Don't Stop Believin'
T‐Pain Lyrics


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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
Took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere, oh-oh
A singer in a smokey 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 waitin', yeah
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night, ooh
Streetlights, ooh, people livin' just to find emotion
And hidin', somewhere in the night
Yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh

I'm workin' hard to get my fill
You know everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Yeah, some will win, some will lose
Ooh, some are born to sing the blues
Whoa, the movie never ends, it goes on, and on, and on, and on

Strangers waitin', yeah
Up and down the boulevard, their shadows searchin' in the night, ooh
Streetlights, ooh, people livin' just to find emotion
And hidin', somewhere in the night

Don't stop, ooh, believin', oh yeah, hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, ooh, people
Don't stop, ooh, believin', oh yeah, hold on to that feelin'




Streetlights, ooh, people
Don't stop believin'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to T-Pain's song "Don't Stop Believin'" can be interpreted as a story of hope, dreams, and the pursuit of happiness. The song begins by introducing two characters - a small-town girl and a city boy from South Detroit. The girl is described as living in a lonely world, and the boy is described as being born and raised in South Detroit. They both embark on a journey by taking the midnight train, seeking a better life and a chance to fulfill their dreams.


As the song progresses, it describes the experiences they encounter along the way. The singer finds himself in a smokey room, surrounded by a mixture of wine and cheap perfume. Despite the hardships and challenges they face, they find solace in each other's company and continue to push forward. The lyrics emphasize the endlessness of their journey, with the night going on and on.


The chorus serves as an anthem of motivation and encouragement. It urges listeners to never stop believing and to hold on to the feeling of hope. The streetlights symbolize the guiding lights that lead people through their struggles and the search for emotion and fulfillment. Overall, the song is a reminder to persevere, keep dreaming, and never give up.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Expressing excitement and anticipation


Just a small town girl
A girl from a humble background


Livin' in a lonely world
Living a solitary life


Took the midnight train going anywhere
Embarked on a journey with an uncertain destination


Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit
A young man from the city of Detroit, with a strong connection to his hometown


He took the midnight train going anywhere, oh-oh
He also chose to embark on a journey with an uncertain destination


A singer in a smokey room
A performer in a crowded and hazy environment


A smell of wine and cheap perfume
The scent of alcohol and inexpensive fragrance


For a smile they can share the night, it goes on, and on, and on, and on
Entertaining people with their music, making the night endlessly enjoyable


Strangers waitin', yeah
Unknown individuals waiting for something


Up and down the boulevard
Moving along the city street


Their shadows searchin' in the night, ooh
Their presence and desires being felt but not fully understood


Streetlights, ooh, people livin' just to find emotion
The lights illuminating the path for individuals seeking emotional fulfillment


And hidin', somewhere in the night
Concealing their true selves and desires in the darkness


Yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh
Expressions of agreement and fascination


I'm workin' hard to get my fill
Putting in effort to fulfill one's desires


You know everybody wants a thrill
Everyone desires excitement and enjoyment


Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Willing to take risks, even at a high cost


Yeah, some will win, some will lose
Outcome can vary, with both successes and failures


Ooh, some are born to sing the blues
Certain individuals are naturally inclined to experience hardships


Whoa, the movie never ends, it goes on, and on, and on, and on
Life's journey continues indefinitely, like an ongoing film


Don't stop, ooh, believin', oh yeah, hold on to that feelin'
Do not lose hope, cling to the positive emotions and beliefs


Streetlights, ooh, people
The lights and the individuals in the city


Don't stop, ooh, believin', oh yeah, hold on to that feelin'
Do not lose hope, cling to the positive emotions and beliefs


Streetlights, ooh, people
The lights and the individuals in the city


Don't stop believin'
Continue to have faith and optimism




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Swig & Smoke BBQ

Watching him do a 1000 takes on stream just to make it perfect shows how unbelievable amazing this man is, respect.

Jonathan Pressman

did he produce this?

Ulan

@Jonathan Pressman hell yeah, he basically produces everything he puts out at this point

Ulan

@Jonathan Pressman and he does it all live on twitch

Jonathan Pressman

I know of his music casually but didn't realize that he was so nice

Barry Buchanan

Link???

7 More Replies...

Josh Boyd

This is the cover that no one asked for, but it turns out we all needed. It’s truly magical

Lou Horton

😭

donnellm346

I wanted to hate on this so bad... just to instantly love it at "South Detroit."

Josh Boyd

@donnellm346 I listened out of curiosity, but was blown away. Tennessee Whiskey and War Pigs are also fantastic.

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