Don't Stop Believin' – English Lyrics

• By: Journey

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey, and what better way to stay motivated than with a song about holding onto your dreams? "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey is not just a classic rock anthem; its clear storytelling and universal message of hope make it a fantastic and uplifting song to help you learn English. The narrative lyrics about a small-town girl and a city boy chasing a new life are easy to follow and filled with common English phrases and expressions.

[English]

I tell you, you sound really, really well. Thank you.

[SPEAKS TAGALOG]

[♪♪♪]

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Took the midnight train goin' anywhere ♪

♪ 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 ♪

Sing with me.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Workin' hard to get my fill ♪

♪ Everybody wants the 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ Don't stop believin' ♪

♪ Hold on to that feeling ♪

♪ Streetlights, people, oh-whoa ♪

♪ Don't stop believin' ♪

♪ Hold on, oh, yeah-yeah ♪

♪ Streetlights, people, oh-whoa ♪

♪ Don't stop believin' ♪

♪ Hold on to that feeling ♪

♪ Streetlights, people, oh-whoa ♪

Yeah!

Yeah, come on.

♪ To the homeless and the hungry ♪

♪ Sending out a prayer, don't stop believin' ♪

Yo!

♪ A single mother and baby ♪

♪ We all gotta care, don't stop believin' ♪

♪ To the soldiers in the Middle East ♪

♪ And all around the world, don't stop believin' ♪

♪ To the dreamers, keep on dreaming ♪

♪ Every single boy and girl, don't stop believin', yeah ♪

Sing with me.

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop believin') ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop believin') ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop believin') ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop believin') ♪

Once again.

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Don't stop - (Don't stop) ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah - (Yeah, yeah) ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah - (Yeah, yeah) ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah - (Yeah, yeah) ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah - (Yeah, yeah) ♪

♪ Ah, yeah ♪

♪ (Ah, yeah) ♪ - Sing.

♪ Ah, yeah ♪

♪ (Ah, yeah) ♪ - Yeah!

Oh!

Hey! Come on!

♪ Strangers waitin' ♪

♪ Up and down the boulevard ♪

♪ Don't stop believin' ♪

♪ Hold on to that feeling ♪

♪ Streetlights, people, oh-whoa ♪

♪ Don't stop believin' ♪

♪ Hold on to that feeling ♪

♪ Streetlights, people, oh-whoa ♪

♪ (Don't stop) ♪

[♪♪♪]

[CROWD CHEERING]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
believin' /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/ B1	verb - to accept that something is true, especially without proof
streetlights /ˈstriːtlaɪts/ B1	noun - a light at the side of a road that is automatically lit at night
people /ˈpiːpəl/ A1	noun - humans, men, women, and children
strangers /ˈstreɪndʒərz/ A2	noun - someone you do not know
boulevard /ˈbʊləvɑːrd/ B2	noun - a wide road in a city, usually with trees on each side
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a railway engine connected to carriages for carrying passengers
livin' /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A1	verb - to be alive or to have a home
searchin' /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/ B1	verb - to look for something or someone
hidin' /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/ A2	verb - to put yourself or something in a place where it cannot be seen or found
emotion /ɪˈmoʊʃn/ B2	noun - a strong feeling such as love, anger, or joy
feelin' /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotion or physical sensation
stop /stɑːp/ A1	verb - to no longer continue or do something
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to have something in your hand or arms
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - to experience events and images in your mind while sleeping noun - a series of events and images that happen in your mind when you are sleeping
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - unhappy because you are not with other people
midnight /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ A2	noun - twelve o'clock in the middle of the night
smoky /ˈsmoʊki/ B1	adjective - full of smoke
perfume /pərˈfjuːm/ B1	noun - a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your skin
shadows /ˈʃædoʊz/ A2	noun - an area of darkness caused by something blocking light

Key Grammar Structures

• I tell you, you sound really, really well.

  ➔ Adverb vs. Adjective

  ➔ The word "well" is an "adverb" here, describing how you sound (in good health or skillfully). It's often confused with the adjective "good".

• Just a small-town girl livin' in a lonely world

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause / Present Participle

  ➔ "livin'" is an informal contraction of "living", which is a "present participle". It acts as an adjective modifying "girl", implying "a girl who is living". This is a "reduced relative clause".

• Born and raised in South Detroit

  ➔ Past Participles as Adjectives

  ➔ "Born" and "raised" are "past participles" acting as adjectives, describing the subject. This structure implies a passive voice ("who was born and raised").

• It goes on and on and on and on

  ➔ Phrasal Verb + Repetition for Emphasis

  ➔ "Goes on" is a "phrasal verb" meaning "continues". The repetition of "on and on" emphasizes the endless nature.

• Livin' just to find emotion

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "to find" is an "infinitive of purpose", explaining the reason or goal for "livin'".

• Everybody wants the thrill

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement (Indefinite Pronoun)

  ➔ "Everybody" is an "indefinite pronoun" that takes a singular verb, hence "wants" (not "want").

• Don't stop believin'

  ➔ Negative Imperative + Verb followed by Gerund

  ➔ "Don't stop" is a "negative imperative". The verb "stop" is followed by a "gerund" ("believin'" / "believing") when referring to ceasing an action.

• Hold on to that feeling

  ➔ Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "Hold on to" is a "phrasal verb" meaning "to keep or maintain possession or a strong connection with something".

• We all gotta care

  ➔ Informal Contraction (Obligation)

  ➔ "Gotta" is an "informal contraction" of "have got to" or "have to", expressing "obligation or necessity".

• Keep on dreaming

  ➔ Phrasal Verb + Gerund

  ➔ "Keep on" is a "phrasal verb" meaning "to continue doing something". It is followed by a "gerund" ("dreaming").