Broken Dreams
The Busters Lyrics


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not too long ago, a century or so
alice was a girl that everybody knew
every man's desire, the talk of the town
but look at her face and your face will frown

her beauty is gone, she has become old
no more lovers left, she is all alone
walking down the road by the harbour side
normal faces turn getting drunk each night

broken dreams - what has become of you?
time passed by, you've lost your youth and grace
broken dreams - what has become of you?
your beauty is gone, it swept away

look at the mirror, can't be the truth
you look at yourself, you're a cheat
but who are you cheating?
can't you see anyone but you?

it's cold outside, rain is pouring down
all her dreams have gone, she has lost her grace
nowhere left to go except port place
where she meets her friend: liquid, tasty and brown

no more drinks are spent, no one left to chat
she never cared a lot about a broken heart
now she seems to rot, her skin becomes a mess
she looks embarassing in her evening dress

broken dreams - what has become of you?
time passed by, you've lost your youth and grace
broken dreams - what has become of you?
your beauty is gone, it swept away

look at the mirror, can't be the truth
you look at yourself, you're a cheat




but who are you cheating?
can't you see anyone but you? 3x

Overall Meaning

The Busters's song Broken Dreams tells the story of Alice, a woman who was once the object of every man's desire and the talk of the town for her beauty. However, as time passed by, she lost her youth and beauty, and now she is all alone with no more lovers left. As she walks down the road by the harbor side, normal faces turn away from her, getting drunk each night.


The chorus of the song asks, "Broken dreams - what has become of you? Time passed by, you've lost your youth and grace. Broken dreams - what has become of you? Your beauty is gone, it swept away." These lyrics are a lament for the loss of youth and beauty and a recognition that dreams, once broken, cannot be put back together again. Alice tries to cheat herself by looking in the mirror, hoping that what she sees is not the truth, but the reality is that she cannot deny her own aging.


The song reflects on the cruel reality of life, that youth and beauty are fleeting, and that no matter how much we may want our dreams to come true, they often slip away. The imagery of Alice drinking alone by the harbor, with her friend "liquid, tasty and brown", is a poignant and sad picture of a woman who has lost everything she once had.


Line by Line Meaning

not too long ago, a century or so
It wasn't too long ago, relatively speaking


alice was a girl that everybody knew
Alice was very well-known


every man's desire, the talk of the town
Alice was desired by all men and a popular topic of conversation


but look at her face and your face will frown
Alice's appearance has significantly declined and she is no longer attractive


her beauty is gone, she has become old
Alice has aged and lost her youthful beauty


no more lovers left, she is all alone
Alice has no more romantic partners and is lonely


walking down the road by the harbour side
Alice is walking near the harbor


normal faces turn getting drunk each night
Ordinary people are getting drunk at night


broken dreams - what has become of you?
The things Alice wanted most have been lost


time passed by, you've lost your youth and grace
Time has passed and Alice has lost her youthful and graceful qualities


your beauty is gone, it swept away
Alice's beauty has vanished


look at the mirror, can't be the truth
Alice doesn't want to believe what she sees in the mirror


you look at yourself, you're a cheat
Alice is deceiving herself by not acknowledging her true appearance


but who are you cheating?
Alice is not fooling anyone but herself


can't you see anyone but you?
Why can't Alice see the reality of her situation?


it's cold outside, rain is pouring down
The weather is cold and rainy


all her dreams have gone, she has lost her grace
Alice's dreams have faded and she has lost her composure


nowhere left to go except port place
Alice has nowhere to go except to the harbor


where she meets her friend: liquid, tasty and brown
Alice drinks alcohol to cope with her problems


no more drinks are spent, no one left to chat
Alice has finished her drinks and has no one to talk to


she never cared a lot about a broken heart
Alice wasn't too concerned about heartbreak


now she seems to rot, her skin becomes a mess
Alice's appearance is deteriorating


she looks embarrassing in her evening dress
Alice looks awkward in her formal clothing




Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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