The Best of Times

"The Best of Times" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second chart-topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite the song's success, the song has not been performed live by the band since singer Dennis DeYoung was dismissed in 1999. DeYoung, however, still performs the song regularly on his solo tours. Lyrics and music The title "The Best of Times" is somewhat ironic since the lyrics often state that these are the worst of times. But the singer says that he can get consolation, since the chorus states "The best of times are when I’m alone with you.” Allmusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia described the song as having a "deliberate, marching rhythm." The basic melody line for "The Best of Times" is used in two other places on the album: As a bold greeting to the listener in "A.D. 1928", and a softer, more subdued version for the farewell track, "A.D. 1958".