Livin' on a Prayer
Bulletboys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once upon a time
Not so long ago

Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
Hes down on his luck it's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love, for love
She says "we've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot"

Oh, We're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

Tommy got his six string in hock
Now he's holding in what he used
To make it talk so tough, it's tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers "baby it's okay, someday
We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot"

Oh, we're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when that's all that you've got

Oh, We're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

Oh, We're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer




Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

Overall Meaning

The song "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bulletboys is about a young couple, Tommy and Gina, who are struggling to make ends meet. Tommy used to work on the docks, but the union is on strike, and he is down on his luck. Meanwhile, Gina works in a diner, earning money to support herself and Tommy. Despite their struggles, both of them are determined to hold on to their love for each other and to try to make their relationship work.


The chorus of the song is a celebration of their love and their resilience in the face of adversity. They are "halfway there" in achieving their dreams, and they are "livin' on a prayer" - relying on hope and faith to get them through. The song uses the metaphor of music to represent their relationship. Tommy has a "six string" (presumably a guitar) that he used to play, but now he has had to pawn it. However, he and Gina still have their love for each other, which is just as powerful as music.


Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time
Back in time


Not so long ago
It was not too far back


Tommy used to work on the docks
Tommy was a dock worker


Union's been on strike
The union strike is ongoing


Hes down on his luck it's tough, so tough
He is experiencing tough times with no luck


Gina works the diner all day
Gina works at the diner all day long


Working for her man, she brings home her pay
She is working hard to make ends meet


For love, for love
Doing it for love


She says 'we've got to hold on to what we've got
We need to keep what we already have


'Cause it doesn't make a difference
It doesn't matter


If we make it or not
Whether we succeed or not


We've got each other and that's a lot
We have each other and that's a big deal


For love we'll give it a shot
We will try our best for love


Oh, We're half way there
We have covered half of our journey


Whoah, livin' on a prayer
We are surviving on optimism and hope


Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear
I will help you and we will make it, I promise


Tommy got his six string in hock
Tommy pawned his guitar


Now he's holding in what he used
He is keeping his feelings to himself


To make it talk so tough, it's tough
He played it with great emotion and now finds it tough


Gina dreams of running away
Gina has a desire to escape


When she cries in the night
When she weeps alone at night


Tommy whispers 'baby it's okay, someday
Tommy consoles her, saying one day it will be better


We've got to hold on to what we've got
We must try to keep what we already have


'Cause it doesn't make a difference
It doesn't matter


If we make it or not
Whether we succeed or not


We've got each other and that's a lot
We have each other, and that is valuable


For love we'll give it a shot
We will try our best for love


We've got to hold on ready or not
We must hold on, whether we are prepared or not


You live for the fight when that's all that you've got
The struggle becomes your sole reason for living


Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear
I will help you, and we will succeed, I promise


Whoah, livin' on a prayer
We are surviving on optimism and hope


Oh, We're half-way there
We have completed half of our journey


Whoah, livin' on a prayer
We are surviving on optimism and hope


Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear
I will help you and we will succeed, I promise


Whoah, livin' on a prayer
We are surviving on optimism and hope




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, Richard S. Sambora

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions