"Fooling Yourself" is the second single released from Styx's The Grand Illusion album. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S., the single peaked at number 29.
The song was written by guitarist Tommy Shaw. It was originally based on Shaw's initial perception of Styx keyboardist Dennis DeYoung — an "angry young man" who viewed the group's successes with a wary eye and grew angry or depressed with every setback. It was only in later years that Shaw began to see himself in the lyrics, and the song took on a more personal meaning to him.
In addition to Shaw's driving acoustic guitar tracks during the verse and chorus, DeYoung performs two intricate synthesizer solos. The first, in the middle of the song, is performed in 7/4 time, an unusual meter for a pop song. The second solo, as the song fades out, is performed in 6/8 time.
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Famous quotes containing the words fooling, angry and/or young:
“I am fooling only myself when I say my mother exists now only in the photograph on my bulletin board or in the outline of my hand or in the armful of memories I still hold tight. She lives on in everything I do. Her presence influenced who I was, and her absence influences who I am. Our lives are shaped as much by those who leave us as they are by those who stay. Loss is our legacy. Insight is our gift. Memory is our guide.”
—Hope Edelman (20th century)
“The troubles of our proud and angry dust
Are from eternity, and shall not fail.
Bear them we can, and if we can we must.
Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)
“How distant, the departure of young men
Down valleys....”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)