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Real Meaning Behind The Lyrics To Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’

Feature Photo: Bruce Alan Bennett / Shutterstock.com

Our Meaning Behind The Lyrics To Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” article will look at the lyrics to the iconic rock song. “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the second single from Journey’s Escape album. The song was released in October 1981. It was written by Journey’s Steve Perry , Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain . The song is remembered for its opening keyboard riff. “Don’t Stop Believin’” was a Top 10 hit.

The song peaked at number nine on the Hot 100 charts and number eight on the mainstream charts. It became one of the band’s signature songs. Years after the song was released, it became one of the best-selling digital tracks of the 20th century. The popular song received millions of downloads. This is quite an achievement considering this song is decades old. It was picked as one of the best songs of all time. This song has been covered by different artists. It was most famously covered by the cast of Glee .

“Don’t Stop Believin’” is a power anthem. The song is different because the chorus doesn’t appear until the end. Most songs usually have a chorus within the song. It doesn’t usually come towards the end of the song. Jonathan Cain wrote the words as a mantra. The words came to him after a conversation with his father. Jonathan Cain wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue with his music career. He needed money for his dog because it was hit by a car.

He asked his father for a loan and he started to doubt whether he should stay in music. His father gave him the loan and told him not to give up on music. His father told him not to stop believing. The song is about people from different walks of life who face uncertainty. They try to remain positive and realistic about what will happen to them. Our Meaning Behind The Lyrics to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” will give you an idea of what the powerful song is about.

The first line of the song is about a girl from a small town. She is a lonely girl who isn’t happy with her life. She wants more from her life. She decides to take a midnight train going anywhere. This means she wants to take a new journey in her life. She doesn’t care where she goes. She needs something new. We don’t always know where we are going or where we will end up in life. This line indicates that the girl wants to leave but doesn’t know where she is going. We are introduced to a city boy. He was born and raised in south Detroit.

Journey used South Detroit for the boy’s location because nothing else sounded right with the lyrics. Steve Perry tried the other directions, but he loved the idea of using south Detroit. There is no South Detroit, but he liked it. The boy also took the midnight train going anywhere. He is not sure where he is going but he needs a change in his life. This shows that two people from different worlds can have the same problem. The train in this section represents the uncertainty of life and where it will lead you. They don’t have a set destination. They are willing to go anywhere to start a new life.

In the next verse, Journey talks about a singer. The singer is in a smoky room. The room smells like wine and cheap perfume. This indicates that the singer is performing in a small club and not a big arena. The singer is close enough to the audience that he can smell the wine and cheap perfume. This may indicate that he is not a successful singer since he is singing in a small place. He is on stage performing even though he doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring him.

The next line talks about sharing the night for a smile. This could mean different things. This could mean that it takes little for someone to spend the night with you. It could also mean selling your soul to get what you want. It could also mean giving up your freedom for a smile. This line could also mean putting on a mask to hide from society. We tend to give up a part of ourselves to get what we want. In the singer’s case, he wanted to become famous, so he had to do what it takes to please everyone.

The pre-chorus talks about people walking up and down the boulevard. The people are strangers who don’t know each other. They are strangers to each other as well as to themselves. The only thing they have in common is they are looking for something. Their shadows are searching in the night. The shadow represents fear of having to approach strangers or performing at a nightclub. They deal with the fear of possibly getting judged if their performance doesn’t go well.

The next line talks about streetlights people living to find emotion. This line means people who go out to clubs at night and sleep during the day. The emotion they are looking for is intimacy. The line hiding somewhere in the night means they are afraid of their demons. The people can’t see each other when it is nighttime. They don’t have to worry about being judged. They are around other people who are walking around aimlessly.

The next verse talks about working hard to get what you want. This could mean that they are working hard to make ends meet. Everyone has responsibilities that they need to take care of. Things get tough when responsibilities must come before dreams. The next line talks about wanting to get a thrill. This means everyone wants to know what it is like to go after what they want. They love the idea of being able to succeed. The next line talks about rolling the dice when it comes to making your dreams come true.

People will sell their souls for a chance to make their dreams come true. They are willing to do anything and everything to get what they want. People feel like their time is running out when it comes to making their dreams come true. People don’t want to give up on their dreams. They are convinced they can have what they want and are willing to take the gamble one more time to get it.

The next verse talks about some people winning and some people losing. This means some people will achieve their goals while others won’t. Everyone can’t win in life. Unfortunately, some people will lose. The next line talks about people who were born to sing the blues. This means they are not meant to succeed or achieve their goals. They try to succeed but never do. Some people must lose for others to win. The next line talks about the movie never ending. In the lyrics, the movie represents life. Life doesn’t end whether you achieve your goals or not. Life continues to go on.

In the chorus, we are told not to stop believing. This is the most poignant line in the song. This line means we shouldn’t give up on our dreams. You should never stop believing that you can make your dreams come true. Despite the uncertainty, you should never give up on what you want. The people in the song should continue to hold on to hope that they can make their dreams come true. They should continue to be optimistic to achieve their goals even if it looks like they won’t come true. Journey wants people to hold on to their faith. Journey doesn’t want them to give up on making their dreams a reality. If people don’t stop believing, they may achieve what they are chasing.

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Don't Stop Believin'

Don't stop believin' lyrics.

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What a bunch of simpletons (not all of you, there are some insightful posts on here)!

Yes there are lyrics that loosely allude to a hooker. It's called an allegory people (look it up if you need to).

The song is about the common search for love and the fear of loneliness. The lyrics you are focusing in on are a metaphor for all of the things we use to fill the void in out lives so we don't feel the pain of emptiness and loneliness. The chorus provides an optimistic counterpoint to this - "Don't stop belivin'" Yes, it's a lonely world, and finding someone is hard, but hope makes it all bearable (believing that there is someone there for you).

It also addresses escaping from your past, whatever it may be, and looking toward a better tomorrow.

For those who have to have it spelled out line by line (or at least stanza by stanza):

Small town girl..city boy...midnight train: A commonality between us all, regardless of our backgrounds, the loneliness of adolescence, escaping from your past.

Smokey room...for a smile...on and on: Metaphoric for the places/circumstances we seek love and companionship (the stereotype being a bar). We are so desperate to not be lonely that we'll form a relationship simply on the basis of a smile (again metaphorical, though often literal). "On and On," again referring to our common condition, this scene is repeatedly played out day in and out - we're all searching for love and companionship.

"Strangers waiting": We are all strangers to each other, no one has experienced exactly what you have, and there is a certain inherent isolation in that. "Up and down the boulevard": Everywhere, every town, every person, through all life experience. "Their shadows searching in the night": The night represents isolation and separation from others. Shadows are our own inner darkness (or demons, our deepest secrets). We are haunted by our personal ghosts, and are seeking someone who will understand and relate to us despite who we are. The shadows aren't really seeking (since shadows aren't actually anything, but the absence of light), but us seeking someone with whom we can share who we really are. "Streetlight, people": What we project ourselves to be to the world - how we want people to see us. "Living just to find emotion": Again, we are isolated and seeking meaningful relationships, but willing to settle for something to make us feel less empty, so we will fill that void with any sort of connection. "Hiding, somewhere in the night": See above, any sort of superficial emotional connection seems to be preferable to being alone in the darkness.

