Styx - Boat On The River (1979)

🎵 Styx — Boat on the River

“Boat on the River” is a folk-rock-tinged ballad by American rock band Styx, written and sung by Tommy Shaw. It was recorded in 1979 and appears on the band’s ninth studio album Cornerstone, released in 1979 by A&M Records.

📝 Key facts:

Composer: Tommy Shaw — also performs lead vocals and mandolin, with Dennis DeYoung on accordion and harmonies.

Artist: Styx — blending folk elements with their classic rock sound.

Album: Cornerstone (1979) — the band’s breakthrough pop-oriented LP following hits like Babe.

Release Date: Recorded in 1979; released as a single in March 1980 in Europe and other territories (not in the U.S.).

Chart Position:

Became a Top-Five hit in several European countries.

Peaked #1 in Switzerland and was very popular in Germany and Austria.

Did not chart in the United States, where Borrowed Time was released instead.

Other Facts:

The song’s mandolin and accordion arrangement gives it a distinctive folk/world music feel unusual for Styx’s catalog.

Fans and critics alike praise it as one of Styx’s most memorable non-rock ballads, often highlighting its evocative imagery and gentle harmonies.

Over the years, “Boat on the River” has been covered by various artists and remains especially beloved overseas among Styx’s international audience.

A wistful, mandolin-rich ode to escape and reflection, “Boat on the River” stands out as one of Styx’s most unique and enduring tracks from the Cornerstone era.