On Broadway
Dave Barker Lyrics

The song 'On Broadway' by Dave Barker is an introspective composition that highlights the realities of Broadway, a locality rich in magic and neon lights, but also full of hardships. The song reveals the harshness of trying to survive while walking down the streets of Broadway on an empty stomach without any money. The artificial glitter of the street seems to fade away when faced with the raw hunger of an unemployed person. The magic of the place is elusive if one lacks the resources to enjoy it. Barker's composition is a commentary on the difficulty of making it on Broadway, dispelling the glamour of show business.

Barker uses a narrative of a struggling musician trying to make a name for himself while trying to survive. He paints a gloomy picture of Broadway by discussing the difficulty of attracting women when he has no money. Barker illustrates this point by saying, "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." Surviving on the road is a challenge, and the artist acknowledges this by stating: '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.’ The artist knows that he is capable of achieving greatness and will not give up until he becomes a star on Broadway.