On Broadway
Bobby Darin 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

The lyrics of Bobby Darin's "On Broadway" paint a vivid picture of the contrasting perceptions of the famous street in New York City. The song starts with a statement that the neon lights on Broadway are bright, and that the street is always full of magic. However, the tone quickly changes with the realization that magical illusions are meant for those who have enough to afford them. Walking down the street with an empty stomach and empty pockets, one can easily see through the facade of glamour and glitter, realizing that it's all a mirage, and they're nowhere.

The second verse talks about the perception of women treating you fine on Broadway. It's a common belief, but the singer seems to have a different experience. He's down on his luck, has only one thin dime in his pocket, and no hope of making any time. The blues of not being able to do anything, let alone afford anything, in a place meant for the rich, is a hard pill to swallow. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer's determination to work hard and not quit until he becomes a star on Broadway.

Overall, the lyrics of "On Broadway" are a reflection of the stark realities of life in a big city. It's easy to fall for the glitters and glamours, but the truth is, success takes hard work, determination, and perseverance.

Line by Line Meaning

They say the neon lights are bright
People say that the colorful lights are radiant and attractive in Broadway

On Broadway
This line reiterates that the song is talking about Broadway

They say there's always magic in the air
There is a general belief that there is something enchanting in the Broadway atmosphere

But when you're walkin' down that street
In contrast to the previous line, the song shifts to a personal perspective, noting the experience of walking down the street on Broadway

And you ain't have enough to eat
When you don't have enough food to eat, it is very difficult to enjoy the scene and atmosphere of Broadway

The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
In tough times, the experience loses its charm and the glamour fades away

They say the women treat you fine
According to beliefs, the women in Broadway treat you very well

On Broadway
Reiterating that the context is based on Broadway

But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
Being poor and having only little money to offer, he gets dejected looking at the women around him

How ya gonna make some time
With no resources, how can anyone afford to spend any time with the women?

When all you got is one thin dime
He only has a very tiny amount of money to his name

And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
One dime is not sufficient to buy even basic needs like shining one's shoes

They say that I won't last too long
According to the world's predictions, his stay or success in Broadway will not last for long

On Broadway
Emphasizing that the song is about Broadway

I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
People around him think he won't stay and will eventually leave for home

But they get wrong, I know they are
He believes that these predictions about him leaving are incorrect

'Cause I can play this here guitar
The artist believes that he can succeed in Broadway as he has a talent for playing his guitar

I won't quit till I'm a star
The singer won't give up until he has become a famous and successful artist

On Broadway
The last line of the song repeats that it is based on the experience and reality of Broadway

On Broadway
The outro repeats the title of the song.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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