In the 1980s, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats. Stray Cats caught America's attention with the 1982 album Built for Speed, which included the two Top Ten hits, Rock This Town (#9) and Stray Cat Strut (#3), as well as with the follow-up 1983 album Rant N Rave, which included the two successful singles (She's) Sexy + 17 (#5), and I Won't Stand In Your Way (#35).
In the 1990s, Setzer led a comeback of sorts for swing music and big band music, when he formed Brian Setzer Orchestra. The band has released 5 albums to date and one live DVD. This group had one hit, Jump, Jive, and Wail around the same time songs like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies Zoot Suit Riot had been received favorably in mainstream America.
Brian Setzer also recorded some solo albums during Stray Cats' break in the 1980s along with some in the 1990s. In 2001 he released an album titled Ignition with his band '68 Comeback Special. A new solo album titled Rockabilly Riot Vol. 1: A Tribute To Sun Records was released on July 26, 2005, in the United States.
Massapequa
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Brian Setzer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to look up and see shadows - I believe alright.
Don't want to get lost on a road so long.
Your legs get tired, and you fall to the ground
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
Don't want to get drunk just to sleep at night.
My head starts spinning; a triple with wine.
Don't want to get up and go to work each day.
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
I wonder where you are;
Are you satisfied
To go through life with a chill in your soul,
And a memory that lives by your side?
Don't want you no more; heard enough one day.
So take me on down where that rock and roll plays.
Don't want you to vow; how could you lie?
With all my life I called you daddy,
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
I wonder where you are;
Are you satisfied
To go through life with a chill in your soul,
And a memory that lives by your side?
Don't want you no more; heard enough one day.
So take me on down where that rock and roll plays.
Don't want to get lost on a road so long.
Your legs get tired, and you fall to the ground
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
The lyrics of Brian Setzer's song Boulevard of Broken Dreams are about the despair and desolation that one feels when they are lost and alone. Setzer deals with the topic of insomnia by saying how he does not want to go to sleep because of the restlessness it may bring. He refers to the feeling of being lost and alone by stating that he does not want to get lost on a road so long that his legs get tired and he falls to the ground, which he metaphorically calls the boulevard of broken dreams.
Furthermore, in the song, Setzer talks about trying to forget and move on from a difficult past. The lyrics seem to suggest that he has been hurt by someone in the past whom he still thinks about which is why he wonders where that person may be and if they are satisfied with their life now. He expresses his frustration regarding this situation by saying that he doesn’t want that person anymore and that they have hurt him enough. He wishes to be taken to a place where rock and roll music plays to distract him from his thoughts on this person. The final repetition of the chorus serves as a summary of the whole song by emphasizing the pain of being lost on the boulevard of broken dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to go to sleep and toss and turn all night.
I don't want to lay awake all night, staring at the ceiling and unable to sleep.
I don't want to look up and see shadows - I believe alright.
I don't want to see shadows and be scared, but I think everything will be okay.
Don't want to get lost on a road so long.
I don't want to be on a never-ending journey that will tire me out and leave me stranded.
Your legs get tired, and you fall to the ground
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
Your legs will become exhausted and you will ultimately collapse on the path to hopeless and unfulfilled aspirations.
Don't want to get drunk just to sleep at night.
I don't want to drink myself to sleep because I can't do it naturally.
My head starts spinning; a triple with wine.
Drinking makes my head spin so much that it feels like I've had three glasses of wine.
Don't want to get up and go to work each day.
Come back home, on my knees, and pray
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
I don't want to have to work every day and come home exhausted and desperate for some sort of relief, feeling defeated and alone.
I wonder where you are;
Are you satisfied
To go through life with a chill in your soul,
And a memory that lives by your side?
I'm not sure where you are, but I can't help but ponder if you're content living a passionless life where the only thing keeping you company is your memories.
Don't want you no more; heard enough one day.
I don't want you in my life anymore. Your words and actions have hurt me too much.
So take me on down where that rock and roll plays.
Take me to the place where the music is loud and vibrant and makes you forget about all your troubles for a while.
Don't want you to vow; how could you lie?
I don't want you to make any more promises you won't keep. You've already deceived me enough.
With all my life I called you daddy,
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
All my life, I referred to you as 'daddy,' but now, I've realized that you can't be the father figure I need on this path of unfulfilled hopes and dreams.
On the boulevard of broken dreams.
This phrase refers to the main theme of the song, which is about individuals who have not attained their dreams and feel disillusioned with their lives.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind