On Broadway
Neil Young 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
Neil Young's song On Broadway is a melancholic reflection on the harsh reality of chasing the American Dream in New York City's famous theatre district. The opening lyrics seem to reflect the idyllic image of Broadway constructed by popular culture - "They say the neon lights are bright. On Broadway, they say there's always magic in the air." However, as the song progresses, the perspective shifts to that of a struggling musician who has fallen on hard times in the city, unable to afford basic necessities such as food and decent clothes. He is disillusioned with the women who work in the area, and the song takes on a sad tone, with the line "the glitter rubs off and you're nowhere" suggesting that the illusion of Broadway can fall away quickly.
Despite these setbacks, the singer remains determined to make it in the music industry, as he believes that he has the skill necessary to achieve success. He refuses to listen to the voices telling him that he will never succeed and proudly asserts that he will persevere until he becomes a star, on Broadway. The song is a powerful critique of the American dream, suggesting that while success may be possible, it is only attainable through profound struggle and hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
According to popular belief, the bright neon lights on Broadway are very attractive.
On Broadway
Broadway is a famous street in New York City, known for its theaters and entertainment industry.
They say there's always magic in the air
It is believed that there is a magical atmosphere on Broadway due to its reputation for entertainment and events.
But when you're walkin' down that street
However, when you are actually walking down Broadway,
And you ain't have enough to eat
And if you are struggling with poverty and hunger,
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
The magic and excitement of Broadway quickly fades away, leaving you feeling desolate and hopeless.
They say the women treat you fine
It is said that the women on Broadway are very friendly and kind.
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
However, when Neil Young looks at the women, he simply feels sad and hopeless instead of being cheered up.
How ya gonna make some time
How can you make any progress?
When all you got is one thin dime
When you have only a small amount of money,
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
You can't even make your shoes look good with just that amount of money.
They say that I won't last too long
People predict that Neil Young will not be successful for very long.
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
They suggest he will leave for home by taking a Greyhound bus.
But they get wrong, I know they are
Neil Young disagrees with those people and knows they are incorrect in their assumptions.
'Cause I can play this here guitar
He is confident in his ability to play guitar and become successful.
I won't quit till I'm a star
Neil Young is determined to become a famous star.
On Broadway
Once again, he refers to the famous street in New York City known for entertainment.
On Broadway
The repetition of this line emphasizes his ambition and determination to succeed in the entertainment industry.
On Broadway
He ends the song with this line as a statement of his goals and purpose in life.
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
Mike Honcho
This version is incredibly underrated
hirigoyen dominique
perfect