Don't 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 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". )

  Streetlight people, living just to find emotion

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".

 Don't stop believing

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 shajosy32@aol.com 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**