"Working hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill":Putting forth a great deal of effort to make those connections, the fact that we often substitute cheap thrills (sex?) for true meaning and connection in relationships. "Payin' anything...": We will sacrifice a great deal to avoid being loney, even if the reward is fleeting. "Some will win...": Some will find a true, meaningful relationship, some won't, some never will. "the movie...": This cycle goes on and on with, just the players change over time.

"Don't stop believin', Hold on to that feelin'": Don't give up hope, keep searching for that meaningful relationship regardless of how difficult and trying the search is. "Streetlight people": Again, see above - everyone has their "public face" which we present. Despite our inherent shallowness, keep seeking the deeper, more meaningful connection.

I know it's popular to bash Journey and this song simply because of how popular they were in the 80's and that they to some extent defined popular music for that era - move beyond that. I'm a huge Rush fan, I love the work that Neil Peart puts into crafting his lyrics and the meaning behind them. That said, I defy you to find another song that in 19 lines more accurately sums up the human condition when it comes to seeking out someone to connect with and the loneliness everyone feels. I guarantee you a good portion of the popularity of this song is that so many people can relate to it, even if they can't exactly define why. This is a masterfully written (and performed piece of art), and deserves recognition as such.

@Tristar I completely appreciate every word you took the time to break this down so well, seems like You wrote the song!

@Tristar LMAO... are you a dumbass. Calling people names, when you are 100% off the writer of the song, comes right out and proclaims its about his walk to jesus. Before you start throwing rocks, best make sure your in a kevlar building...https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iamsecond.com%2Ffilm%2Fjonathan-cain%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR08mVjNKpmiYkDeN4iIiv8XvOmFgUtKgpZDzAc0AG5BEj-9TjpQVJGG8Ck&h=AT0uwblU9MRqsUyLUm52qqSRJsWMiGnZSWar03FBDDu9uUuF7TDwll8Ftyaiz0RUz0jOJ_sW8nI3QywjGq6mW37GkqCebe-169a2_RhS7nHRxO2z0JGfmvqLJP5pQ4cmL2xeDDwUwzhvnOzV2cujqHY&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2cxduPXuVvU5kPcYQN4gCs4BXghfDh1xQdLJznG8CEUVgwWy0xYyuk6bSUBDYuR0f99ehP_shsLw4p1oNU_uxc0e_JV_Bmcwy4dEtI4-pkyqsXNFQXOYJk5ighVNAMNSXZ2hQIT_LUKl7z2q4sWwB70X20DYBZlO-q9OdQO55Ggj63bk0AOg...

@Tristar LMAO... are you a dumbass. Calling people names, when you are 100% off the writer of the song, comes right out and proclaims its about his walk to jesus. Before you start throwing rocks, best make sure your in a kevlar building... https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iamsecond.com%2Ffilm%2Fjonathan-cain%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR08mVjNKpmiYkDeN4iIiv8XvOmFgUtKgpZDzAc0AG5BEj-9TjpQVJGG8Ck&h=AT0uwblU9MRqsUyLUm52qqSRJsWMiGnZSWar03FBDDu9uUuF7TDwll8Ftyaiz0RUz0jOJ_sW8nI3QywjGq6mW37GkqCebe-169a2_RhS7nHRxO2z0JGfmvqLJP5pQ4cmL2xeDDwUwzhvnOzV2cujqHY&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2cxduPXuVvU5kPcYQN4gCs4BXghfDh1xQdLJznG8CEUVgwWy0xYyuk6bSUBDYuR0f99ehP_shsLw4p1oNU_uxc0e_JV_Bmcwy4dEtI4-pkyqsXNFQXOYJk5ighVNAMNSXZ2hQIT_LUKl7z2q4sWwB70X20DYBZlO-q9OdQO55Ggj63bk0AOg

That one line..."some will win, some will lose.." That line couldnt be more true. this one time i won, and then this other time, i lost. steve perry really tells it like it is.

This song is about never giving up on love. Everyone feels lonely sometimes. This song makes me think that every time I am sad or lonely there is someone else out there who might be lonely too and that someday we will meet. It sounds dumb I guess, maybe naive or hopelessly romantic but I think its true. I "hold on to that feeling" of hope all the time.

This song is extremely special to me. My father died when I was young and always used to tell me "Keep the faith, Kris. Keep the faith." This song has never let me down and I think it's exactly that; keep the faith and don't stop believing no matter what happens. There is always something great out there as long as you believe it exists. I've experienced some rough things in my life and whenever I asked God to help me, this song would play on the radio or wherever I was.

I was supposed to graduate from college in May 2011, and I couldn't because I had to repeat my 90 hours for teaching. I knew God had a plan for me for some reason although I didn't know what. I ended up student teaching at the school attached to my Church. I could not have asked for a better experience. I honestly could not or would not have asked for a better sign from God that I have a bright future in this field.

Never give up on yourself or your dreams, keep going and NEVER stop believing.

i love this song. best journey song hands down.

I think this song is defintely about fate, hope, love, and of course, believing. We all want love/thrill/emotion.. and we try to find it, often through lust. we end up not getting it. it's saying just don't stop believing. it will happen someday.

this song is about fate. How two lonley people from two different areas are lookingand waiting for love. Everybody wants emotion(love) but not all of us are that lucky. And for those who arn't that lucky well "Dont stop believin".

Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world She took the midnight train going anywhere

just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train going anywhere

( Ok so listen up because this is where you have to really start thinking... I solely hope to concey both clearly and simply to you why this song is in my mind, about prostitutes. Yes, hookers, harlots, and whores... To many times people for lack of better words " Judge a book by it's cover". I know that the first couple of lines have confused...

( Ok so listen up because this is where you have to really start thinking... I solely hope to concey both clearly and simply to you why this song is in my mind, about prostitutes. Yes, hookers, harlots, and whores... To many times people for lack of better words " Judge a book by it's cover". I know that the first couple of lines have confused many people, but what the writer really tries to get you to do is create in your mind a character for you to get to understand, and hopefully also sympathies with by the end of the narrative. People will confuse themselves often, as they create the story in their minds with two protagonists for the song, because well they want to think it is about themselves. Though while it is an effective literary technique to put the reader in the story, I believe that this story is ment to be looked at from afar to picture a story of people we will probably never get to know. Now that I have your attention please feel free to re-read the lyrics, I have even provided my own comments on the lines for those who chose to read them ) . . . . . .

A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume

( when writers tell a story they know that one element of that tale is the setting, the where, the when, and sometimes the why. In the case of these lines the author, as i will call the writer or writers, the author is developing the where, by enlightening multiple of our senses to the setting. The singer gives us something to picture hearing, and maybe even watching as she is providing entertainment. The smoky room gives us something to picture smelling, and again maybe is gives us a visual of smoke in hanging in the air as it often does in a bar. The last line I will leave you to interpret, but i would ask if you try to let your imagination wander.)

