Escape
Journey Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He's just a young boy out of school
Livin' his world like he wants to
They're makin' laws, but they don't understand
Turns a boy in to a fightin' man
They won't take me
They won't break me
No one could tell him what to do
Had to learn everything the hard way
He's on the street, breakin' all the rules
I'm tellin' you that he's nobody's fool
They won't take me
They won't break me
Now he's leavin', gettin' out from this masquerade
Oh gotta go

I'm finally out in the clear and I'm free
I've got dreams I'm livin' for
I'm movin' on where they'll never find me
Rollin' on to anywhere
I'll break away, yes I'm on my way
Leavin' today, yes I'm on my way
Just when you think you had it all figured out
Runnin' scared can change your mind
I never knew I had so much to give
How hard times can fool ya
Oh I'm okay, I'm alright
Feelin' good out on your own

I'll break away, I'll break away tonight
I've got dreams I'm livin' for
I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way
I'm leaving', leavin' today
Yes, I'm on my way
This is my escape
Yes, I'm on my way




I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Journey's song "Escape" tell the story of a young man who feels trapped and controlled by society's rules and regulations. He's breaking all the rules, refusing to let anyone tell him what to do. However, he comes to the realization that he cannot continue to live this way and must break away from his current situation to start living his dreams.


Throughout the song, he speaks of leaving the masquerade behind, suggesting that society is playing a game and forcing him to participate. He wants to be free to pursue his own passions and desires. In the end, he decides to break away from his life and start anew, on his own terms.


Overall, the lyrics are a celebration of personal independence, the rejection of conformity and expectations, and the pursuit of fulfilling dreams.


Line by Line Meaning

He's just a young boy out of school
He is a boy who has recently graduated from school


Livin' his world like he wants to
He is living his life just the way he wants to


They're makin' laws, but they don't understand
The lawmakers are not able to fully comprehend the situation and circumstances


Turns a boy in to a fightin' man
It forces the boy to be strong and face the challenges like a man


They won't take me
I won't let them take me down


They won't break me
I'm too strong to be broken down by them


No one could tell him what to do
No one has the right to dictate what he should do


Had to learn everything the hard way
He learned everything from his own experiences


He's on the street, breakin' all the rules
He is breaking every rule and living life on the edge


I'm tellin' you that he's nobody's fool
He is very clever and sharp-minded


Now he's leavin', gettin' out from this masquerade
He is leaving from the pretentious and fake world


Oh gotta go
He absolutely has to leave


I'm finally out in the clear and I'm free
He is finally free from all the troubles he was facing


I've got dreams I'm livin' for
He has many aspirations to fulfill in his life


I'm movin' on where they'll never find me
He is leaving for a place where nobody knows him


Rollin' on to anywhere
He is going wherever his destiny takes him


I'll break away, yes I'm on my way
He is determined to break free from his past and start again


Leavin' today, yes I'm on my way
He is leaving today for his new life


Just when you think you had it all figured out
Just when you think you know what's going on


Runnin' scared can change your mind
Fear can make you change your thoughts


I never knew I had so much to give
He is amazed at the amount of ability he has


How hard times can fool ya
Adversity can sometimes conceal your potential


Oh I'm okay, I'm alright
He is happy and everything is alright


Feelin' good out on your own
He is feeling great being on his own


I'll break away, I'll break away tonight
He is breaking away tonight from his past and moving ahead


This is my escape
This is his way of escaping from his old life and starting afresh


Yes, I'm on my way
He is moving forward with his dreams


I'll break away
He is determined to break away from his past




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Friga, Neal Schon, Stephen Perry

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
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@brianshepherd9740

He's just a young boy out of school
Living his world like he wants to
They're making laws but they don't understand
Turns a boy into a fighting man

They won't take me
They won't break me

No one could tell him what to do
Had to learn everything the hard way
He's on the streets breaking all the rules
I'm telling you that he's nobody's fool

They won't take me
They won't break me

Oh, now he's leaving
Getting out from the masquerade
Oh, gotta go

I'm finally out in the clear and I'm free
I've got dreams I'm living for
I'm moving on where they'll never find me
Rolling on to anywhere

I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way
I'm leaving today
Yes, I'm on my way

Just when you think you had it all figured out
Running scared can change your mind
I never knew I had so much to give
How hard times can fool ya
Oh, I'm okay, I'm alright
Feeling good out on your own
Oh, I'll break away, I'll break away tonight
I've got dreams I'm living for

I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way
I'm leaving, leaving today
Yes, I'm on my way
This is my escape
Yes, I'm on my way
I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way

I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my way
I'm leaving, leaving today
Yes, I'm on my way
This is my escape
Yes, I'm on, on my way
I'll break away
Yes, I'm on my escape



All comments from YouTube:

@MrJeffm66

One of the best bands and THE BEST LEAD SINGER! What a great time I had at their concert back in the 80's.

@annajohnson4147

When I was an EMT in Boston in the late 80's, I lived on the top floor of my grandmothers' house in Boston from Sunday night to Friday night and then right after work on Friday, I would grab my stuff and head back to the South Shore to my parents for the weekend. As I got onto Morrissey Boulevard to get out of the city I would throw this track into my cassette player (yes I'm old) and it put me in the right frame of mind.

This is my escape.

Memories!!!!!!!!

@redsed1565

this should have been No1 for 10 years!

@k24skin

I was 14, I had a bike, a Sony Walkman, Escape and Frontiers on cassette and at that moment in time I really didn't need anything else :)

@GulfCoastSignals

this is the most unique song on the whole album. And probably the most unique journey song in general.

@mrsz1988

Seeing them again next month. Happy 50th journey.

1982, 2016, 2019, 2024...miss you Steve.

@kodiakthejuggler

I love the progressive structure of this song. Following the story of the character in the lyrics. Beautiful song!!

@user-ir9yv5zs3h

AWESOME IS OUR GOD ...❤❤❤❤

@defleppardfangirl6806

Definitely underrated! Can't ever go wrong with Journey 😇💜💚

@ggove11

Their BEST SONG!

More Comments

More Versions