In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Down in a local bar
Out on the boulevard
The sound of an old guitar
Is saving you from sinking
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Back like you never broke
You tell a dirty joke
He touches your leg and thinks he's getting close
For now you let him just this once
Just for now
And just like that, it's over
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
In all your silver rings
And all your silken things
That song you softly sing, is keeping you from breaking
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Back here you never loved
You've shaked the shivers off
You take a drink to get your courage up
Can you believe it?
Just this once
Just for now
And just like that
It's over
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
Please hold on, it's alright
Please hold on, it's alright
Please hold on
Down in a local bar
Out on the boulevard
The sound of an old guitar
Is saving you
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard, let me dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't turn away
Darling dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Gonna dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
Out on the boulevard
The sound of an old guitar
Is saving you from sinking
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Back like you never broke
You tell a dirty joke
He touches your leg and thinks he's getting close
For now you let him just this once
Just for now
And just like that, it's over
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
In all your silver rings
And all your silken things
That song you softly sing, is keeping you from breaking
It's a long way down
It's a long way
Back here you never loved
You've shaked the shivers off
You take a drink to get your courage up
Can you believe it?
Just this once
Just for now
And just like that
It's over
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
Please hold on, it's alright
Please hold on, it's alright
Please hold on
Down in a local bar
Out on the boulevard
The sound of an old guitar
Is saving you
Don't turn away
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard, let me dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't turn away
Darling dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Don't be afraid
Keep it all inside, all inside
When you fall apart
Gonna dry your eyes, dry your eyes
Life is always hard for the belle of the boulevard
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21
Belle Of The Boulevard Lyrics as written by Christopher Andrew Carrabba
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I think this song is about a girl who is in a situation in her life where she is just down, involved in shady things like sulking in bars and using alcohol as an emotional barrier. Because of her instability, she's seen as easy to men, but in reality she's just too tired to stop something from happening. She's looking for comfort in any form, and has lost the ability to pick herself up. Whoever is singing to song and telling her story clearly cares about her and sees her in a different light than the rest of the world, knows that she can be, or is, better than the standards she has set for herself. He wants to save her.
I agree with the people who think it could be about a prostitute as well, but I like to think of "The Belle of the Boulevard" more as a lady who has fallen from grace, and is just stuck in a rut of poor judgement and sketchy situations. I could be wrong though, that's just my interpretation.
pretty much sums it all up :) thx, you are awesome :)
I don't know if she's a prostitute. I think that maybe she is just a really beautiful girl who has been dealt a hard hand in life. She tries to find love, but she's looking in the wrong places, constantly ending up heartbroken and miserable. She seems a little self-destructive too. She knows that nothing good can come from what she's doing, but she falls in the same traps over and over again. I think she also sets the traps for others too. She's been hurt, so she hurts others as well.
I think there can be a few different interpretations...when I first heard the title of the song, I thought of maybe a prostitute, because of the term "Belle of the boulevard" and the reference to the dirty joke and her letting him touch her knee...the term "boulevard" just kind of makes me think of a girl on the street....
After listening to it, though, it could just be a girl who always hangs out in bars and is looking for a guy to fall in love with, and all they want is that one night and she always gets burned by them; the song is basically telling her to keep her chin up.
I'm quite a bit in love with it... :) SO excited for the new album! ♥ dashboard
I think the little girl symbolizes her innocence. So yes, I also think she's leading the girl to the guy that can save her.
"that song that you softly sing is keeping you from breaking" - my favorite lines. Love, love the way he sings. He brings out all the emotions from the top of the lungs. Awesome! ;)
this songs its great i love listening to this song... i alredy listened to it like a 10000000000000 times.... I think the sound is pretty easy to understand but hard to explain (in words)it so yeah :P i would give this song 5*
The music and the lyrics in this song are so wonderful. It's one of those songs that I would put on a mixtape to listen to it in my car with the windows down and sing it at the top of my lungs. It's great. :)
probably one of my favorite dashboard songs, chris carrabba never ceases to amaze me.
I think there can be a few different interpretations...when I first heard the title of the song, I thought of maybe a prostitute, because of the term "Belle of the boulevard" and the reference to the dirty joke and her letting him touch her knee...the term "boulevard" just kind of makes me think of a girl on the street....
After listening to it, though, it could just be a girl who always hangs out in bars and is looking for a guy to fall in love with, and all they want is that one night and she always gets burned by them; the song is basically telling her to keep her chin up.
I'm quite a bit in love with it... :) SO excited for the new album! ♥ dashboard
I don't like to think this actually, but i think this song is about a hooker or prostitute, or maybe a girl who might be teased/labeled to be in like a high school setting which could be the overall view of this song.. who is feeling incompetent that she doesn't think she's good enough and in this "occupation" she gets anyone but nobody's ever going to stick around for her in the end regardless if she has the "job" or not...