Stryper - Same Old Story Lyrics
Lyrics
I've been wondering why you hate your life
Spending all your time without a rhyme
Discarding love you find
Will you ever know how sad it is to be
Someone captive by their anger
On a ship that sails an empty sea
It's the same old story
To darken all the glory
But you'll cry out in the end
It's the same old story
Today seems mandatory
But someday you'll have to make
Amends
Amends
When you're driving down a dark, lonely highway
Do you think of your mortality
And sins you've kept away
When you're lying all alone that's when you'll see
There's a door that you can open
When you find the light the lock and key
It's the same old story
To darken all the glory
But you'll cry out in the end
It's the same old story
These days seems mandatory
But someday you'll have to make
Amends
It's the same old story
To darken all the glory
But you'll cry out in the end
It's the same old story
These days seems mandatory
But someday you'll have to make amends
It's the same old story
To darken all the glory
But you'll cry out in the end
It's the same old story
These days seems mandatory
But someday you'll have to make
Amends!
Video
Stryper - "Same Old Story" - Official Music Video | @stryperofficial
Meaning & Inspiration
Stryper's song "Same Old Story" delves into the plight of someone seemingly trapped in a cycle of negativity and self-destruction. The lyrics paint a picture of a life without apparent purpose or direction, marked by the rejection of love and a pervasive sense of sadness rooted in anger. The imagery of being "captive by their anger" and on a "ship that sails an empty sea" powerfully conveys isolation and emotional emptiness, suggesting a soul adrift without a guiding force or meaningful destination. The song directly addresses this individual, questioning the reasons behind their despair and the consequences of their choices.
The chorus acts as a sobering pronouncement, labeling this destructive pattern the "same old story" – a common narrative of choosing darkness over potential "glory." It asserts a clear consequence for this path: an inevitable moment of reckoning where the individual will "cry out in the end." The line "Today seems mandatory" might reflect the feeling of being stuck in the present struggle, as if the current state is unavoidable or predetermined. However, the core message of hope and accountability arrives with the declaration that "someday you'll have to make amends," pointing towards a future where change and reconciliation are necessary.
The second verse introduces introspective moments, asking if thoughts of mortality or unacknowledged sins arise during solitary times, like driving alone on a dark highway or lying awake. It shifts from confrontation to offering a way out, revealing that even in isolation, there is a possibility for change. The line "There's a door that you can open" suggests a path to freedom from the internal prison described earlier. This liberation is connected to finding "the light the lock and key," implying that understanding, truth, and the means to unlock a new way of living are available. This imagery strongly resonates with spiritual awakening or finding faith as the key to overcoming darkness.
The official music video for "Same Old Story," released in 2022, visually supports the lyrical themes. It often depicts the band performing with intensity, interspersed with cinematic shots that might illustrate the struggle and potential resolution discussed in the lyrics. Visually, the video likely aims to capture the emotional weight of the song's message while delivering Stryper's signature energetic performance. The production background of the video reinforces the song's contemporary relevance within the band's ongoing discography.
The song's meaning is clear: it's a stark warning about the consequences of living a life defined by anger, bitterness, and the rejection of positive forces, but it also carries a message of hope and the possibility of change. The "same old story" is the human tendency towards self-destruction and denial, but the option to "make amends" and find "the light" is always present. This narrative aligns with central biblical themes such as repentance (making amends), the consequences of sin, the struggle between darkness and light, and the concept of finding salvation or redemption. For instance, the idea of being captive to sin or anger and needing a "key" to freedom echoes concepts found in passages discussing deliverance from bondage (e.g., Romans 6). The contrast between darkness and light is a frequent metaphor for spiritual states (e.g., John 1:5, 1 John 1:5-7). The ultimate "crying out in the end" and having to "make amends" resonates with biblical teachings on accountability, judgment, and the need for reconciliation with God and others. The "door" and "light" imagery can be seen as representing Christ himself, often referred to as the door or the light of the world, offering the way to salvation and truth.