High Time

High Time
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

Listen on YouTube

I flip the switch on my laser video
And there's the man staring back at me
He starts to speak in a voice so righteous
About the sins of society

He's got answers to all my problems
Says he'll decide what I should hear and see
I try to change to another station
But all I get is more of his morality
And morality, yeah

But I see the kids of a new generation
And they won't stand for this mind control
They're gonna change this world we live in
They're gonna bring back the rock and roll

So if I can, I'm gonna break from this prison
Gonna get out and join in the fight
Take a chance on what I believe in
Win or lose, I know it's right

'Cause it's high time
For us to start a revolution
High time
Just like an A-bomb explosion
High time
It ain't the music that's in question
High time
It's more the freedom of expression

Change is comin'
Mind Police are comin'
We're on the move
The Old World is crumblin'
A new day's comin'
Tell your friends and relations
We're on the move
We're gonna start a rockin' nation

High time
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
High time
We're gonna start a revolution
High time

[scatting] 

Everybody lay back now I tell you why.

[Roboto]
"I've been instructed to inform you that your privileges have been penalized. Your avoidance tactics have proven disappointing."
[Kilroy]
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Up yours, Roboto!"
[Roboto]

"No deviance, Kilroy!"

High time
For us to start a revolution
High time
Just like an A-bomb explosion
High time
It ain't the music that's in question
High time
It's more the freedom of expression

Change is comin'
Mind Police are comin'
We're on the move
The Old World is crumblin'
A new day's comin'
Tell your friends and relations
We're on the move
We're gonna start a rockin' nation

B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-band on the move, yeah
High time
Yeah
High time
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-band on the move
High time

"What will this thing cost, man? Look at the costs!"
"Hundreds and hundreds!"

Interpretation

From the album liner notes:

THE PAST
Dr. Everett Righteous, founder and leader of the MMM, (The Majority for Musical Morality) became influential in American politics through the use of his own cable T.V. network. He spoke about the evils of rock 'n' roll music, and how its permissive attitudes were responsible for the moral and economic decline of America. He was charismatic, entertaining, and above all, he understood the media. The MMM soon gained enough power to have rock 'n' roll banned.

Robert Orin Charles Kilroy was a world famous rock 'n' roll star. As this new law was passed, Kilroy and his band were finishing a national tour. Their last performance, at the Paradise Theatre, would serve as the test case. On the night of the concert, as Kilroy played to a packed house, the MMM marched in and stormed the stage. When it was over, a MMM protester was dead...Kilroy was convicted of murder and sent to a prison ship with other rock 'n' roll misfits...

THE PRESENT
...is a future where Japanese manufactured robots, designed to work cheaply and endlessly, are the caretakers of society. "Mr. Robotos" are everywhere, serving as manual labor in jobs that were once held by humans.

Dr. Righteous enforces his own morality by holding nightly rallies where crowds hurl rock 'n' roll records and electric guitars into huge bonfires...Jonathan Chance, the rebel leader of an underground movement to bring back rock 'n' roll, has made Kilroy the symbol of his cause. Meanwhile, Kilroy has spent a number of years in prison. With no hope of release, he is subjected to the humiliation of mind control via the MMM cable network. In an attempt to contact Kilroy, Jonathan jams the airwaves of the MMM network, replacing a mind control session with outlawed footage of a Kilroy concert. Inspired by Jonathan's message, Kilroy plots his escape...

Kilroy is watching the Dr. Righteous show from prison, unable to watch anything else. This is part of the mind control (brainwashing) program to try and reform former rock and roll stars in the same way as the general population has been duped into supporting the strict censorship laws. He sees the message from Jonathan Chance and realizes that there is a movement among the young people to restore freedom and bring back rock and roll. Inspired by the actions of the young rebel, he decides to break out of prison to join the movement. 

Kilroy's escape from prison