With his partner and wife, Cynthia Weil, they operate a publishing company called Dyad Music. His first hit as a writer was "She Say (Oom Dooby Doom)," which was a top twenty song for The Diamonds in 1959. Mann had co-written the song with Gerry Goffin. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil met when they were both staff songwriters, they were married in 1961. Through the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Mann came up with songs such as "Sometimes When We Touch" and movie scores such as that for I Never Sang for My Father. Weil co-wrote "He's So Shy" with Tom Snow for The Pointer Sisters and worked on projects with Lionel Richie.
In 1961, they wrote and Mann sang a novelty song that made the Top 10 with "Who Put The Bomp", which parodied the nonsense words of the then-recently popular doo wop songs.
In 1987, he was inducted with his wife into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On Broadway
Barry Mann Lyrics
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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
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
Barry Mann's song "On Broadway" is a reflection on the glamour and the struggles of the famous New York City street that is synonymous with the American theater and entertainment industry. The song opens with the famous line "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway," which is an allusion to the shining lights that illuminate the street at night. Although the street is known for its magic and glitz, the lyrics also acknowledge the harsh reality of anyone who is struggling with poverty and hunger. The line "And you ain't have enough to eat, the glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere" represents the stark contrast between the fortune and fame of life on Broadway and the struggles that many face.
The song also reflects on the women of Broadway who are often the object of desire for many men, but for someone who can't even afford a dime, they are nothing but a reminder of the harsh realities of life. The line "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?" delves deep into the desperation that is intertwined with this industry.
However, the song also has an undercurrent of hope and determination. The line "I won't quit till I'm a star on Broadway" is a testament to the dreams and aspirations of those who come to the city and the industry to make it big. The song's protagonist is confident in his own abilities to make it and knows that the naysayers who say he won't last long are wrong. The song ends with the repetition of "On Broadway," which reinforces the idea that the street is the ultimate destination for success, fame, and fortune.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
On Broadway
People believe that the neon lights in Broadway shine really bright, illuminating the street.
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
Although people say that Broadway has an aura of magic around it, when you are walking down the street and you don't have enough money to eat, the charm fades away and the experience is dismal.
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
People say that women treat you nicely in Broadway, but the singer is not impressed by them and it saddens him that he can't afford to buy their company with just one dime.
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
People predict that the singer won't stay on Broadway for long and he will catch a Greyhound bus to go back home, but he is confident that they are wrong because he knows how to play guitar.
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
The singer is determined to succeed on Broadway and he won't give up until he becomes a famous star on Broadway.
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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