Broadway
The Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics


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Broadway's dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway's dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die

The cowboy kills the rock star
And Friday night's gone too far
The dim light hides the years
On all the faded girls

Forgotten but not gone
You drink it off your mind
You talk about the world like it's someplace that you've been

You see, you'd love to run home, but you know you ain't got one
Cuz you're livin' in a world that you're best forgotten, around here

Broadway's dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway's dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die

You choke down all your anger
Forget your only son
You pray to statues when you sober up for fun
Your anger don't impress me
The world slapped in your face
It always rains like hell on the loser's day parade

You see, you'd love to run home, but you know you ain't got one
Cuz you're livin' in a world that you're best forgotten
When you're thinkin' you're a joke and nobody's gonna listen
To the one small point I know they've been missing around here

Broadway's dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway's dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die

You see, you'd love to run home, but you know you ain't got one
Cuz you're livin' in a world that you're best forgotten
When you're thinkin' you're a joke and nobody's gonna listen
To the one small point I know they've been missing around here
Round here, yeah
Round here

Broadway's dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway's dark tonight




See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die

Overall Meaning

The Goo Goo Dolls' "Broadway" is a haunting and melancholic ballad that tells the story of broken dreams and lost souls. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song: "Broadway's dark tonight, a little bit weaker than you used to be." It seems that the glory days of this famous street, which is often associated with fame, fortune, and opportunity, have faded into the past. The second verse expands on this idea, with the young man sitting in the old man's bar waiting for his turn to die. The mood is bleak, and the lyrics suggest that this is a world where people's dreams go to die, their hopes and ambitions unfulfilled.


As the song continues, we hear about the cowboy who kills the rock star, and the dim light that hides the years on all the faded girls. These images suggest that there is a sense of violence and decay in this world, and that people's lives are marked by disappointment and regret. The chorus repeats the opening line, emphasizing the idea that Broadway is no longer what it used to be.


There is a sense of resignation in the lyrics, as though the characters have given up on their aspirations and are simply waiting for the end to come. They drink to forget, they talk about the world as if they've been there before, and they pray to statues for fun. The song suggests that they are living in a world that is best forgotten, a world where people are forgotten but not gone.


Overall, "Broadway" is a powerful and moving song that captures the despair and disillusionment of those who have been left behind by the glamour of the world. It reminds us that even the most famous and successful places can become faded and forgotten, and that the dreams of those who once walked those streets can be shattered.


Line by Line Meaning

Broadway's dark tonight
The bright lights of Broadway have dimmed tonight


A little bit weaker than you used to be
It's not as vibrant as it used to be


Broadway's dark tonight
The darkness of the night highlights the fading glory


See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
A youthful person sits among the old in a bar


Waitin' for his turn to die
He is waiting for his life to end


The cowboy kills the rock star
The rugged individualist triumphs over the glamorous performer


And Friday night's gone too far
The weekend revelry is out of control


The dim light hides the years
The poor lighting obscures the passage of time


On all the faded girls
The effect is most visible on the once-attractive women


Forgotten but not gone
People may have moved on, but the past still lingers


You drink it off your mind
You try to forget with alcohol


You talk about the world like it's someplace that you've been
You reflect upon life experiences as if you've been everywhere


You see, you'd love to run home, but you know you ain't got one
You wish to retreat to a place of comfort, but it doesn't exist


Cuz you're livin' in a world that you're best forgotten, around here
The present is too bleak to dwell on


You choke down all your anger
You suppress your frustration


Forget your only son
You've distanced yourself from your own child


You pray to statues when you sober up for fun
You engage in empty religious rituals when sober for amusement


Your anger don't impress me
Your rage doesn't command respect


The world slapped in your face
Reality dealt you a harsh blow


It always rains like hell on the loser's day parade
Misfortunes seem to pile up for those down on their luck


When you're thinkin' you're a joke and nobody's gonna listen
You feel like a laughingstock without an audience


To the one small point I know they've been missing around here
People are overlooking an important detail


Round here, yeah
This is how things are in this area


Broadway's dark tonight
The darkness is a metaphor for the fading glory of the past


A little bit weaker than you used to be
Things are not as vibrant as they have been in the past


Broadway's dark tonight
The darkness draws attention to the decline


See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
The juxtaposition of youth and old age highlights the decay


Waitin' for his turn to die
The young man feels like there's no hope for the future




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN RZEZNIK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ives3572

Broadway is dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die
The cowboy kills the rock star
And Friday night's gone too far
The dim light hides the years on all the faded girls
Forgotten but not gone
You drink it off your mind
You talk about the world
Like it's someplace that you've been
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
'Cause you're livin' in a world
That you're best forgotten around here
Broadway is dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die
You choke down all your anger
Forget your only son
You pray to statues when you're sober up for fun
Your anger don't impress me
The world slapped in your face
It always rains like hell on the losers day parade
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
'Cause you're livin' in a world
That you're best forgotten
When you're thinkin' of a joke
And nobody's gonna listen
To the one small point
I know they been missin' round here
Broadway is dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die
You see you'd love to run home
But you know you ain't got one
'Cause you're livin' in a world
That you're best forgotten
When you're thinkin' of a joke
And nobody's gonna listen
To the one small point
I know they been missin' round here, round here
Broadway is dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar
Waitin' for his turn to die

Very thought-provoking and relevant lyrics as you grow up and get older



All comments from YouTube:

@heathernikki5734

It's amazing how songs you liked at 15 mean so much more at 35

@zachschroeder5538

That is the truth!

@carsonhoberty9683

wait until you are in your 50s

@mindful_minipods

reminiscing
indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events. aka happy feeling. its human nature, enjoy the feeling 100%

@HybridSpektar

I got 10 more years for that, but I get what you mean.

@kurtschmidt5005

I was 15 when this was “new!”

88 More Replies...

@johnhagan9277

Why in the hell this band is so overlooked is beyond me. This dude is a lyrical genius and the music is freakin killer. They definitely don't get the respect they deserve...

@BoostAutoYT

Exactly them and Rob Thomas or Rob's band Matchbox 20... all super under recognized

@gutterflower65dc50

Amen to that! They deserve so much more credit than they get. John is truly a lyrical genius, and his voice is so amazing

@jerryjanik480

Because he's for Buffalo New York that's why he's overlooked
Just like another Buffalo singer like RickJames he only got his credit thanks to Dave Chappelle and Charlie Murphy

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