For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on

( Now that the author has developed a setting for us he reintroduces the protagonist [ Prostitute ], and the other character [ male Client ]. And then for whatever reason, destiny or randomness, these two people, which few people on here tend to agree on what method is the right one. Yes the male smiles and yes the pair share the night in whatever ways your imagination can take you. )

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching in the night

( Now the author ask us to picture a different setting, note that the protagonist is not necessarily present. The author shows us people on a boulevard probably one that looks much like one you've seen as it is your own creation to imagine. There shadows most typically an ominous symbol in literature describe the setting quite differently than the up beat tempo of the music. This darkness is actually quite a prevalent theme throughout. " Midnight Train", "Shadows searching in the night". )

Hiding somewhere in the night

( These lines tell us about the people in this new scene. The streetlight's depict how they can be found on street corners, where the look for emotion, whether it is happiness because of that they feel nought, or also find sadness, because there possibly self-destructive habits lead them to repeatably find themselves in terrible situations, "On and on and on and on.".

Working hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill Paying anything to roll the dice just one more time

( The use of the word my should suggest to the reader that the author is now speaking in first person through the protagonist. She is work hard at prostitution just to get a fill, not a T.V. or Car, like many of us including myself, look forward to saving for. But after all as we have been told many times, prostitution is the oldest profession and, "Everybody wants a thrill". There is a reason why there is a general consensus, that, "Streetlight People" as I like to call them are some of the lowest people. This is because they have said au revoir to there morals and paid the highest price and made the greatest sacrifice in selling the one thing they truly own... their bodies.)

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

( Yes some people will win, they will be rich maybe be famous, others will lose as we all have once or twice, and, "Some were born to sing the blue's". And what better music for the author to use to describe the life of a prostitute than the most soulful, most passionate, and often the saddest ever produced. And yes this movie you have imagined for yourself, "Goes on and on and on and on".

Hold on to that feeling Streetlight people

( And the story ends with touching sentiments and a kind high pitched final farewell, to all those Streetlight people that obviously everyone seems to like so much. )

* This is my take of the song, I hope you enjoyed how I tried to connect most every line if not word, but if you still have any questions or if you want to try to rebut me feel free to email me at [email protected] my name is Stephen Graham Hajosy and would love to hear other peoples input to a song that I personally love to sing at the top of my lungs at every home Oregon Ducks football game**

it's just basically telling us that there is that special someone out there for each of us. except i think i would be the one who "sings the blues" as steve perry put it.

Love what Glee did with this. The cover is amazing, and I think it captures all the energy of the original. Wow. This was (and still is) such a FANTASTIC song!

I have always interpreted this song as to the randomness of two souls finding each other. Out of nowhere, completely unexpected, not even looking, but their hearts are open to the possibility. The conclusion of these lyrics is actually the first verse of the song.

The rest is filled with methaphors of the arduous journey, and seemingly hopeless search. It may seem like a lost cause at times, but like the title of the song says, "Don't stop believin'".

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Don't Stop Believin' by Journey: Song meaning, lyrics, covers and more facts revealed

12 June 2024, 12:28

By Tom Eames

“Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world…”

Listen to this article

Released in 1981 as part of their album Escape , 'Don’t Stop Believin'' quickly soared up the charts and became an anthem in the US. However, in the UK it would take several decades before it was finally the well-known anthem it deserved to be.

Its infectious melody, heartfelt lyrics, and Steve Perry’s soulful vocals struck a chord with listeners worldwide.

Whether you’re belting it out at a karaoke bar or hearing it during a pivotal movie scene, 'Don’t Stop Believin'' remains a timeless reminder that, no matter the odds, hope persists.

Who wrote 'Don't Stop Believin''?

By the dawn of the 1980s, Journey had begun its ascent to become one of the defining rock bands of the time.

Shifting away from their progressive rock origins, the band welcomed Steve Perry as their lead vocalist, heralding a smoother sound. With hits like 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'' and 'Any Way You Want It', they climbed the American charts.

• The 100 greatest songs of the 1980s, ranked

In 1980, Gregg Rolie, the original keyboardist and a veteran since the band's early days, parted ways on good terms, leaving the group without one of its foundational sounds.

He suggested Jonathan Cain from the British band The Babys as his successor. Cain accepted the offer and came on board as the band geared up to produce their album Escape in 1981.

In anticipation of their upcoming project, Journey set up shop in an Oakland warehouse, dedicating their days to refining arrangements and brainstorming fresh concepts.

It was Cain who proposed the title and chorus for the song, inspired by his father's encouraging words during his tough times as a struggling artist on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Whenever Cain considered quitting, his father would remind him, 'Don't stop believing or you're done, dude'.

Neil Schon, the guitarist, crafted the song's memorable bass line, while Perry prompted Cain to create a compelling synthesizer sequence to match it.

Drummer Steve Smith laid down a solid rock rhythm, and directed Schon to layer 16th note arpeggios over the mix, propelling the song forward like a "train" on its course.

What is the song about?

Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Official Audio)

The theme also inspired the song's lyrics. Cain and Perry envisioned a narrative of two people leaving their pasts behind in their hometowns and catching a midnight train to anywhere else.

Perry liked the idea of the characters being a girl from a small town and a boy raised in the city.

"We felt that every young person has a dream and sometimes where you grow up isn't where you're destined to be," Cain said.

Though the lyrics mention being "born and raised in south Detroit," there is no area in Detroit, Michigan commonly called "South Detroit." The city primarily lies on the north bank of the Detroit River, with the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario, directly south of downtown.

Steve Perry later said: "I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada."

The line "streetlight people living just to find emotion" was inspired by Perry watching people walking in the streets of Detroit at night after a show.

What films and TV shows has it been used in?

The Sopranos - Final Scene [Complete] [HD]

The song has been used in many TV shows and movies over the years, as well as being adopted by sports teams.

The song gained significant press coverage and a surge in popularity due to its association with the Chicago White Sox's 2005 World Series championship.

It was also used in the famous final scene of HBO's The Sopranos series finale 'Made in America' in 2007.

For years, the song has been commonly played at Detroit Red Wings home games. During the last minutes of playoff victories, the volume is lowered during the "born and raised in south Detroit" line, allowing home fans to sing it.

GLEE - Don't Stop Believin' (S01 E01 "Pilot")

During every San Francisco Giants home game, the song is played in the 8th inning. Steve Perry, a Giants season ticket holder, famously led the crowd in singing it during a 2014 World Series game.

It was also used in the musical Rock of Ages , including the movie version starring Tom Cruise .

The song saw a resurgence in popularity in 2009 after being prominently featured in the pilot episode of Glee . It was performed a total of seven times on the show, as well as live on tour. The Glee version was a hit in the US and UK at the same time as Journey's original, reaching number two in the latter.

How did it perform in the charts?

Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live 1981: Escape Tour - 2022 HD Remaster)

The song reached number eight on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

It sold over a million vinyl copies and is the number one paid digital download song originally released in the 20th century.

