The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra board of trustees created The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in 1977. Since then Erich Kunzel's efforts have made the "Pops" into an internationally known ensemble with half a dozen best-selling recordings a year and almost weekly subscription concerts.
http://erichkunzel.com/
On Broadway
Erich Kunzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Erich Kunzel's song "On Broadway" touches on the experience of being a struggling musician in the famous theatre district. The opening lines paint a picture of the glamorous and lively setting that is Broadway, where the neon lights shine bright and magic is in the air. However, it's not all glitz and glam as the lyrics reveal that poverty is also prevalent in the area. The reality of living in the area sets in when one is forced to walk down the street on an empty stomach, and the glitter that once seemed alluring now rubs off, leading to feelings of hopelessness.
The song also touches on love and relationships in the setting of Broadway. The women may treat you fine, as the lyrics suggest, but even their beauty can't chase away the blues. When you have nothing but one thin dime, there's not much one can do to impress or engage them. Nevertheless, the singer remains optimistic and convinced that he will make it despite the odds. He declares that despite the naysayers who think he won't last on Broadway, he'll continue playing his guitar and won't quit until he's a star.
Overall, Erich Kunzel's "On Broadway" delves into the complexities and difficulties of chasing dreams in a challenging setting. It shows that despite the struggles and setbacks, the important thing is to remain optimistic and never give up on your aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
People say the bright neon lights shine in Broadway.
On Broadway
Referring to the location of Broadway in New York City
They say there's always magic in the air
People say that there is always an air of wonder in Broadway.
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
However, when you are walking down that street and are starving, the glam of Broadway fades away, and you feel like you are 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
Although people say women treat you well in Broadway, the singer is not interested in them, and he cannot afford to make time for them as he only has one penny to his name. One penny is not enough to even buy shoe polish.
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 the singer will not survive too long in Broadway and will have to go back home on a Greyhound bus. However, the singer disagrees with them because he can play his guitar and will eventually be famous.
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
The singer plans to continue playing until he becomes famous and makes it big on Broadway.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind