Faith was a band-leader, orchestrator, and composer best known for his arrangements of standard tunes using lush string sections and female choruses. The latter sometimes sang, most often they just vocalized without words.
Faith's live orchestra was a staple of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's live-music broadcasts from 1938 to 1940. After moving to the U.S., Faith made many recordings for Voice of America. After working briefly for Decca Records, he went to work for Mitch Miller at Columbia Records. There, he turned out dozens of albums and provided arrangements for many of the pop singers of the 1950s. The use of the female chorus really became a Percy Faith signature with his mid-late 1960's "Young Lovers" projects; it was also used in his final Holiday album, "Christmas Is," released in 1967.
Faith's most famous and best-remembered recordings are "Delicado" (1952), "Moulin Rouge" (1953) and "Theme from A Summer Place" (1960).
On Broadway
Percy Faith 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
Percy Faith's "On Broadway" is a song about the ups and downs of the famous Broadway street in New York City, where dreams are made and broken every day. The song starts off by describing the glamorous side of Broadway, with its neon lights and magical atmosphere. However, the tone of the song quickly shifts as the singer describes the harsh reality of life on the street, particularly for those who are struggling financially. The glitter and glamour of Broadway quickly fades away when there's not enough money to even buy food. The song continues on to describe the futility of trying to impress the women on the street with just one dime, which is barely enough to even shine your shoes.
The singer of the song acknowledges that many people believe he won't last long on Broadway and will eventually return home on a Greyhound bus. However, the singer is confident in his abilities as a musician and won't quit until he becomes a star on Broadway. This song captures the spirit of perseverance and determination that is necessary to make it on Broadway, where success is far from guaranteed.
Overall, "On Broadway" is an insightful commentary on fame and the struggles that come along with it. It's a reminder that despite the glamour of the entertainment industry, there are real struggles that artists face every day.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
Many people believe that the lights on Broadway are bright and shining.
On Broadway
The song is about Broadway itself and what it represents.
They say there's always magic in the air
People believe there's a certain aura or air about Broadway that creates a magical experience for its visitors.
But when you're walkin' down that street
However, when someone walks down that street, they may have a different experience than expected.
And you ain't have enough to eat
If someone is struggling to make ends meet or even feed themselves, the experience will not be as magical as they thought.
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
All the fancy lights and decorations lose their charm when someone is struggling and have no place to go.
They say the women treat you fine
There's a common belief that women treat men kindly on Broadway.
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
However, for the singer, looking at the women just makes him upset and not happy as expected.
How ya gonna make some time
How will someone create time for themselves to experience Broadway appropriately?
When all you got is one thin dime
If someone only has a little bit of money, they won't be able to experience Broadway completely.
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
Even just shining shoes cost more than that one thin dime, implying a dire financial situation.
They say that I won't last too long
People told the singer that he won't make it for long on Broadway.
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
People tell him to give up on Broadway and go back home.
But they get wrong, I know they are
However, the singer knows that they are incorrect and doesn't want to give up.
'Cause I can play this here guitar
The singer has a skill, playing the guitar, that he believes will help him stay on Broadway and become successful.
I won't quit till I'm a star
The singer is determined to become a star on Broadway and won't give up until he achieves this goal.
On Broadway
The song ends with repeating the title of the song, emphasizing the importance of Broadway in the singer's journey to success.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind