Don’t Stop Believin’ Lyrics
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
[Verse 3]
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 are born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
[Chorus]
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
[Guitar Solo]
[Outro]
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
About
“Don’t Stop Believin'” was released as a single off of Journey’s hugely successful album Escape. To many, this song is considered the definitive Journey track. AllMusic’s Mike DeGagne described it as “an anthem for the young who wanted to feel free and unrestricted”, whilst The Guardian’s Dorian Lynskey called it “the power ballad that refused to die”.
Although the track only reached #8 at the time of its release, it has grown more popular as the years have gone by through its use in movies, television (most notably The Sopranos and Glee) and pop culture in general. In November 2008, it became the first song to be downloaded 2 million times from iTunes. Three years later, it was the top-selling catalogue track in iTunes history, with over 5 million digital copies sold.
This is one of 12 tracks re-recorded by the band with their new vocalist Arnel Pineda for their 2008 double album Revelation.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Jonathan Cain told SongFacts,
The song began with the chorus. My father had coached me. I was in Hollywood, struggling with my career, kind of lost. I was asking him, ‘Should I come back to Chicago and just give up on this dream?’ And he said, ‘No, son. Stay the course. We have a vision. It’s gonna happen. Don’t stop believin’.'
The liner notes for Time 3 say,
At the band’s Oakland warehouse, this song bubbled out of a rehearsal. [Neal] Schon developed the bass riff, the chugging guitar line, and the sweeping chords on the chorus. Steve Smith built the song around a pattern featuring a lot of tom-toms, anchoring the number to a rich drum figure. Perry and Cain drew from their experiences with the Sunset Strip scene.
- 2.Kohoutek
- 6.For You
- 8.Anytime
- 9.Patiently
- 10.Good Times
- 11.Majestic
- 12.Too Late
- 13.Sweet and Simple
- 15.Little Girl
- 17.Someday Soon
- 19.Where Were You
- 20.Line of Fire
- 21.Homemade Love
- 22.Natural Thing
- 23.Lights
- 24.Stay Awhile
- 27.Dixie Highway
- 28.Wheel in the Sky
- 30.Don’t Stop Believin’
- 31.Stone In Love
- 32.Keep On Runnin’
- 33.Who’s Crying Now
- 34.Still They Ride
- 35.Open Arms
- 36.Mother, Father
- 37.La Raza Del Sol
- 38.Only Solutions
- 39.Liberty
- 41.Send Her My Love
- 42.Faithfully
- 43.After the Fall
- 48.Happy To Give
- 50.Only the Young
- 51.Ask the Lonely
- 52.With a Tear
- 53.Into Your Arms