Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” is a popular rock song from 1981. It was the second single from the album “Escape,” and the songwriters were Steve Perry, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain. The song has a memorable keyboard melody and an unusual structure where the chorus only appears at the end.
Despite this, it became a massive hit and is now the band’s most well-known song. “Don’t Stop Believin'” has been covered by numerous artists, including the cast of the TV show Glee. In 2022, it was added to the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
Table of Contents
Lyrics Interpretation
Before we delve into the story behind this song, let’s take a closer look at each verse of the lyrics.
Verse 1: The Small-Town Girl and the City Boy
Just a small-town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
The opening verse introduces two characters: a small-town girl and a city boy. Both characters are seeking escape from their current situations, boarding a midnight train to an unknown destination. The lyrics imply that the characters are unhappy or unfulfilled in their lives and desire something more. Their contrasting backgrounds emphasize that the pursuit of happiness and a better life transcends geographical and societal boundaries.
Chorus: Strangers Waiting and Streetlights People
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’ somewhere in the night
The chorus introduces the concept of “strangers waiting” and “streetlights people.” These phrases represent the countless individuals who are searching for meaning, connection, and emotional fulfillment in their lives. The imagery of shadows and streetlights evokes a sense of loneliness and longing, while also highlighting the human desire to find companionship and emotional resonance in the darkness.
Verse 2: A Singer in a Smokey Room
A singer in a smokey room
The smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on
The second verse focuses on a singer in a smokey room, surrounded by the smell of wine and cheap perfume. This scene represents the transient and fleeting nature of human connections. The people in the room share a momentary bond through a shared smile, symbolizing the power of human connection to provide solace and comfort even in the most fleeting of moments.
Bridge: The Pursuit of Thrills and the Cycle of Life
Workin’ hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin’ anything to roll the dice just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on, and on, and on
The bridge delves into the pursuit of thrills and the cyclical nature of life. The lyrics suggest that everyone is working hard to attain happiness and excitement, even if it means taking risks or paying a high price. The reference to winning, losing, and singing the blues highlights the unpredictability of life and the inevitability of both successes and failures. The repetition of “it goes on and on” emphasizes that life is a continuous journey full of ups and downs.
Outro: Don’t Stop Believin’
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on
Streetlight people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to that feelin’
Streetlight people
The outro brings the song to a powerful and uplifting conclusion with the repeated exhortation to “Don’t stop believin’.” This message encourages listeners to maintain hope and continue striving for their dreams, despite the challenges and setbacks they may encounter. The phrase “hold on to that feelin'” further emphasizes the importance of embracing and nurturing the emotions and experiences that drive us forward.
True Meaning Behind Don’t Stop Believin’
The story behind Journey’s iconic hit “Don’t Stop Believin'” unfolds like a tale of serendipity, where moments of struggle, inspiration, and chance encounters weave together to create a timeless anthem. At its core, the song’s powerful words and chords are birthed from the personal mantra of band member Jonathan Cain—a mantra first heard from his father during a time of uncertainty.
As a young and struggling musician in the 1970s, Cain’s future seemed uncertain when his beloved dog was struck by a car. A desperate phone call to his father for financial and emotional support led to a life-changing moment. Instead of suggesting Cain abandon his dreams and return to Chicago, his father lovingly encouraged him with the words, “Son, don’t stop believin’.” This simple yet powerful phrase would later become the cornerstone of the song we know today.
As fate would have it, Cain joined Journey just as they were working on their seventh album, Escape. In search of one more song to complete the album, the band turned to Cain, who went home and began composing on his Wurlitzer piano. There, he found his father’s words scribbled in his lyric book and felt a spark of inspiration. He crafted the soaring chorus “Hold on to that feelin’,” knowing it would resonate with lead singer Steve Perry. The rest of the band eagerly contributed to the creation of the song, each adding their unique touch to the enduring classic.
Intriguingly, one of the most memorable lines in the song, “born and raised in South Detroit,” is based on a geographical misconception. Steve Perry has admitted that he experimented with various directions, but none sounded as poetic as “South Detroit.” To his surprise, he later discovered that South Detroit actually lies in Canada! Nevertheless, the beauty of the lyric remains, reflecting the mystique and allure of the song itself.
Another evocative lyric, “streetlight people living just to find emotion,” came to Perry as he observed people wandering the streets of Detroit at night after a show. This line captures the essence of the human experience—our quest for connection, meaning, and emotion. It is in these small yet poignant details that the song’s magic truly lies.
The story of “Don’t Stop Believin'” is a testament to the power of perseverance, belief, and the alchemy of creativity. A simple phrase from a father to his son, a struggling musician’s leap of faith, and a band’s relentless pursuit of artistry culminate in a song that has stood the test of time. It is a reminder that sometimes, the smallest decisions can leave the most significant impact, and the heart of belief can carry us further than we could ever imagine.
How This Song Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon
Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” is a hugely popular song that has appeared in many different forms of media over the years. It gained a lot of attention in 2005 when it was played during The Chicago White Sox’s World Series championship, and two years later, it was featured in the final scene of the popular HBO show, The Sopranos, causing digital downloads of the song to skyrocket.
In addition to its use in sports and television, the song has also become a beloved staple at Detroit Red Wings home games, as well as at San Francisco Giants games during the 8th inning. The song even made an appearance during the World Series when Steve Perry led the crowd in a rendition of the song.
“Don’t Stop Believin'” has also made its way into the world of theater and film, with its inclusion in the jukebox musical Rock of Ages, which ran on Broadway from 2009 to 2015 and was later made into a movie. The song has also been used as entrance music for professional wrestler Silas Young and in a Toyota Hilux commercial.
The song’s popularity has even extended to animated television, with the character Eric Cartman from South Park seen singing the song in an episode called “Tsst”. With its enduring popularity, “Don’t Stop Believin'” continues to be a beloved song across multiple forms of media.
Conclusion
“Don’t Stop Believin'” has remained a beloved and enduring anthem due to its timeless message of hope, perseverance, and the power of human connection.
The song’s lyrics speak to the universal desire for a better life and the courage to chase our dreams, while also acknowledging the inherent struggles and uncertainties that come with the journey.
The powerful refrain, “Don’t stop believin’,” serves as a rallying cry, inspiring listeners to never give up on their aspirations and to hold on to the emotions that keep them moving forward.