On Broadway
Eric Carmen 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
Eric Carmen's song "On Broadway" is a personal account of the struggles that one faces when trying to make it big in the entertainment industry. The first verse speaks of the allure of the bright lights and magic that is said to envelop the Broadway experience. However, when one is not financially stable and does not have enough to eat, the reality of the situation sets in, and the glitter fades away, leaving one feeling lost and hopeless. The second verse talks about the women on Broadway, how they may treat you well, but their presence only makes the singer feel sad and depressed. Working hard to make a living with barely any money presents another challenge, as one thin dime won't even shine your shoes, so how can you manage to make time for anything else?
Despite the difficulties and discouraging words of others, the singer is determined to succeed as a musician. They know they are talented and won't let anyone tell them otherwise. The song ends with the singer stating that they will not quit until they become a star on Broadway, showing that they are not willing to let go of their dreams and aspirations.
Overall, "On Broadway" is a song about hope, perseverance, and the challenges that come with trying to make it in the entertainment industry. It portrays the real struggles of artists who are trying to make a name for themselves while facing financial, emotional, and social obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
On Broadway
People talk about how the bright neon lights make Broadway shine
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
Some say that the atmosphere on Broadway is always magical, but when you're walking down the street without enough money to eat or live, the magic disappears
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 the women treat you well in Broadway, but the consequences of not having enough money makes him feel sad. Even if he has a single dime, it cannot bring him good.
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 say that he won't last long on Broadway and that he'll soon be back home, but he disagrees because he knows he has talent and can make it big playing the guitar
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
He won't give up until he becomes a star on Broadway
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