She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast
He was a Midwestern boy on his own
She looked at him with those soft eyes so innocent and blue
He knew right then he was too far from home
Oh
He was too far from home
She took his hand and she led him along that golden beach
They watched the waves tumble over the sand
They drove for miles and miles up those twisting turning roads
Higher and higher and higher they climbed

And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills

He'd headed west cause he felt that a change would do him good
See some old friends, good for the soul
She had been born with a face that would let her get her way
He saw that face and he lost all control
He had lost all control
Night after night, day after day it went on and on
Then came that morning he woke up alone
He spent all night staring down at the lights on LA
Wondering if he could ever go home

And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
It was looking so right
It was giving him chills
In those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
With a passion that kills

In those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh, those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills (Hollywood nights)

(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood nights)
(Hollywood hills)
(Above all the lights)
(Hollywood nights)


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Hollywood Nights Lyrics as written by Bob Seger

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Hollywood Nights song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is song is a classic! Its really catchy. And I think its pretty obvious what this song is saying. This guy has come to LA and he's met this girl and they are having the time of their lives (higher and higher they climbed). Then he wakes up and she isn't there, and he's heartbroken. Those LA women, I tell you what......

    s_curry52on June 22, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    its the theme song to great gatsby amazing and depressing

    anipiccolojron April 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's all about leaving home hoping to find something better, and you do. But it's the fast life, and you're just all alone the next morning. Ah, great song!

    sgtpepperon December 16, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think that this song is more about this guy left the country to go to LA, and then he ended up falling for this girl. She was his only support in this strange new environment. Then when she left him, he realized how dependent he was one her. He was all alone, and then he realized he had changed. He has stuck in this limbo between the country life and the city.

    Johnlennnnonon December 28, 2006   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    A very simple, yet effective song. There's not much debate about the subject matter as the lyrics are pretty much a straight narrative story - not a lot of euphemisms or puns to sort through or ponder.

    I always liked this song as a kid, but did really understand it until I got older. As a native Californian, I can relate to the mystique of Hollywood and how different California can be from the Heartland (or just about anywhere else in the country).

    I like the comment about how the young man ends up in limbo between two worlds, as I think this is very much the case. He is young and naive, still has the Midwest in his blood & his mindset, but has now seen a completely different world. He may return home, but his experience in California has changed him, thus, home will never seem quite the way it did before. Hence, "He spent all night staring down at the lights of LA, wondering if he could ever (figuratively) go home."

    Epiphany2000on July 23, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think the girl in this case is a metaphor for the excitement or allure of Hollywood.

    He wakes up one day and realizes LA is just, you know, a city, and he's alone in it where he doesn't really belong. Except now he can't settle for a boring life where he is from. He can't settle for home, and the city he thought he loved is just an illusion.

    nomon January 02, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is a classic! Being a Midwestern boy (Colorado native) and moving to California, I could relate to this.

    PKMNMASTER0250on April 29, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah those hollywood women are something. what a classic this is. best song he ever did hands down!!!

    poohblueskyon July 02, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I loved the song when I was about 5-6 years old, then when I was 7 I visited my Dad in California, and on the ride from the airport he mentioned, "You know when Bob Seger sings about the Hollywood Hills? That's them." I was impressed as all hell.

    DJacques75on May 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was playing this on vinyl tonight before I went out for dinner. Full volume, dancing about. This song has power, and the topic so obvious, yet so well written.

    I absolutly adore it. The amount of people in my generation who haven't heard of thsi man, sickens me. They really are missing out on so much.

    ihaveapenon October 21, 2006   Link

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