On Broadway
Jess Roden 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
Jess Roden's "On Broadway" is a song that speaks to the dreamers, the hustlers, and the individuals who are willing to try their luck in the city of dreams - New York's Broadway. The song begins with a statement about the neon lights being bright, and magic being in the air. However, the lyrics quickly transition to the harsh reality of Broadway, as Roden sings about being hungry, broke, and alone on the street. He aptly describes the glittering lights that initially fascinated him, now revealing themselves for what they really are; a facade that hides the shame and disappointment that lies beneath. The phrase "The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere" quickly became a classic piece of songwriting, epitomising the idea that dreams and reality can clash in unexpected ways.
The second verse of the song speaks to the women of Broadway and how they're not the solution to the singer's problems. Looking at them only makes him more depressed, especially since he doesn't even have the dime to his name that he could use to shine his shoes. The final verse takes a different tone, with Roden proclaiming that he won't be a bust and will continue playing his guitar until he becomes a star on Broadway. While the odds may be against him, and people may tell him he won't last long, he's going to give it everything he's got.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
People say that the bright, colorful lights on the buildings along Broadway are dazzling and eye-catching.
On Broadway
This song is about Broadway, a famous street in New York City known for its theaters and bright lights.
They say there's always magic in the air
Some people believe that Broadway is a magical place, full of excitement and possibility.
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're walking down the street and you're hungry and struggling to make ends meet, Broadway loses its luster and becomes a difficult and sad place to be.
They say the women treat you fine
Some people think that Broadway is a great place to meet women, who are attractive and friendly.
On Broadway
This song is still about 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
However, the singer doesn't feel that way - instead, he gets sad when he thinks about how he can't even afford to go out and have a good time with those women, because he only has one dime to his name and it's not enough to do anything fun.
They say that I won't last too long
People have told the singer that he won't be successful on Broadway and won't last very long there.
On Broadway
Still, though, this song is about Broadway!
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
People have also said that the singer will eventually give up and leave, going back home on a Greyhound bus.
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
However, the singer is confident that those people are wrong - he knows that he's talented and that he'll be successful because he can play guitar really well.
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
The singer is determined to succeed and become a famous star on Broadway, and he repeats the name of the street three times to emphasize its importance to him.
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