The Grand Illusion

I think this song is about how fans admire being a rock star. But that its not as good as it seems and you shouldn't give into what your being fed by the media about how glamorous it is. No ones better then anyone else and 'were all the same'. Don't be another materialistic american whos only subconscious goal is to get the newest stuff, hopelessly shriveling away into old age. And when you get old and wonder why were here and look back on your life yull be like, daym..

This song is about society's illusion of whats wrong and what's exceptive and how the media trys to tell us how to live, act, and think.

The Grand Illusion = An OLD Matrix :p

I can see why you'd say that, but your interpretation is far too simple. The song is definitely self explanatory when you read the lyrics. It's all about how everyone is given their own social class and their own assumed persona due to how much power and money they have, and about the glorious realization that deep inside, we really are the same thing: a totally power and money free soul.

The Grand Illusion, like a few other Styx creations, was a concept album. The whole record was about a specific topic. In the case of TGI, it was advertising.

In the title track, the listener is told not to be fooled by radio, the TV, or the magazines. The listener is warned that they will be shown how their life should be, but not to listen, because it's the fancies of another. If anything, this song is about the commercialization they faced back then and we face today.

-K

I think this song is about how the narrator is warning someone to not be swerved by the "grand illusion" that's set up by the government and, most of all, the media.

And, sadly, it's too true....

[Verse 1] Welcome to the Grand illusion Come on in and see what's happening Pay the price, get your tickets for the show The stage is set, the band starts playing Suddenly your heart is pounding Wishing secretly you were a star

But don't be fooled by the radio The TV or the magazines They show you photographs of how your life should be But they're just someone else's fantasy

[Chorus] So if you think your life is complete confusion Because you never win the game Just remember that it's a Grand illusion 'Cause deep inside we're all the same We're all the same...

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus] So if you think your life is complete confusion Because your neighbors got it made Just remember that it's a Grand illusion And deep inside we're all the same

[Verse 2] America spells competition Join us in our blind ambition Get yourself a brand new motor car

[Outro] Someday soon we'll stop to ponder What on Earth's this spell we're under We made the grade and still we wonder Who the hell we are

at 1:40, "all the same" and it echos. fantastique.

It's about finding who the hell we are like other things.

I think it's saying that money and the things that money can buy don't buy happiness. But people, the media, etc. try to convince people that money and material things can buy happiness. They try to make you feel like you need their product to be happy/successful, and they encourage you to try to have more, more, more. More than your neighbors, more than your friends, more than strangers, just more in general. It's to the point that many people are pretty much in competition with each other. I know it's cliche, but things such as family, friends, and art have so much more meaning and value than material goods.