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Don't Stop Believin'
Glee Cast Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

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

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night

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

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

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

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night

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

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight, people, oh oh oh

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight, people, oh oh oh

Don't stop!

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Stop Believin'" is an uplifting anthem about never giving up on your dreams. The first verse introduces us to two people, a small-town girl and a city boy, both of whom are searching for something more in their lives. They take the midnight train going anywhere, hoping to find what they're looking for. The second verse takes us to a smokey room where a singer is performing for a crowd of strangers. Everyone is there to forget their problems for a little while and find comfort in each other. The chorus reminds us to never give up on our dreams and to hold on to the feeling that anything is possible.


The song's message of hope and perseverance has made it a popular anthem for sports teams, graduation ceremonies, and other celebratory events. Its popularity has endured for decades, with covers and references appearing in various forms of media. The song's inclusion on the TV show Glee helped boost its popularity even more, introducing it to a whole new generation of fans.


Line by Line Meaning

Just a small town girl
The singer is describing a girl who grew up in a small town and had a simple upbringing.


Livin' in a lonely world
The girl feels lonely and unsatisfied with her life in the small town.


She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
The girl decided to leave her small town and take a chance on exploring the world.


Just a city boy
The singer is describing a boy who grew up in a big city and had a more exciting upbringing than the girl.


Born and raised in South Detroit
The boy is from a specific, notable neighborhood in Detroit.


He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
The boy also decided to leave his familiar surroundings and explore the world.


A singer in a smokey room
The singer describes a performer, likely a musician, performing in a night club.


The smell of wine and cheap perfume
The club has a strong odor of alcohol and inexpensive fragrance.


For a smile they can share the night
The performer is trying to entertain the audience and create a communal experience.


It goes on and on and on and on
The night's festivities will continue for an extended period of time.


Strangers waiting
The singer now shifts focus to describe the atmosphere outside the club.


Up and down the boulevard
There are people waiting on the street outside of the night club, possibly searching for something to do.


Their shadows searchin' in the night
The people outside the club are using the streetlights to look for something, possibly a way to entertain themselves or a place to go.


Streetlight, people
The singer emphasizes the importance of the streetlights and the people in creating the atmosphere of the night.


Livin' just to find emotion
The people waiting outside the club are trying to find some form of excitement or fulfillment.


Hidin' somewhere in the night
The people are searching for something, but they are not quite sure where to look.


Workin' hard to get my fill
The singer describes working hard to achieve a personal goal.


Everybody wants a thrill
Everyone is searching for something to excite them or make them feel alive.


Payin' anythin' to roll the dice
People are willing to take risks and invest heavily in chance or opportunity.


Just one more time
People keep trying their luck again and again, hoping for a different outcome.


Some will win, some will lose
Some people will come out on top, while others will not be as lucky.


Some are born to sing the blues
Some people are predisposed to having a hard life or experiencing hardship, also an allusion to the blues music genre.


Oh the movie never ends
Life is an ongoing story that never stops unfolding.


It goes on and on and on and on
Life is a persistent journey that doesn't end.


Don't stop believin'
The singer encourages listeners to keep holding onto hope, faith and to persevere through tough times.


Hold on to that feelin'
The singer emphasizes the importance of emotions and using them to guide oneself through life's ups and downs.


Streetlight, people, oh oh oh
The song repeats the image of the streetlights and people to emphasize their importance to the song's themes.


Don't stop!
The singer encourages listeners to keep pushing and not give up on their dreams and aspirations.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Cain, Stephen Ray Perry, Neal Joseph Schon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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