Put Me On

Put Me On
Written by James Young, Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by James Young, Dennis DeYoung

Listen on YouTube

Put me on I'm your brand new record album
Side one, cut one listen to the songs
Play me loud don't you worry 'bout your neighbors
Hope I make you feel good all day long
All day long

Put me on and play me LOUD
I'm the madman screaming in your living room
I'll soon be coming to your town
To sing and play a little tune

I said put me on and play me LOUD
Turn your stereo up all the way
ALL THE WAY
Now your body's immersed in sound
So hear the synthesizers play

And now you're in the mood
Let the melody just drift your cares away
It's got to do you good
As it mesmerizes you in its own way
So drift away...

Interpretation

A brilliantly simple personification of the record album itself.

"Side one, cut one" is referring to the first song a vinyl LP record.  The song is on the first side of a two sided platter, and the song is cut into the vinyl as a groove that causes a needle passing through it to vibrate in a way that recreates the sound exactly.

The "madman screaming in your living room" is no other than JY, whose voice can be heard anywhere the album is played.

If you play the album loud enough, "your body's immersed in sound" because you can actually feel the music as the sound waves impact your body.

The sudden switch to a soft melody that can "drift your cares away" is characteristic of softer songs later on the album.  Styx albums have a mix of sounds and lyrics to satisfy any taste.