Remarkably, it was the 72nd most downloaded song of 2008 and the 84th in 2009, over 27 years after its release.

In August 2009, the song surpassed 3 million paid downloads, making it the best-selling digital song from the pre-digital era. It held the title of the best-selling rock song in digital history until Imagine Dragons' 'Radioactive' overtook it in January 2014.

By 2017, it had sold over 7 million digital units in the US and was certified eighteen-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Released in the UK in December 1981, the song initially only peaked at number 62. Despite not being re-released as a physical single, it maintained a cult following, re-entering the UK Singles Chart in February 2009 at number 94 due to digital downloads.

Following a performance on The X Factor on November 1, 2009, it re-entered at number 52 and climbed to number 19 a week later, staying in the top 40 for three weeks.

On December 20, 2009, after another X Factor performance, it re-entered at number nine and remained in the top 10 for seven more weeks, peaking at number six. It was the 65th best-selling single of 2009, nearly three decades after its release.

'Don't Stop Believin'' spent 21 non-consecutive weeks in the top 40 from November 2009 to April 2010 and was the 25th best-selling track of 2010, with over 435,000 copies sold. It re-entered the charts in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and has spent 95 weeks in the top 100 to date.

In September 2014, the Official Charts Company reported that the song had sold a million copies in the UK.

Who has covered it?

Teddy Swims performs 'Don't Stop Believing' and 'Lose Control' live on Australian TV

There have been various cover versions of 'Don't Stop Believin'' over the years.

The most promiment one in the UK was LadBaby's parody 'Don't Stop Me Eatin'', which became the UK Christmas number one single in 2020.

Other versions include:

• Joe McElderry
• Steel Panther
• Scouting for Girls
• Martina McBride
• Badly Drawn Boy
• Teddy Swims

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Song meaning & analysis: don't stop believin' by journey.

• Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard 12 - when you go to different parts of the country, especially a diverse country like the US, you may be viewed as an outcast, and for you, they may seem like strangers.
• Their shadows searching in the night 13 - "shadows"symbolizes fearsomeness of having to approach those strangers, or perform a show at a nightclub, where you'd usually get scrutinized if you f*&ed up.
• Streetlights people, living just to find emotion 14 - this means people who living off of streetlight. In other words, those who go clubbing at night and sleep in the day. "Find emotion" simply means looking for sex.
• 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
• 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 waiting, up and down the boulevard
• Their shadows searching in the night
• Streetlights people, living just to find emotion
• Hiding, somewhere in the night.
• Working 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
• Don't stop believin'
• Hold on to the feelin'
• Streetlights people
• Streetlight people

7 comments:

I think your analysis is really spot on. Kudos. Only thing I can think that might be slightly amiss is "Strangers Waiting, up and down the boulevard" Living in LA, that sentence can be taken very literally...down on the sunset strip (sunset blvd) where bands play, if a famous band plays, there can be lines waiting up and down the boulevard....strangers....So it could be a more literal meaning. Thanks for taking the time to do this.....very well thought out and presented.

I always wonder about the meaning of this song. Good Interpretation, Thanks.

I disagree with your write up ( respectfully ) First off both were not from south Detroit , she was a small town girl , the city boy was from Detroit , second this isn't about the music industry , it's about the sex industry more so about the lost boys and girls from California's van Nuys Blvd , it's about the 2 who co,e to California seeking their dreams and end up selling their bodies to get their fill , strangers waiting up and down the boulevard shadows searching in the night For a dollar they can share the night it goes on and on and on

I think that the 'strangers waiting' could be about picking up hookers

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that the two characters are trying to make a living in the music field? Or that they're on some kind of cross-country journey to L.A. or Las Vegas. I think the lyrics are a somewhat melancholy snapshot about the sadness of mankind's eternal longing for companionship, love, and/or sex. I can envision the train being a commuter or regional type of train that takes the two main characters from their respective homes to an area of the city where there are nightclubs. The only reference to music I see is "A singer in a smokey room"... but I'm seeing that as meaning that the guy and girl end of going into a bar where they watched a singer in a smokey room, not that one of them was the singer in the smokey room. I think the "rolling the dice" comment is about taking another change on another night to find a partner out in the world of streetlights, people, and smokey bars that reek of cheap perfume. Again, I think the song is about lonely people in the world, trying to find companionship, love, and/or sex in the bar scene, holding up hope to find a partner among the streetlights and people in the bar district. I don't think it's a big "hope in the future of mankind" kind of thing.

I would say rolling the dice is more the chance you take every time you get high on a drug.. lots of people died through the 60s and 70s taking drugs and it may have appeared more like chance or bad luck

I heard on the radio just yesterday that this song was based on the writer who was about to give up his dream of making it big in the music business. At least that is what he said yesterday in a radio. That he was going to pack up and go home. He called his dad and his dad said not to give up his dream. Don't stop believing. And they asked if he had one more song for the album and he said he had this song title and some notes at home and that is where the song started.

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An Injured Dog Inspired Journey’s Biggest Song of All Time?

Maybe the song reminds you of the joy of innocence, young love and hope for the future. Maybe it reminds you of the extremely ambiguous ending of The Sopranos . But whatever your relationship is to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” — which was recently crowned “ the biggest song of all time ” — you would probably never guess that it was inspired by an injured dog, “Midnight Train to Georgia,” and a supportive dad who stood by his son’s rock ‘n’ roll dreams. But those are the exact ingredients that helped bring this monster 1981 hit into existence.

(And don’t worry … the dog ended up fine.)

Before joining Journey in 1980, keyboardist Jonathan Cain had a run of bad luck. The struggling Los Angeles musician had lost his record contract and was forced to begin working a day job, when he received another nasty surprise: his dog was hit by a car.

“And it was a $900 vet bill, and I’m barely making my rent,” he told the Tennessean in 2018. “I call my dad up and said, ‘I need a loan … Am I just dreaming? Should I just come back to Chicago?’ He said, ‘I’ll give you the loan, you gotta stay put.’ … And he said, ‘Son, don’t stop believin’.’’

Cain wrote the line down in a notebook, took the cash to pay for his dog, and slowly, his luck began to change. In 1978, he joined UK rock band the Babys, and in 1980, he was recruited to join Journey shortly before the recording of their 1981 album Escape .

As the band looked for one final song to complete the album, Cain went into his old notebooks, and rediscovered the phrase he had written down years earlier.

Coming back to the band with just the chords and words “ Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feeling ,” Journey jammed on the song, developing it as they went along. The song quickly came together musically, with Steve Perry scatting and yodeling over the instrumentation in place to the still-to-be-decided lyrics.

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

So how did a song inspired by a dad and a dog turn into the tale of a small town girl and a city boy making new lives for themselves?

In a 2021 interview with American Songwriter , Cain recalled that, listening back to a recording of the song’s music, “Neal had played that interlude that sounded like a train. It was these little staccato things — diggy-diggy-diggy — it sounded like a train going down the track. And I listened to it … and I said, ‘This sounds like a train, Steve.’ And I said, ‘You know that song, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’? What about a midnight train going anywhere?’ And [Steve Perry]’s like, ‘Yeah!’ and then he looked at me and he said, ‘That Jack and Jill song about the guy and a girl, what if we plug that concept in?’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea.’”

