Show me the way, show me the way
take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away
Please show me the way

And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there’s peace in a world so filled with hatred
That I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we’ve so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won’t know

Show me the way, show me the way
Bring me tonight to the mountain
and take my confusion away
And show me the way

And if I see a light, should I believe
Tell me how will I know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
and wash my illusions away.
Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
to believe that I’ll get there someday
and please show me the way

Every night I say a prayer
In the hopes that there’s a heaven…

Old memories. However, how the special mix came to be is a different story:

Styx’s song “Show Me the Way” is about the singer’s struggle to find faith, but A & M Records’ “Desert Shield Mix,” widely played on radio stations, invites listeners to overcome private misgivings — a little girl’s voice says, “I want my daddy to come home!” — and join a nearly holy war. “Give me the strength and the courage to believe,” the singer belts, just before a newswoman announces the approval of a Congressional resolution backing the use of force against Iraq.
Source: POP VIEW; Caution: Now Entering The War Zone

During the chart run of “Show Me The Way,” the United States was involved in the Persian Gulf War. This inspired two radio stations – one in Washington, D.C., one in Knoxville – to create their own “Desert Shield” versions of “Show Me The Way”, by adding soundbites from George Bush, Norman Schwartzkopf and Colin Powell, all inserted into the instrumental portions of the song.

“I was surprised by it,” said Dennis DeYoung. “because the song had nothing to do with Desert Storm, and it happened about 4_5 months after the record came out. I let them play that version on the radio, but I said I didn’t want to sell that version. To me, that was like selling war. You can’t do that. Guys who were in Desert Storm come up to me all the time and tell me what that song meant to them. And that’s great, and that’s how it should exist for those people and in that way, if they so choose.”

“There was little sound bites,” said JY, “some of George Bush and some of others, and the one little tear_jerking moment is when a little girl says, ‘I want my daddy to come home.’”

“When we play that song on stage today,” said Chuck Panozzo, “Dennis will say that the song became connected with the Gulf War, but that’s about all he’ll say about it. But we played in Germany, and I saw all of the American GI’s, all very young people. That made me feel a lot differently about the song.”

Source: STYX: SET AN OPEN COURSE FOR THE VIRGIN SEA

I’m blessed I know
Heaven sent And Heaven stole
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all this pain
I thought I’d never feel the same
About anyone
Or anything again

But now I know
When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights

When you’ve been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Will comfort you when there’s no hope in sight

Sadness In my eyes
No one guessed
Or no one tried
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

Loveless and cold
With your last breath
You saved my soul
You smiled at me
Like Jesus to a child

And what have I learned
From all these tears
I’ve waited for you all those years
And just when it began
He took your love away

But I still say
When you find love
When you know that it exists
Then the lover that you miss
Will come to you on those cold, cold nights

When you’ve been loved
When you know it holds such bliss
Then the lover that you kissed
Will comfort you when there’s no hope in sight

So the words you could not say
I’ll sing them for you
And the love we would have made
I’ll make it for two

For every single memory
Has become a part of me
You will always be My love

Well I’ve been loved
So I know just what love is
And the lover that I kissed
Is always by my side

Oh the lover I still miss
Was Jesus to a child

You walked right into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your skirt strategically hiked up on one thigh
Your scarf was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror
You think you’re so damn hot
And all the boys dreamed that they’d be your partner
They’d be your partner and

You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you, don’t you

You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naïve
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee and

You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you, don’t you

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee and
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you, don’t you

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse it naturally won
You jumped into your jet and flew to Nova Scotia
To see a total eclipse of the sun
Well you’re where you should be all the time
When you’re not with some underworld spy or
Somebody’s boyfriend
Somebody’s boyfriend and

You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you, don’t you

The aim of the serpent, the serpent’s creation
reveals itself now trough crystal spheres
He’s riding the waves as a real conqueror
colliding with ships, the ships of the kings
He owns… your sword!

The emerald weapon, the steel of the heroes
Flow the black tears of dark angels
Your blade is now serving the dark force…
the evil source of the unborn
the truth is there… in this hands

QUANDO CORPUS MORIETUR FAC UT ANIMAE
DONETUR / Starless is my night, silent is my ride
trough the paradox of wishdom… to the sea of souls
Nel silenzio tragiche realta’…

FIRE IS BLAZING FAST ACROSS THE BLOODY RED SEA
THE SUNLIGHT IS FADING ON HIM / THESE ARE THE
WIZARD’S LAST HOLY SIGHTS… / THE WIZARD’S LAST RHYMES

We are reaching the brutal, the tragic dimension
led by reflections, reflectios of death
the ghost in the fog… wander lamenting
while violence devours my wasted brain
Let me… awake!

