On Broadway
Leiber & Stoller 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
The lyrics to Leiber & Stoller's song On Broadway paint a picture of the iconic street in New York City known for its bright lights and entertainment industry. However, beyond the surface level glamor, the song talks about the struggles and hardships that one might face when trying to make it big in the show business. This becomes particularly apparent in the first verse where the lyrics describe how hollow the glitter and magic of Broadway can feel when one is walking down the street and doesn't have enough to eat. Despite what people might say about the glitz and glamour of Broadway, things can feel bleak when one is struggling to make ends meet.
In the second verse, the lyrics further underline the point that looking at the women on Broadway can give the singer the blues because it represents a life that is beyond his reach because he doesn't have any money. The last two verses, however, take on a different tone. The lyrics go on to state that people say the singer won't be able to last long in the entertainment capital and that he will eventually go back home on a Greyhound bus. The singer, however, is convinced otherwise. He knows he is talented because he can play the guitar and he won't quit till he becomes a star. Broadway, therefore, represents both the promise of the American Dream but also its brutal reality.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
People talk about the bright neon lights of Broadway that shine with a spectacular beauty
On Broadway
Broadway is a street in New York City, famous for its grand theaters, musicals, and performances
They say there's always magic in the air
People say there's an essence of wonder or enchantment that can be felt when walking on 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, being hungry and broke can make you realize that the glamour of Broadway is just an illusion, as you struggle to survive
They say the women treat you fine
It is believed that the women in Broadway are nice and treat men well
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
But for the singer, looking at women reminds him of his hopeless situation, and it depresses him
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
He questions how he's supposed to date when he only has ten cents, which isn't enough for anything, even to shine his shoes
They say that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
Many people predict that he won't survive long in Broadway and will end up taking the Greyhound bus back home
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
But he is determined to prove them wrong, as he knows that he can play the guitar well and believes in himself
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
He will never give up until he reaches his goal of being a star on Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
Repeatedly emphasizing that he's set on making it big and become famous in his chosen field on Broadway
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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