Don’t Stop Believin’ Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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

[Pre-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

[Verse 4]
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

[Pre-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]

[Chorus]
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

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About

Genius Annotation

“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

What did Journey say about "Don't Stop Believin'"?
Genius Answer

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.

Is there a live performance of this song?
Genius Answer

Credits
Produced By
Arp Synth
Lead Vocals By
Electric Guitars by
Grand Piano By
Drums By
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Assistant Engineer
Performance Rights
Recorded At
Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, CA)
Release Date
October 6, 1981
Don’t Stop Believin’ Covers
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Teddy Swims, Don't Stop Believin' by Steve Void & Andy Marsh (Ft. DMNDS), Don't Stop Believing by Number One Gun, Don’t Stop Believin' by Jorn, Don’t Stop Believin' (2010) by Vitamin String Quartet, Don’t Stop Believin' (2008) by Vitamin String Quartet, Don't Stop Believin' by Dan Lucas (DEU), Dont stop believing by Rob Lundgren, Don't Stop Believin' by Halocene, First To Eleven & Lauren Babic (Ft. Cole Rolland & Violet Orlandi), Don’t Stop Believin’ by Caleb Hyles (Ft. Jonathan Young), Dont Stop Believin by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, Don't Stop Believing by The Last Breakfast Club (Ft. Anna Grace Barlow, Damon Gravina, Garrett Clayton, Jonah Platt, Lana McKissack & Max Ehrich), Don't Stop Believing (in Santa Claus) by Goon Christmas, Don't Stop Believing by Anthem Lights, Torn (Don't Stop Believing) by Eden xo, Don't Stop Believing by Nick Pitera, Don't Stop Believin' by Martina McBride, Don't stop believin' by Robyn Adele Anderson, Don't Stop Believin' by Lt. Dan Band, Don't Stop Believin' (Season 5 Version) by Glee Cast, Don’t Stop Believin' (Rachel Solo Version) by Glee Cast, Don't Stop Believin' by Glee Cast, Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version) by Glee Cast, Don't Stop Believin' by Boyce Avenue, Don't Stop Believin' by George LaMond, Don't Stop Believin' by Sam Tsui & Kurt Schneider, Don't Stop Believin' by Sam Tsui, Don't Stop Believin' by Flight 409, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Steel Panther, Don't Stop Believin' by Alvin & The Chipmunks, Don't Stop Believin' by Northern Kings, Don't Stop Believin' by Petra Haden, Don't Stop Believing by The Rock of Ages Movie Band (Ft. Alec Baldwin, Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand & Tom Cruise), Don’t Stop Believin’ (Live from The Sun Rose) by T-Pain, Don't Stop Believin' by Colm R. McGuinness, Don't Stop by Time Cops, Don't Stop Believin' by Dan Avidan & Super Guitar Bros, Don't Stop Believin' by T-Pain & Don’t Stop Believin’ by Death From Above 1979
Don’t Stop Believin’ Remixes
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