Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices.… Read Full Bio ↴Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices.

She has won numerous awards and inspired many to donate their time and money to countless charities around the globe. Her accomplishments in blues, jazz and rock have moved audiences across the country. Her talents have led to collaborations, as both singer and songwriter, with internationally acclaimed artists as well as local friends and heroes.

Molly Johnson has rocked standing-room only audiences in nightclubs and bars from coast-to-coast as a pop artist, seduced the patrons of salons and lounges with her luscious interpretations of jazz and blues standards and even regaled royalty with her unique and charming presence.

However, Molly's most prized accomplishment to date is being a good mother to her two children.

streets of philadelphia
Molly Johnson Lyrics

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I was bruised and battered, I couldn't tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
I saw my reflection in a window, I didn't know my own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me wastin' away
On the Streets of Philadelphia

I walked the avenue, 'til my legs felt like stone
I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone

At night I could hear the blood in my veins
Just as black and whispering as the rain
On the Streets of Philadelphia

Ain't no angel gonna greet me
It's just you and I my friend
My clothes don't fit me no more
I walked a thousand miles
Just to slip this skin

The night has fallen, I'm lyin' awake
I can feel myself fading away
So receive me brother with your faithless kiss

Or will we leave each other alone like this
On the Streets of Philadelphia

Overall Meaning

Molly Johnson's song "Streets of Philadelphia" is a melancholic reflection on a life lived in the shadows of society. The lyrics trace the journey of a man who is lost, broken and battered, trying to navigate his way through the dark and desolate streets of Philadelphia. At the very beginning of the song, the singer is unable to recognize himself, such is the extent of his physical and emotional afflictions. He stumbles upon his own reflection in a windowpane, and the sheer shock and horror of the image staring back at him creates feelings of despair and desperation. He cries out to his brother, asking for help, terrified that he will end up "wasting away on the Streets of Philadelphia."

As he continues on his journey, he hears the voices of friends who are no longer with him, offering him no solace or comfort. The night envelops him, making him feel isolated and alone. He is acutely aware of the sound of his own heart beating, which is nothing but a black and haunting echo, much like the whispering of the rain. He realizes that there is nobody to guide him on his path, as he stumbles and shuffles along the dark and murky streets of the city. There is no glimmer of hope or even a hint of redemption present as the song progresses. The final verse speaks of his ultimate fate, and the audience is left to determine whether he will receive the "faithless kiss" of his brother, or whether he will remain alone and broken, disappearing into the darkness of the same streets that he walked a thousand miles to escape.

Line by Line Meaning

I was bruised and battered, I couldn't tell what I felt
Physically and emotionally injured, I was unable to understand my own emotional state

I was unrecognizable to myself
My experiences have changed me so much that I no longer recognize who I am

I saw my reflection in a window, I didn't know my own face
When I looked at my own reflection, I was surprised by how different I looked and felt

Oh brother are you gonna leave me wastin' away On the Streets of Philadelphia
I am asking my brother if he will abandon me to suffer alone in Philadelphia

I walked the avenue, 'til my legs felt like stone
I walked so much that my legs felt extremely heavy and tired

I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone
I could hear the voices of friends who are no longer with me

At night I could hear the blood in my veins Just as black and whispering as the rain On the Streets of Philadelphia
At night, the silence was so profound that I could hear my own blood flowing through my veins which was as dark and eerie as the rain.

Ain't no angel gonna greet me It's just you and I my friend
I don't expect any divine intervention or help from an angel, I only have my friend to rely on

My clothes don't fit me no more I walked a thousand miles Just to slip this skin
My difficult journey has changed me to the point where even my clothes don't fit, as if I've shed my old skin

The night has fallen, I'm lyin' awake I can feel myself fading away
As the night has progressed, I am slowly losing the will to live or exist

So receive me brother with your faithless kiss Or will we leave each other alone like this On the Streets of Philadelphia
I'm asking my brother if he will abandon me in this time of need or if he will offer me comfort despite his lack of faith in doing so. Otherwise, we will continue down separate paths alone.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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