Breaking Down the Lyrics of “Don’t Stop Believin'”

“Don’t Stop Believin'” is known (and sung by) everyone you encounter. Everyone knows that iconic piano intro, a exactly just when to come in with “just a small town girl….”

But have you ever really looked at all the lyrics of the song? Don’t worry… we’ve got that covered for you! Shall we begin?

Just a small town girl, Livin’ in a lonely world

Journey, the band, was formed in San Francisco in the early 1970s. Though everyone knows the name of that city, it was a fairly “small town” with a population of around 680,000 in 1981 when this song was released.

She took the midnight train, Goin’ anywhere

The New York Times released an article in 1981 talking about the massive decline in San Francisco in 1981. So, I’d hope this small town girl would be taking the midnight train TO San Fran, rather than away…

Just a city boy, Born and raised in South Detroit. He took the midnight train, Goin’ anywhere

Famous rocker, Alice Cooper was born and raised in Detroit. He would have been 33 when this song was released…. could he be the city boy?

A singer in a smokey room
The smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on

May 30, 2006 was the last day that anyone could legally smoke tobacco products in Ontario bars. The law, known as the Smoke-Free Ontario Act was designed to outlaw any smoking in Ontario bars.

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlight people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’ somewhere in the night

According to Songfacts.com, “The line, ‘Strangers waiting, up and down the Boulevard’ is a reference to Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, where dreams are made. Keyboard player Jonathan Cain got the idea for the song when he went there to pursue his career. In his Songfacts interview, Cain said: ‘The song began with the chorus. My father had coached me. I was in Hollywood, struggling with my career, kind of lost. I was asking him, ‘Should I come back to Chicago and just give up on this dream?’ And he said, ‘No, son. Stay the course. We have a vision. It’s gonna happen. Don’t stop believin’.'”

Workin’ hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin’ anything to roll the dice
Just one more time

According to the website, Wizard of Odds, the chance of being about to seven-out in a game of craps is low. On your 50th role, your chance is 0.00011841. You check out the whole table in the link above if you’re seriously considering winning at this famous dice game.

Some will win
Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on, and on, and on

The movie, Logistics, is the longest movie ever made. It clocks in at 51,420 minutes (35 days, 17 hours.) It was released in 2012 as an experimental art film. Want to watch it?

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night

The old adage “It’s always darkest before the dawn”is absolutely correct. The darkest part of the night is generally just before the start of sunrise, which where
“their shadows” would be most prevalent.

This is also generally the coldest part of the night, since the Earth has been radiating off its accumulated heat all night long. How about you use that for your next useless trivia meet up?

Streetlight people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’ somewhere in the night

Alexithymia is a personality disorder that affects approximately 10% of Americans. It’s referred to as “emotional blindness” — a disorder that is used to describe individuals who have a hard time perceiving emotions in themselves or others.

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people

This it the first time the song title is actually said in the song! It occurs at 3 minutes and 20 seconds. The song structure is instrumental, first verse, instrumental, second verse, first pre-chorus, instrumental, third verse, second pre-chorus, instrumental, and then finally the chorus until fade-out.

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