And when it came to the lonnnnnely world that the song’s characters inhabited, Cain yet again recalled his early days in L.A.“ I said , ‘I’ll tell you where the location is. This sounds like Sunset Boulevard in the ’70s, where I lived, and it sounds like Friday night.’ I was explaining to them how everybody would cruise up and down the boulevard. I mean, the hustlers, the dreamers, the producers, the actors, the actresses, the wannabe starlets, the wannabe anybodies were all on Sunset, cruising, driving, looking for their hookup, their something.”

The San Francisco band then brought in a scene from another western city: Las Vegas. “We wrote about Vegas,” said Cain . “Paying anything to roll the dice one more time. That’s it and that’s dreaming. Like, I’m going to win, I’m not stuck where I am. I think we wanted to write that song to say it’s OK to dream, it’s OK to get out. You’re not stuck where you are. You can go somewhere and take that midnight train.”

>>Journey Wouldn’t Exist Without This Classic ’60s Band

Dogs, dads, dice, Gladys Knight, Sunset Boulevard … Journey’s greatest hit has a lot of unusual inspirations. But perhaps that’s why it’s so beloved — there’s a little something there for everybody.

But remember: if you’re planning a rock ‘n’ roll road trip, make sure you don’t try to stop in South Detroit … it doesn’t technically exist (the area immediately south of Detroit is Canada). “I got a lot of flack for” the South Detroit shout-out, Cain told American Songwriter . “Because there was no South Detroit. And I said, ‘Because it’s a mystical place, it doesn’t exist!’ It’s the city of possibilities in your mind. That’s what South Detroit is. So, leave it alone.”

And just in case you’re curious … Cain remains a dog lover .

Plus Neal Schon & Jonathan Cain talk bands legacy and former singer Steve Perry.

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Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey Lyrics Meaning – The Anthem of Perseverance and Hope

by SMF AI · Published December 21, 2023 · Updated March 30, 2024

• Music Video

Embodying the Dreamer’s Spirit: The Tale of Two Souls

The setting: a microcosm of human yearning, the gamble of life: triumphs and defeats, unearthing the hidden meaning: the siren call of belief, the immortal echo: why ‘don’t stop believin” is timeless.

A singer in a smoky 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 waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching in the night Streetlights, people Living just to find emotion Hiding somewhere in the night

Working 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 are born to sing the blues Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on, and on, and on

Don’t stop believin’ Hold on to the feelin’ Streetlights, people

Don’t stop believin’ Hold on Streetlights, people

Full Lyrics

In a world rife with fleeting trends and momentary hits, there are songs that rise above the clamor, embedding themselves in the very fabric of cultural consciousness. ‘Don’t Stop Believin”, by Journey, is one such song—a classic anthem that continues to resonate with audiences across generations, offering a shared experience of unwavering hope and the pursuit of dreams.

This rock odyssey, with its soaring melody and earnest lyrics, captures the quintessential American narrative of the underdog’s relentless quest for a better life. The deceptively simple story, set to music, becomes a larger allegory about the human condition and strikes a chord with anyone who has ever dared to dream.

The song kicks off with a vignette of two archetypes: a ‘small town girl’ and a ‘city boy’, both yearning to escape their mundane worlds. As they take the ‘midnight train goin’ anywhere’, these characters become vessels for our own aspirations, symbolizing every individual’s inherent desire to break free from the confines of their beginnings and chase their vision wherever it may lead.

The central figures, though vague in detail, allow listeners to pour their own stories into the narrative—making ‘Don’t Stop Believin” a personal anthem for all who listen. By leaving the destinations of these characters unknown, the song implies that, sometimes, the journey itself is more significant than the destination—a notion that rings universally true.

As the stage is set with a ‘smoky room’, filled with the ‘smell of wine and cheap perfume’, we are thrust into the night life—a realm of raw emotion, desperate hopes, and latent energy. The line ‘For a smile, they can share the night’ speaks to the fleeting connections that embody our shared search for intimacy and understanding amidst life’s chaos.

The song skilfully paints a vivid picture of the ups and downs of trying to make it in a world that’s both alluring and ruthless. The imagery of ‘streetlights, people’, and ‘strangers waiting’ evokes the presence of countless others, all on their individual quests, adding depth to the song’s universal appeal.

With lines speaking to the common working-class experience such as ‘Working hard to get my fill’ and ‘Everybody wants a thrill’, the song acknowledges the inherent risk in the pursuit of happiness and success. ‘Some will win, some will lose’ is a ground-level truth, where the rollercoaster of life spares no one from its ebb and flow.

Yet, the mention of ‘the movie never ends’ suggests an ongoing narrative, a continuous play where we all are both actors and audience. This perpetual state of becoming and overcoming reflects the resilience required to forge one’s path—one filled with victories and setbacks, but unyielding all the same.

Below the surface of its catchy hook and driving piano lines, ‘Don’t Stop Believin” is a siren call to maintain faith amidst adversity. The lyrics meditate on the power of belief as an almost magical force, able to sustain us when the world seems full of shadow and doubt.

The song, then, transforms from a simple ballad into a powerful mantra for perseverance—a reminder that holding onto the ‘feelin” is both a personal and communal act of defiance against the cynicism and despair that can so often pervade our lives.

‘Don’t stop believin’/Hold on to that feelin”—these enduring words echo in stadiums, echo through the car radio frequencies, and they echo within us. ‘Don’t Stop Believin” ascends to immortality precisely because these words, this message, never loses relevance. As long as there are hopes to be chased and lives to be lived, Journey’s clarion call will continue to be an anthemic backdrop.

This song does more than survive; it thrives, constantly finding new life in various media, cover bands, and living room sing-alongs. As long as dreams are born and pursued, those timeless lyrics will continue to unite, inspire, and serve as a beacon of unwavering hope.

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August 4, 2019

 by SMF · Published August 4, 2019 · Last modified September 21, 2022

April 12, 2021

 by Amanda London · Published April 12, 2021

“Keep On Runnin'” by Journey

January 4, 2022

 by Amanda London · Published January 4, 2022

Song Meanings & Facts

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The improbable story of the Journey classic that keeps coming back to life

From Mafia finales to Arnold Schwarzenegger: the brilliant and often bizarre and afterlife of Journey’s Don't Stop Believin'

When the screen cut abruptly to black and the strains of Journey ’s Don’t Stop Believin’ went silent at the finale of iconic TV show The Sopranos in 2007, it might have symbolised the death of Tony Soprano, but it began a new life for Journey’s enduring classic.

The song’s revival provided an extraordinary new chapter in a fairytale story that began back in 1981 and continues to this day. After its Sopranos -assisted revival, the song became a belated UK Top 10 hit in 2009 (it limped to a paltry No.62 when it was originally released), been streamed almost half a billion times on Spotify and been covered by everyone from Steel Panther to erstwhile teenyboppers Hanson. These days, Don’t Stop Believin’ is a kind of unofficial American national anthem – and it’s thanks in a large part to Tony Soprano. 

