Released: January 19, 1981

Songwriter: James Young Tommy Shaw Dennis DeYoung

Producer: Chuck Panozzo Dennis DeYoung Tommy Shaw John Panozzo James Young

(Intro)

Hey, what you doin' tonight?
Have you heard that the world's gone crazy?
Young Americans, listen when I say
There's people puttin' us down
I know they're sayin' that we've gone lazy
To tell you the truth, we've all seen better days

Don't need no fast buck lame duck profits for fun
Quick trick plans, take the money and run
We need long-term, slow burn, gettin' it done
And some straight talkin', hard workin' son of a gun

So what you doin' tonight?
I have faith in our generation
Let's stick together and futurize our attitudes
I ain't lookin' to fight, but I know with determination
We can challenge the schemers who cheat all the rules

Come on and take pride, be wise spottin' the fools
Big shots, crackpots bendin' the rules
A fair shot here for me and you
Knowin' that we can't lose

And we'll be rockin' the Paradise
Rockin' the Paradise tonight
Rockin' in Paradise
Rockin' the paradise tonight, tonight
Tonight!

(Guitar solo)

Go, Sparky, go!

(Guitar solo continues)

Come on and take pride, be wise spottin' the fools
Big shots, crackpots bendin' the rules
A fair shot here for me and you
Knowin' that we can't lose

And we'll be rockin' the Paradise
(Rockin' the Paradise tonight.)
You know we're rockin' the paradise
(Rockin' in Paradise.) We're gonna rock you tonight
(Rockin' the Paradise tonight.)
Everybody's gonna rock, rock, rock. (Rockin' the Paradise.)
Rock ya, rock ya, rock ya, rock, ya, rock ya, rock ya, rock ya
(Rockin' the paradise tonight.) Rockin' in Paradise
(Rockin' in Paradise.) Everybody!
(Rockin' the Paradise tonight.) Come on, come on

Styx

Styx is a rock band from Chicago formed in 1970. They enjoyed great success with pop rock and hard rock songs, and became famous for their power ballads and album releases of the mid 1970s and early 80s.

The band has gone through some famously nasty internal struggles, drug problems, illnesses and deaths, but continues to perform today (with a significantly altered line-up). Tommy Shaw, from Montgomery, AL, left but returned to the band. Drummer John Panozzo developed a debilitating drinking problem and ultimately died. Dennis DeYoung developed an acute case of photosensitivity, and he left the band. They fought among themselves for control of the band name. Glen Burtnik also left and returned, this time on bass, to replace Chuck Panozzo (John’s brother), who had also left the band. (whew.)