boulevard of broken dreams
Tony Bennett & Sting Lyrics

The lyrics of "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Tony Bennett and Sting paint a picture of a street filled with shattered aspirations, unfulfilled hopes, and broken promises. The boulevard represents a place of lost opportunities, where those who long for something more in life come to find comfort in the company of others who share their disappointment. The song speaks to the human tendency to seek temporary solace in distractions such as love and pleasure, acknowledging that while such pursuits may be fleeting, they still provide some semblance of joy even if it's short-lived. The boulevard stands as a metaphor for life's inevitable letdowns, and the need for human connection in the face of such adversities.

The first stanza describes the boulevard as a place where gigolos and gigolettes freely take kisses without feeling any lasting attachment. This line encapsulates the desperate and disillusioned nature of the boulevard, where people no longer believe in the power of love or companionship. The second stanza depicts the duality of emotions experienced by those on the boulevard: moments of laughter are inevitably followed by tears of regret. However, the singers suggest that even in the midst of despair, there is a certain resilience to be found in the act of singing and dancing, a form of expression that has the power to uplift spirits and inspire hope.

In the final verse, the singers reveal that they themselves are lost in this broken dreamscape, always walking but never truly present. The old cathedral town they mention represents a distant memory of a time when they still had a sense of belonging, suggesting that they have long since lost their way. The joy they speak of is elusive, something that can be borrowed but never fully grasped. Nevertheless, they continue to seek it out, reaffirming their belief that there is some purpose to be found in the boulevard's seemingly endless cycle of despair.