Don't Stop Believin' – English Lyrics

• By: Journey
• Album: Escape

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey of hope and perseverance with Journey's “Don't Stop Believin'”. This timeless anthem, born from personal struggle, teaches the importance of holding onto your dreams. Explore the language of aspiration and resilience, and discover why this song continues to inspire generations to never give up.

[English]

Just a small town girl

Livin' 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

...

A singer in a smokey room

A smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile they can share the night

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

...

Workin' hard to get my fill

Everybody wants a thrill

Payin' anything to roll the dice

Just one more time

Some'll win, some will lose

Some are born to sing the blues

Whoa, 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 feelin'

Streetlights, people

...

Don't stop believin'

Hold on

Streetlights, people

...

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Streetlights, people

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a populated place, typically smaller than a city
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town or urban area
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a series of connected railroad cars verb - to teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior through sustained practice and instruction.
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
singer /ˈsɪŋər/ A2	noun - a person who sings, especially professionally
smile /smaɪl/ A2	noun - a pleased facial expression verb - to have a pleased facial expression
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise
shadows /ˈʃædoʊz/ B1	noun - dark areas where light is blocked
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
emotion /ɪˈmoʊʃən/ B2	noun - a strong feeling
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - solid, firm, and rigid adverb - with great effort
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to be successful or victorious noun - an instance of winning something.
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to be deprived of something
believin' /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/ A2	verb - to accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.
feelin' /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotional state or reaction.
boulevard /ˈbuːləvɑːrd/ B1	noun - a wide street in a town or city, typically one lined with trees.
streetlights /ˈstriːtlaɪts/ A2	noun - a lamp illuminating a street, especially at night.
smokey /ˈsmoʊki/ B1	adjective - filled with or smelling of smoke.

Key Grammar Structures

• Livin' in a lonely world

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ "Livin'" is a present participle modifying "world". It describes the kind of world she lives in.

• She took the midnight train going anywhere

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ "Going" is a present participle modifying "train". It describes the direction the train is going.

• Born and raised in South Detroit

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective (Passive Voice implied)

  ➔ "Born and raised" are past participles describing the city boy. It implies he *was born* and *was raised*.

• For a smile they can share the night

  ➔ Relative Clause with "can"

  ➔ The phrase "they can share the night" is a relative clause modifying "a smile". "Can" indicates the ability to share.

• Some'll win, some will lose

  ➔ Ellipsis (Omission)

  ➔ The full sentences are "Some *people* will win, some *people* will lose". The word "people" is omitted for brevity.

• Some are born to sing the blues

  ➔ "to" infinitive expressing purpose

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to sing the blues" explains the purpose for which some people are born.

• Don't stop believin'

  ➔ Imperative (Negative)

  ➔ "Don't stop" is a negative imperative, giving a command *not* to do something.

• Hold on to that feelin'

  ➔ Imperative (Positive) with phrasal verb

  ➔ "Hold on" is an imperative, giving a command to do something, and it's a phrasal verb. The phrase "hold on to" means to maintain or keep.