“That’s the incredible power of mixing music and images,” explains Gary Calamar, whose job as one of Hollywood’s top music supervisors is to find that perfect mix. “That Sopranos scene was incredible, the final scene of one of the best TV shows ever. There was a huge audience with big expectations for the finale. Plus, the song is a great mix of heavy whack hairband rock with Steve Perry wailing his heartfelt and, dare I say, inspiring lyrics.”

Calamar compares the use of Don’t Stop Believin’ with other memorable scenes involving specific songs: Night Ranger 's Sister Christian in Boogie Nights , Stealers Wheel's Stuck In The Middle With You in Reservoir Dogs , Sia’s Breathe Me in Six Feet Under . “When you have a big music scene like that it has a massive impact,” he says. “It really gets under your skin and sticks with you.”

“I think the song’s continued popularity goes back to its core meaning,” says Kara Wright, the A&R coordinator with publishing company Peer Music. “ Don’t Stop Believin’ carries a timeless message that says don’t stop believing in you – don’t stop believing in the world – don’t stop believing in anything. Life goes on (and on and on) regardless whether you’re a small-town girl, a city boy, the Sopranos or a member of your high-school glee club.”

The public’s insatiable appetite for Don’t Stop Believin’ was underlined just two years after its use on The Sopranos when it featured in the pilot episode of the TV show Glee in May 2009. The cast’s version of Don’t Stop Believin’ topped that of Journey’s original, reaching No.4 in the US Top 100 and echoed the digital download success of the original, going gold in the US with sales of over 500,000. The Glee cast later covered the song again, resulting in combined sales of 973,000 for both versions. It fared equally well in Britain where the Glee cast’s recording debuted at No.5.

To further emphasise the seemingly limitless affection for the song, in addition to its high-profile inclusion on The Sopranos and Glee , versions of Don’t Stop Believin’ have appeared in – deep breath – Family Guy, Scrubs, South Park, My Name Is Earl, Just Shoot Me, Benidorm, Eastenders, TV Burp , countless editions of The X-Factor and American Idol, Swedish Idol, Australian Idol … you get the picture.

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While Don’t Stop Believin’ ’s 2007 inclusion on The Sopranos is considered by many to mark the beginning of its latest wave of popularity, in an article in the LA Times, Journey’s Jonathan Cain – who wrote the song along with Steve Perry and Neal Schon – cited its use in the 1998 Adam Sandler comedy The Wedding Singer as the spark. Though Gary Calamar, who is also a DJ on LA-based radio station KCRW, begs to differ. “For better or worse I don’t think Don’t Stop Believin’ ever went away. I’ve always felt its cheesy presence.”

Ten years later Sandler and Don’t Stop Believin’ were reunited in Bedtime Stories . In the interim it featured in the 2003 drama Monster starring Charlize Theron. The actress, who was also the film’s producer, had been so keen to include the track that she personally wrote a letter to Steve Perry. After viewing the proposed scene, Perry agreed to the song’s use and even became the film’s music consultant.

The song is in the title of the Journey documentary Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey , while other films to feature it include View From The Top, The Comebacks, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and The Losers .

Gary Calamar, whose list of credits includes House, Dexter and After The Sunset , understands why the song is featured so regularly. “In a way, using these songs is like batting practice for a music supervisor, you know you have a good chance of hitting it out of the park with one of these old power ballads and a big, over the top scene.”

“It’s a feelgood song with a positive message and a memorable melody,” says Kara Wright, “and it’s an anthem that can be accepted and applied to any kind of situation.”

To back her words, scour Spotify and you’ll come across a dizzying list of artists who have covered the track in all manner of styles, from symphonic metallers Northern Kings to dungaree-clad downhome rockers Hayseed Dixie. There are classical versions, bluegrass versions, acapella versions, dance versions and lounge jazz versions. Scour YouTube and you’ll even come across a reggae cover alongside versions by Panic! At The Disco’s Brendan Urie, John Mayer, Stashrip and even audio of a workout set to the tune by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Don’t Stop Believin’ is a perennial live favourite, and not just for Journey. During its lifespan it’s been covered by an array of artists. Notable among recent live performances was its inclusion on Kanye West’s set list during his 2008 Glow In The Dark tour while a charity event for the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall in May brought together the unlikely combination of Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen , Elton John , Sting, Debbie Harry and Shirley Bassey for an encore of the song.

 “I think the revival of Don’t Stop Believin’ can be greatly attributed to the exposure and emphasis that entertainment platforms such as TV, video games and advertising now offer to music – an ideal medium that works well for current and classic titles,” says Kara Wright.

The song’s inspirational message has made it a favourite with sports teams, never with greater impact than with the Chicago White Sox. During the 2005 season the hapless baseball team adopted Don’t Stop Believin’ as their rally cry. The team duly went on to reach the World Series for the first time in 80 years with Steve Perry being invited to attend as they swept the Houston Astros in four games.”

It’s hard to go anywhere these days without being exposed to the song in some form. All across America innocent ‘Stop’ signs have been transformed into Journey tributes with the simple addition of two words.

Wherever you do go, you can even be wearing your Don’t Stop Believin’ knickers or clutching your Don’t Stop Believin’ teddy bear. Its omnipresence is why Kara Wright feels Don’t Stop Believin’ is “at the forefront of other songs decades old being revitalised and reintroduced to popular culture.”

Wright believes the song’s success paved the way for others. Absolutely, given the digital revolution and multimedia phenomenon, I think it’s an extraordinary time for classic rock songs to find new leases on life. In this way, long-forgotten music will continue to be revived as younger audiences gain new found appreciation for rock history. The universe of catalogues yet to be unleashed is thrilling.”

And what of the men who wrote it? Unsurprisingly, the song closes every Journey show these days, though given its popularity, it would probably induce riots if it didn’t.

Former singer Steve Perry has a more complicated relationship with song. The only times Perry has sung onstage since he stepped away from music in 1995 came when he made guest appearances at three shows with the band Eels in 2014. And while he did sing Journey songs with the group, Don’t Stop Believin’ wasn’t one of them.

The original version of this article appeared in Classic Rock issue 153

Kevin Murphy is a writer, journalist and presenter who's written for the Daily Telegraph, Independent On Sunday, Sounds, Record Mirror, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Noise, Select and Event. He's also written about film for Empire, Total Film and Directors Guild of America Magazine.

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Behind the Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey

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Many of us artistic types marvel at stories of our peers who were brought up in families that completely supported their musical dreams, who provided encouragement, lessons, whatever it took for us to create and achieve. But Journey’s Jonathan Cain can attribute his success to his family not only for their encouragement and support, but for providing him with the title of one of the biggest songs in music history.

