Don't Let It End (DeYoung) - 4:55

[Tommy]
I am a headstrong man
With this guitar in hand
I'll do my best and try
To keep Styx music alive
...Keep it alive
...Keep it alive
...Keep it alive...Yeah

Don't let it end
Don't let it end
Don't let it end
Don't let it end

[Dennis]
That is a nice try Tommy, you think you're right
But Styx includes us three now or it just ain't right
But I will be a winner, gonna hit the road
With 50 pieces, gonna lose control

Don't let it end
This fits to my music
Don't let it end
I gotta perform music
Don't let it end
Just maybe,
Don't let it end
I'm better off
Don't let it end
Hey, this is fun, naaaahoooooooo!
Don't let it end...



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 reflects the hope of many fans that the rain cloud has a silver lining--Styx and Dennis can both succeed and bring more joy through music to the fans than could have been possible otherwise.