Don't Stop Believin'
Julianne Hough Diego Boneta Tom Cruise Alec Baldwin Russell Brand & Mary J. Blige Lyrics


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Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights, people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on, and on, and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights, people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights, people

Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people

Don't stop believin'




Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights, people

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Stop Believin'" is a classic rock anthem that tells the story of two people, a small-town girl and a city boy, who are both searching for something more in life. The lyrics speak to the universal desire for something bigger and better, whether that's finding love, success or simply a sense of purpose. The small-town girl and city boy take the midnight train going anywhere, in search of their dreams. Along the way, they encounter other strangers searching for their own meaning and emotions. The sounds and smells of the smoky room, wine and cheap perfume create an atmosphere of excitement and possibility. Despite the ups and downs of life, the song encourages us to keep going, to hold on to the feeling of hope and possibility that makes life worth living.


Line by Line Meaning

Just a small town girl
A girl from a small town.


Livin' in a lonely world
Living in a world where she feels alone and isolated.


She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
She took a risk and embarked on a journey without knowing where it would lead her.


Just a city boy
A boy from the city.


Born and raised in south Detroit
Grew up in south Detroit.


He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
He also took a risk and embarked on a journey without knowing where it would lead him.


A singer in a smoky room
Refers to a performer singing in a dimly lit, smoky bar.


A smell of wine and cheap perfume
The atmosphere of the bar is filled with the scent of alcohol and cheap, strong smelling perfume.


For a smile they can share the night
The performer is willing to perform all night just to see the crowd smile.


It goes on and on, and on, and on
The night feels like it will never end.


Strangers waiting
People who don't know each other are waiting.


Up and down the boulevard
Walking up and down the street, looking for something to do.


Their shadows searching in the night
Their silhouettes can be seen in the dark as they search for something or someone to fill their loneliness.


Streetlights, people
Refers to the lights on the street illuminating people's faces on the sidewalks.


Living just to find emotion
People are living simply to feel something, anything, rather than feeling numb and emotionless.


Hiding somewhere in the night
There are people hiding in the dark, trying to escape from the pain and problems they face in life.


Working hard to get my fill
Working tirelessly to achieve something and satisfy their needs.


Everybody wants a thrill
People want something exciting to happen to them just to feel alive.


Payin' anything to roll the dice
People are willing to risk anything and everything just to have a chance at happiness or excitement.


Just one more time
People keep trying even after failure, because they believe things can get better with just one more try.


Some will win, some will lose
Not everyone will achieve their dreams, some will succeed and some will fail.


Some were born to sing the blues
Some people feel that they were always meant to experience sadness and tough times in life.


Oh, the movie never ends
Life goes on, with all of its ups and downs, and there is no way to pause or stop it.


Don't stop believin'
Never stop having faith in yourself and in your dreams.


Hold on to the feelin'
Keep the sensation of hope and belief alive in your heart.


Streetlights, people
The song title, a reminder of the experiences of people on the streets looking for something to hold on to.


Don't stop believin'
Reinforced encouragement, never stop believing in yourself and your potential.


Hold on
Keep holding on even during tough times.


Streetlights, people
Repeat of title, a return to the reminder of the song's message.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Cain, Stephen Ray Perry, Neal Joseph Schon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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