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“Don’t Stop Believin’” was the second single from Journey’s 1981 album Escape , and has become one of the most recognizable songs of all time. Before Cain was a member of Journey, he played for The Babys, and the band was sidelined after Babys singer John Waite injured his leg on stage. Unemployed and not knowing what he was going to do next, Cain called his father, who told him over the phone, “Don’t stop believin’.” And Cain jotted those words down in a notebook. Soon afterward he was hired for the keyboard spot in Journey, and became one of rock’s most famous keyboardists and writers.

In his book Don’t Stop Believin’ , Cain recounted how he, singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon put the song together. “Steve asked if I had any lyrics or melodies that might work for the new album. I went home and paged through all my spiral notebooks. On the last page of my notebook, I found three words scribbled: Don’t stop believin’. I knew Steve would like the title – the words my father had given me on a long-distance phone call one night … I came up with a cool chord progression and started humming the lyrics ‘don’t stop – believin’ – hold on to that feelin’ over the changes. I didn’t know what the other lyrics were yet, but I planned to show the guys the idea anyway.”

“Steve liked my chord progression and suggested we use the same chords for the verse, but with the rolling piano feel I’d played for The Babys’ albums. I began without the bass notes, using only the right hand, and Neal started playing what would end up to be the bass line … we looped over and over until it began to take shape … After the first verse, Neal began to play a staccato guitar line that sounded like a train going down the tracks as we headed into another verse with only piano and vocal … we roared into Neal’s guitar part, playing unison with the newly minted bass line. When the second B section ended, Neal burst into the melody I had written, playing it as a theme.”

“Excited to finish the lyrics to our new song, I met Steve at his house the next morning. ‘Neal’s guitar in this section sounds like a train heading down the track,’ I said. “Makes me think of a song I love – ‘Midnight Train to Georgia. You too?”

“’Gladys Knight and the Pips – a classic for sure,’” Steve said.”

“What if the lyric was ‘the midnight train goin’ anywhere?’ I said. Steve liked the lyric, so we built off it, adding a boy and a girl headed out on the midnight train. We loved this idea of two young people dreaming about leaving their town and going somewhere to make a new start. So we began our song with our two characters and put them in motion. When Steve arrived at ‘just a city boy, born and raised in’ – he came to an abrupt stop. ‘How ’bout making him from Detroit?’ he asked.”

“‘Cool, but we need another syllable to fill it out here. How does South Detroit sound?’ Playing his bass, Steve sang the new lyric. ‘This sings great. Is there even a South Detroit?’”

“’Heck if I know,’ I said. ‘If it sings well, I say let’s move on.’”

“I told him about the Whisky a Go Go – how The Babys played there on New Years’ Eve and my first live gig with them. I described the small, packed venue, the old bar smell, and the sting of smoke in the eyes. ‘A singer in a smoky 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,’ we wrote.”

“The middle section that Neal had come up with was next. With our conversation about Sunset Boulevard still fresh, Steve and I went on to see the movie we were creating in our minds.”

“‘Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard, their shadows searching in the night.’ … These were the ‘streetlight people, living just to find emotion, hiding somewhere in the night’ … ‘Workin’ hard just to get my fill. Everybody wants a thrill. Payin’ anything to roll the dice just one more time,’ we wrote. Those lines summed up the two of us, sacrificing it all to gamble on a dream.”

“We didn’t know it yet, but we had just written an anthem that would stand the test of time.”

The song became a huge hit, and helped propel Escape to multi-platinum sales worldwide. It soared in popularity again the next century – and in sales of something that didn’t exist in 1981, downloads – when it was prominently used in the TV series The Sopranos and Glee, becoming one of the most downloaded songs of all time that was originally recorded in the 20 th century. The song was co-produced by former Lynyrd Skynyrd soundman Kevin Elson and onetime Queen engineer Mike Stone, who also engineered the album. Cain and Schon are still in Journey today, and Cain is believin’ in other ways with newfound success as a Christian recording artist.

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Story Behind the Song: 'Don't Stop Believin' '

The words "Don't Stop Believin' " have served Jonathan Cain well in his lifetime. First, they were the words of encouragement he heard from his father, when the younger Cain wasn't sure he'd make it as a musician in Hollywood.

Later, when he joined the ranks of Journey, it became the title and refrain of "Don't Stop Believin'." Released in 1981, it wasn't the band's biggest hit at first, but it's gone on to become its signature, and one of the most popular rock songs of all time.

Cain told the story behind the song to Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International.

BH: "Don't Stop Believin'." One of the greatest songs ever written. I'd love to make the case for that. ... I can tell you this: It's the most contagious song ever written because you can be in the worst mood ever — in a place (where) you don't want anybody to talk to. And that (song) comes on, and you just start moving with it.

JC: It’s got a groove to it, it does. It's got something. And it was all based on some advice my father had given me back when I was struggling in Hollywood. My dog got hit by a car and I had to put her back together. And it was a $900 vet bill, and I’m barely making my rent. I call my dad up and said, "I need a loan. ... Am I just dreaming? Should I just come back to Chicago?"

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

He said, "I’ll give you the loan, you gotta stay put." ... And he said, “Son, don’t stop believin'.”

I was like, "That’s beautiful, Dad." I had my little lyric book, and I’m doodling "Don’t stop believin'." 

BH: But it's a while before you write it.

JC: Mm-hmm. This is in the '70s. ... I took my lyric books with me and my spirals with me all up to San Fran and (had them) when (Journey) asked me to join ...

BH: Journey asked you to join?

JC: We're going to start on this album called “Escape.” I had played hardly a note with them. We jammed some in the clubs, and then I'm asked to make this record. ... (Steve) Perry looks at me and says the producer wants one more tune.

And I’m like, "Well, we already gave him 17." And he goes, "I don’t care, we need one more. What do you got? Go home and see what you got. I know you've got something."

Pressure's on. I go home, and there's my little Wurlitzer piano sitting there, the same one I wrote “Open Arms” and all this stuff on. I go in my book and I see it, "Don’t Stop Believin'."

BH: Did you know right then?

JC: I said, “Steve Perry will sing this. Now, John you've got to write some kind of chorus where he can soar."

... All I had was “Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feeling.”

I went (back to the band) with those two lines. That’s it. And the chords! Perry said, "Man, those chords are great.' ... He just had an engineer's (mindset). ... This was a much different situation than (writing) "Faithfully." This was an improv by all. ... We still haven’t played a chorus yet. And I kept looking at Steve: "Chorus now?" And he goes, "Oh no." So we haven’t sung it yet. And this was all Steve leading the thing, being Steve. Because he’s just so musical! I mean because he played bass and drums, and he understood. He was like a real mechanic, understood how all the parts fit. ... So here he is yodeling this stuff. And all we got is this yodel and this great track.

I take it home on my cassette. I go to his house the next day, the very next day, in his little flat, and then we got to write the lyrics. I always listened to what he scatted for clues. ... I said, "Well, it sounds like (he sang) 'lonely world.' That (word) sounds like 'anywhere.' "

I said, "What if it's like 'Jack and Diane,' you know? Kind of, "Just a small-town girl." He goes, "Livin’ in a lonely world." 