The astral bewitchement is the fatal witness
of created surge of chaos
I reflect the constellations’ fall
Now close your eyes and fight blind
The moon is dying, don’t fear his might

QUANDO CORPUS MORIETUR FAC UT ANIMAE
DONETUR / Starless is my night, silent is my ride
trough the paradox of wishdom… to the sea of souls
Nel silenzio tragiche realta’…

FIRE IS BLAZING FAST ACROSS THE BLOODY RED SEA
THE SUNLIGHT IS FADING ON HIM / THESE ARE THE
WIZARD’S LAST HOLY SIGHTS… / THE POEM’S TRAGIC RHYMES

Fierce blows the wind, infinite fires
on Elnor sea… hail to the king!
He died as brave, oh valiant hero
but so in vain, facing the storm… the storm!

And soon the snakes of the abyss
swallowed the mighty woodship
while the waves of the bloody ocean
were reaching the walls of the falling town…

QUANDO CORPUS MORIETUR FAC UT ANIMAE
DONETUR / Starless is my night, silent is my ride
through the paradox of wisdom… to the sea of souls
Nel silenzio tragiche realta’…

FIRE IS BLAZING FAST ACROSS THE BLOODY RED SEA
THE SUNLIGHT IS FADING ON HIM / THESE ARE THE
WIZARD’S LAST HOLY SIGHTS… / THE POEM’S TRAGIC RHYMES

(Neneh Cherry singing in English)
Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practiced wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle’s not over
Even when it’s won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone it’s skin living in
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting (x3)

(Youssou N’Dour singing in French*)

-j’assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
I assume the reasons that lead us to change everything,

-J’aimerais qu’on oublie leur couleur pour qu’ils esperent
I wish we could forget their color so they can hope

-Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu’ils desesperent
lots of feelings for races which make them lose hope (despair)

-Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,
I want the two hands opened,

-Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
(and) friends to talk about their sorrow, about their joy

-Pour qu’ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
so they can give’em infos that do not divide (scatter)

-Changer
change

(Neneh Cherry as lead vocals henceforth)
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting (x3)
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it’s living in
And there’s a million voices (x2)
To tell you what you should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
We’re 7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
We’re 7 seconds away
For just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting

* Translated into English by “The SenSeï”

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.

Hello lamppost,
What cha knowing?
I’ve come to watch your flowers growing.
Ain’t cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in’ doo-doo,
Feelin’ groovy.

Got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

Brothers the battle is raging
Choose your side
Sing with us the BATLE HYMS
INTO GLORY RIDE
HAIL TO ENGLAND
THE SIGN OF THE HAMMER’s our guide
Forever we’re FIGHTING THE WORLD
Side by side

On a crusade
The world we bring
Four Kings of Metal
Four Metal Kings
Death to the false ones
Dance on a string
‘Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your hand is the blood of a king

Our armies in England, IRELAND, Scotland, and Wales
Our brothers in Belgium, Holland and France will not fail
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy
Switzerland, Austria
Back to the glory of Germany

On a crusade
The world we bring
Four Kings of Metal
Four Metal Kings
Death to the false ones
Dance on a string
‘Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your hand is the blood of a king

Sound the DEATH TONE
On our MARCH FOR REVENGE
Spill THE BLOOD OF MY ENEMIES
THE OATH of a friend
Fight the HOLY WAR for THE CROWN AND THE RING
Six magic circles are made by the BLOOD OF THE KINGS

Wherever we ride, It’s metal we bring
Four Kings of Metal
Four Metal Kings
SOUNDS OF TRUE METAL
WE WILL SING
‘Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your hand is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your hand is the blood of a king
‘Till the blood on your sword is the blood of a king
Blood of a king

I Took My Baby
On A Saturday Bang
Boy Is That Girl With You
Yes We’re One And The Same

Now I Believe In Miracles
And A Miracle
Has Happened Tonight

But, If
You’re Thinkin’
About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

They Print My Message
In The Saturday Sun
I Had To Tell Them
I Ain’t Second To None

And I Told About Equality
An It’s True
Either You’re Wrong
Or You’re Right

But, If
You’re Thinkin’
About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

I Am Tired Of This Devil
I Am Tired Of This Stuff
I Am Tired Of This Business
Sew When The
Going Gets Rough
I Ain’t Scared Of
Your Brother
I Ain’t Scared Of No Sheets
I Ain’t Scare Of Nobody
Girl When The
Goin’ Gets Mean

[L. T. B. Rap Performance]
Protection
For Gangs, Clubs
And Nations
Causing Grief In
Human Relations
It’s A Turf War
On A Global Scale
I’d Rather Hear Both Sides
Of The Tale
See, It’s Not About Races
Just Places
Faces
Where Your Blood
Comes From
Is Where Your Space Is
I’ve Seen The Bright
Get Duller
I’m Not Going To Spend
My Life Being A Color

[Michael]
Don’t Tell Me You Agree With Me
When I Saw You Kicking Dirt In My Eye

But, If
You’re Thinkin’ About My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re Black Or White

I Said If
You’re Thinkin’ Of
Being My Baby
It Don’t Matter If You’re Black Or White

I Said If
You’re Thinkin’ Of
Being My Brother
It Don’t Matter If You’re
Black Or White

Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now
Ooh, Ooh
Yea, Yea, Yea Now

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black, It’s White, Whoo

It’s Black, It’s White
It’s Tough For You
To Get By
It’s Black, It’s White, Whoo