Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)

This is also one of my favorite Styx songs. The intro is great but I think it's a little long (it's just over 1 and a half minutes). I really doubt the masterbation metaphor was intentional. "You've got it all in the palm of your hand But your hand's wet with sweat and your head needs a rest " - he's simply describing someone who has worked themself to exhaustion, and in the context it's used, he's not talking about masterbation. "You're the one they can't beat and you know it" - again he's saying that you are the best at whatever you do and you know it. Nothing more to it.

The song is about getting yourself back on your feet after failure or stressful times. "Just take your best shot and don't blow it" - give life another shot and learn from your mistakes.

I can't be certain of this, but I think Tommy Shaw once said in an interview that Dennis DeYoung was the inspiration for this song. It seems that Dennis was a perfectionist & was getting himself too wound up. So the song was Tommy's way of telling him to lighten up & not be so hard on himself. It makes sense to me. This is one of my favorites by Styx. Love the intro & the synth solos.

[Intro: Dennis DeYoung] Relax, take it easy

[Verse 1: Tommy Shaw] You see the world through your cynical eyes You're a troubled young man I can tell You got it all in the palm of your hand But your hand's wet with sweat, and your head needs a rest

[Chorus] And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it

[Verse 2: Tommy Shaw] Why must you be such an angry young man When your future looks quite bright to me And how can there be such a sinister plan That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man

[Chorus] And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it You're killing yourself if you don't believe it Get up, (Get up! Get back on your feet) (You're the one they can't beat, and you know it) Yeah, come on, (Come on! Let's see what you've got) (Just take your best shot and don't blow it) (Whoa whoa whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh)

[Keyboard Solo]

[Outro] And you're fooling yourself if you don't believe it You're killing yourself if you don't believe it Get up, (Get up! Get back on your feet) (You're the one they can't beat, and you know it) Oh, come on, (Come on! Let's see what you've got) (Just take your best shot and don't blow it) (Whoa whoa whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Definitely one of my favourite Styx songs. The keyboard with guitar intro is a masterpiece.

A masterpiece indeed, and good advice to a lot of musicians these days.

Yes i love it as well

Gillusion, you perv! Anyhoo, I didn't like it at first because it made me think of those annoying "think positive" optimists...but now I listen to this song whenever I'm in a bad mood, and need inspiration...

Gillusion nice thinking there and flatland the intro isn't long enough for me..

I guess after listening to Pink Floyd so much this intro doesnt seem so long. I think it just helps to aptly set the tone

The masturbation metahpor might be a stretch but this song does do a great job of describing social frustration associated with teenage males and how they can feel trapped or needing to make a mark...often leading to a destructive path

its definitely not about masturbation. how could a young man be angry about masturbating?