Now we're in the movie, and the movie goes on and on and on. I said, "I'll tell you where the location is. This sounds like Sunset Boulevard in the '70s, where I lived, and it sounds like Friday night." I was explaining to them how everybody would cruise up and down the boulevard. I mean, the hustlers, the dreamers, the producers, the actors, the actresses, the wannabe starlets, the wannabe anybodies were all on Sunset, cruising, driving, looking for their hookup, their something.

(After we recorded the instruments,) I called Steve and said, "We did it. It’s killer. You’re going to love this track." So he came in the next week to lay down the vocal in, I think, two takes. I’m serious. Two takes. Three takes at the most. And then I said, "Man, I’m hearing all of these background (vocals)." So we went out and we did all the background parts, and the whole band is singing in one mic. Then Mike Stone mixes the heck out of it. ... And when we heard that (finished) record, me and Perry, we lost our mind.

BH: Still one of the great ones.

About the series

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News & Insights

[Weekly Roundup] "Don’t Stop Believin’" In Technological Progress… Even in the Face of Destruction

September 17, 2024 — 03:47 pm EDT

Written by Eric Fry for InvestorPlace  ->

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Hello, Reader.

This weekend, I asked my wife, a physical therapist, what she thought had triggered the acute pain I was feeling in my right shoulder and neck.

She promptly replied, “Too many birthdays.”

That response reminded me of the affliction that many public companies suffer. Even iconic, industry-leading companies sometimes struggle to maintain their leadership for more than a few decades.

That’s because the history of capitalism is a history of creative destruction. The creators of one particular era often become the “destroy-ees” of a subsequent era. Because of this phenomenon, a set-it-and-forget-it investment portfolio rarely thrives over the long term.

The exceptions to the rule are folkloric, like the “friend of a friend” who forgot about the 10,000 shares of Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) his mother gave him in 1989. Over the ensuing years, Apple would skyrocket more than 67,000% – boosting the $4,000 value of those ancient 10,000 shares into more than $2.7 million.

More commonly, a “friend of a friend” opens an old desk drawer to find some long-forgotten stock certificate for Bethlehem Steel, Eastman Kodak, Blockbuster, or some other company that has long since scuttled off toward bankruptcy.

The history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average underscores the tendency of capitalism to destroy as it creates. The 12 original members of the blue-chip index in 1896 featured names like American Cotton Oil Co., Distilling & Cattle Feeding Co., National Lead Co., U.S. Leather, and U.S. Rubber.

U.S. Leather declared bankruptcy 15 years later. Most of the other original Dow members have long since faded into larger enterprises.

Because of nonstop technological progress, the composition of the Dow and the S&P 500 have evolved continuously. They’ve changed their membership rosters like a runway model changes outfits.

Inadvertently, the rock group Journey described the continuous effects of creative destruction in its legendary party/karaoke anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’”…

Some’ll win, some will lose Some are born to sing the blues Whoa, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on

Even though creative destruction “goes on and on and on,” it doesn’t do so at a consistent rate. Technology accelerates it.

As the pace of technological progress accelerates exponentially, so does the pace of creative destruction. This dynamic helps explain why members of the major stock market indices tend to get the boot more quickly than they used to.

The nearby chart illustrates this phenomenon. In the 1970s, stocks that belonged to the S&P 500 would spend about 32 years as members of the index. Today, however, the average S&P 500 stock spends only about 16 years – or half as much time – as a member of the index.

This trend was well established, even before artificial intelligence burst onto the scene. But with the arrival of AI, the processes of both wealth creation and wealth destruction should accelerate dramatically.

Therefore, we investors must remain alert to emerging investment opportunities. But at the same time, we must keep a wary eye on the companies and industries that AI will likely “disrupt.”

To be sure that you are not inviting victims of AI’s creative destruction into your portfolio, join me today at my elite-trading service The Speculator . As a member, you will receive access The Speculator   Model Portfolio , as well as my latest trade alerts.

You will also receive access to all of my special reports, including 5 Victims of the Race to AGI . In this report, I’ve identified five specific companies that seem particularly vulnerable to AI’s expanding presence in the global economy, especially as it blossoms into AGI, or artificial general intelligence.

Now, let’s take a look back at what we covered here at Smart Money last week…

Smart Money Roundup

The latest inflation reports are in… is the wild ride over.

In light of the recent CPI and PPI reports – and with the Federal Reserve’s crucial meeting around the corner – I invited Louis Navellier to break down the current economic landscape. In this Smart Money Special Issue, he offers insights on inflation trends and potential Fed actions, and a warning about an upcoming “financial tsunami” driven by AI. Click here to read more.

If You Haven’t Struck Oil, Do This Instead

While there is no perfect investment method, there is a way to allocate your assets intelligently. This will then help you set yourself up for the best chance at success. Now, there are multiple facets to this strategy, but the one I want to focus on is stocks to buy and hold forever. So, here are three stocks that I consider to be some of the best “Forever Stocks” out there. Read more here.

Stock Investors Can’t Ignore This “Alert” From the Bond Markets

Two weeks ago, the 10-Year Treasury yield rose above the 2-Year yield for the first time in over two years. This “dis-inversion” (or reversion) of the spread is an extremely bullish sign because it undoes the yield inversion we’ve seen since June 2022 – a typical warning of an upcoming recession. This “dis-inversion” means the recession alarm has now been lifted. So, we remain highly bullish on commodity-based bets and mean-reverting plays in tech and healthcare. Click here to read more.

The One Thing That Could Unleash Stock Market Rally in Just a Few Days

My colleague Luke Lango has identified a rare economic event that historically triggers a massive stock market boom. According to oddsmakers, there’s a 100% chance this event is happening this week. Despite September’s slow start, he believes this event will trigger numerous stock breakouts and has selected three trades poised for significant growth. In this Special Guest Issue, learn why he thinks these circumstances will succeed again.

Looking Forward

More so than any other time in history, emotions and impatience are driving the stock market. Remember what happened back in early August?

On July 31, some lackluster news started to come out about the strength of the U.S. economy and it rekindled fears of a recession. Investors also started to worry that the Fed had waited too long to begin cutting interest rates. And over the next three trading days, the S&P 500 lost over 6% of its value, and the Nasdaq Composite lost nearly 8% over the same period.

Roughly 10 days later, though, the markets recovered their losses and started marching to new highs. However, many investors had panicked and sold their stocks for a loss instead of just sitting tight.

So, to understand how to set yourself up for success, especially in today’s market, you need to know one very important thing: deciding when to sell.

Nothing is harder. In fact, it’s often called the “hardest thing to do in investing.” Yet, deciding when to sell is one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to managing your portfolio over time.

That’ why, along with a special guest, I will soon reveal a breakthrough that can help keep you confidently in the markets, squeezing out as much profit as possible…

While also alerting you before the next big selloff occurs.

I will provide more details throughout the week ahead. So, be sure to keep an eye on your inbox.

The post [Weekly Roundup] “Don’t Stop Believin’” In Technological Progress… Even in the Face of Destruction appeared first on InvestorPlace .

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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