LP had GREAT liner notes, biographies of each member, and NONE of it is in the CD release (which sounds, again, like shit.)

  55. B.... C....

    Thank you for posting this! This might be my favorite John Curulewski song.
    As usual with JC, these are unique lyrics. As far as I can tell, it's a topic no one else in rock had yet covered. It's so *creepy*: "You're responsible for me here / And of course my attitude."
    For a man in the rock-music genre to write about his relationship with his mother is VERY brave and off the beaten path. Not 'til Roger Waters wrote Pink Floyd's The Wall was it explored again, to my knowledge.

    B.... C....

    how about The Police?

    B.... C....

    "Mother" by Lennon is quintessential.

  56. B.... C....

    I wouldn't criticize anybody - Tommy OR JC - for declining to sing this song live. It's a falsetto vocal throughout, and it's hard to "project" one's voice much in falsetto. I'm guessing JC probably had a really "hot" microphone in the studio, so he could sing a clean falsetto without having to worry about volume. The other trick with falsetto is to double-track it (or triple, quadruple, etc.) to give fullness (Brian Wilson pioneered that technique), but I don't think JC did that here.

  57. H.... ....

    Gd, the memories was I ever young?

  58. o.... ....

    @TheGillman123 It never is the same from the time your young... but what it time it was for most of us...

  59. g.... m....

    This was an innocent time for all of us. they life we all had will never be as real as care free again !!! ya think?

  60. g.... m....

    Wow this goes back along way i was 17 yo. it was on 8 track . they were so bitchin!!!

  61. h.... ....

    @StyxFan93

    The inner dust sleeve of this album has a group photo of the band with John Curelewski included.

  62. w.... ....

    STYX--''MOTHER DEAR''

  63. M.... N....

    a classic mid seventies rock album... a good band gone to crap.....

  64. d.... ....

    fuck progressive insurance

  65. b.... ....

    I grew up as a kid in th same neighborhood as Dennis DeYoung, in the south suburb of Chicago known as Frankfort, the Panozzos lived close by as well-this was during the late 70's, their heyday more or less....my little brother was a playmate of Carrie(Dennis' daughter) my sister used to babysit, bla bla-all us 5th graders regarded them heroes, but also took them for granted...hence my point, I'm listening to this and I'm realizing...shit, this really WAS a great band!!!

  66. M.... S....

    I think this is their best album!

  67. r.... ....

    Got this on cassette when I was 15,but in 1985. Later progressed to metal and never lost my love for this album.

  68. a.... T....

    @capeguy63

    Not really, I think they are two best albums of the band.
    Suite madame blue, Light up.Mother dear,Midnight ride, Born for adventures are all great tunes.

  69. H.... ....

    Unfortunately, there can never be a FULL reunion. Both JC, and John Panozzo are gone. That's why I am trying to stress that a reunion needs to happen SOON before any more go, I mean JY is the only original member left that is there full time, Chuck Panozzo is now a part time member because of his health issues. At least for one tour, I would like to see Dennis be allowed back in the band and tour the country, and maybe film one of the concerts, so it can exist forever.

  70. S.... ....

    January 23rd, I'm seeing them in Phoenix. Equinox was the first album I ever owned and also one of my favorites. Awesome! :)

  71. R.... ....

    :D Jan 11 Orlando IM GOING BITCHES -explodes form over excitement-

  72. L.... ....

    Styx is a band that attracts a way more diverse crowd of music lovers than other bands do. The good thing is that all types of music that they covered are good. You can definitely recognize the Styx sound.

  73. K.... D....

    @apieceofeight23 Everyone has an opinion, to me either Crystal Ball or Equinox was the best album. By the time Pieces of eight came out, they were selling out to mainstream. That's when they lost me.

  74. C.... ....

    @Doobie1975
    Yes it is JC singing. But it's too bad his replacement Tommy Shaw never bothered to perform this number live.

  75. C.... ....

    @zenmachinefilms
    Too bad JC's replacement Tommy Shaw never sings this or any other JC lead vocal Styx song.

  76. P.... A....

    Beautiful dreamy John Curulewski/DDY song. I love what Tommy brought to he band, but one can only wonder what would have happened if JC stuck around...

  77. a.... ....

    old 70's stoner tune!!! Sounded great cranked to 11 in the back seat of a car!

  78. S.... ....

    I still got the record to..

  79. S.... P....

    this was my first rock album!

  80. c.... ....

    Thanks for posting these. I had been looking for A Day for a long time. Found it, and then found all of my favorite Styx music - pre pieces of Eight.

  81. M.... C....

    what a great time..the older teens that hung with my parents when i was 13 teen...introduced this ablum same day smoked my first weed ....what a trip...its always been my most favorte 420 music..you just cant make music like this w/ out real good weed..thx styx for all us potheads

  82. m.... ....

    Fine Fine....
    I LOVE STYX!!!!!

  83. t.... ....

    had this one on 8 track in my first car, GF music!

  84. S.... B....

    Does it get any better? This is definetly one of the top 10 albums of all time on my list. If you don't know, go listen to Madame Blue. Man, those were the days guys.

  85. C.... ....

    Yeah actually! Not many people know that.

  86. D.... ....

    Is that John Curulewski singing?

  87. L.... V....

    Maybe it's a Wooden Nickel problem...