"Too Much Time on My Hands" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the second single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It was written and sung by Tommy Shaw, who also plays the lead guitar solo during the break in the song. It was Shaw's only top 10 single as a writer and vocalist with Styx.

Background

The inspiration for its lyrics came from Shaw's experiences in a bar in Niles, Michigan, U.S. The lyrics are about an unemployed man who has "given up hope for the afternoon soaps / and a bottle of cold brew."

Reception

Record World said that "Tommy Shaw's vocal is a perfect vehicle for this message about modern man's boredom and praised the "brisk beat and winding guitars." Allmusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia regarded "Too Much Time on My Hands" as one of Shaw's best singles. Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as Styx 6th greatest song, saying that it shows a "new wave aptitude" linking Styx's 1970s material with 1980s music.

Music video

PopMatters critic Dennis Shin rated the video as one of "20 ’80s music videos that have aged terribly," criticizing its cheesiness, the "band's period attire," "mullets galore, perms, girls with feathered hair, and Joe Dirt in the baby blue jumpsuit on vocals."

Personnel

Charts

It reached #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 23 1981, No. 2 on the Top Rock Tracks chart, and No. 4 on the RPM Top Singles chart of Canada.

Weekly charts

Year-end Charts

In popular culture