On Broadway
Barker Dave Lyrics

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They say the neon lights are bright
On Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't have enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere

They say the women treat you fine

On Broadway
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes

They say that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar

I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway

On Broadway
On Broadway

Overall Meaning

Barker Dave's song "On Broadway" speaks of the journey to fame and success, as experienced by many budding artists who move to New York City to make it big on the famous Broadway street. With a lyrically enchanting melody, the song captures the advice and warnings given to newcomers, that emphasize the challenges and struggles of surviving in the big city. The lines "They say the neon lights are bright, On Broadway, They say there's always magic in the air” are meant to attract desperate individuals to the great promise of the city, while the lines "But when you're walkin' down that street, And you ain't had enough to eat, The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere" portray the harsh reality of the city at the same time.

Further, the lyrics speak of the angst arising from the economic struggles faced by newcomers. While it is said that the women treat you fine on Broadway, the reality is different. "How ya gonna make some time, When all you got is one thin dime, And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes" portrays the poverty that is as real as the neon lights. Barker goes on to sing, "But they get wrong, I know they are, 'Cause I can play this here guitar, I won't quit till I'm a star, On Broadway, On Broadway, On Broadway". These words capture a sense of unwavering optimism, determination, and resilience to circumstances in the face of setbacks that seem insurmountable.

Line by Line Meaning

They say the neon lights are bright
People claim that the dazzling lights on Broadway are striking.

On Broadway
Broadway is a famous street in New York City known for its big theaters.

They say there's always magic in the air
People believe that there is a certain enchantment or allure about the atmosphere on Broadway.

But when you're walkin' down that street And you ain't have enough to eat The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
Yet, when you stroll down the road and are struggling to make ends meet, the glamour fades out, and you feel lost and hopeless.

They say the women treat you fine On Broadway But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
People suggest that women on Broadway are lovely, yet gazing at them makes me feel sad and despondent.

How ya gonna make some time When all you got is one thin dime And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
How can you afford to do anything with only ten cents, which cannot even clean your shoes?

They say that I won't last too long On Broadway I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
They anticipate that my chances of making it on Broadway will be brief, and I will eventually take the bus home.

But they get wrong, I know they are 'Cause I can play this here guitar
However, they are mistaken because I am confident in my guitar abilities.

I won't quit till I'm a star On Broadway On Broadway On Broadway
Therefore, I will keep striving to become a sensation on Broadway and will not give up until I achieve my goal.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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