Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’”
A 1981 classic has a strange structure we've learned to love
A song that works every time despite temptations to deride it as overplayed or trite, Journey’s 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” is a strange song, with two pre-choruses and three verses before it arrives at the hook of its chorus. We don’t register how weird this is because the song is so catchy across the board.
More specifically, the structure is:
- instrumental
- first verse
- instrumental
- second verse
- first pre-chorus
- instrumental
- third verse
- second pre-chorus
- instrumental
- choruses until . . .
- fade-out
Written by Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain, and Neal Schon for the band’s Escape album, the song was a worldwide Top 10 hit when it was first released, became the biggest selling digital track by 2017, and was selected by the Library of Congress for digital preservation in 2022 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The song title came from advice Cain’s father gave him when he was a struggling musician in LA. It’s about the “streetlight people” seeking their dreams. Cain’s dream came true ultimately, as he found his way to joining the Babys with John Waite. After some success there — “Isn’t It Time” and “Everytime I Think of You” were their biggest hits — he left to join Journey, where he has been ever since.
By making the song about the audience’s stories, the band hoped it would connect better — and it did.
Featured in the 2003 movie Monster with Charlize Theron, the song got another boost. Then, another, thanks to Glee. Finally, a major thanks to The Sopranos, where the song gained legendary status.
And it continues to be a strong closer everywhere, from your local watering hole to larger stages.
- Live music axiom: If you want a crowd to go bananas, play this song.
The live version below captures the band at their peak, with Perry’s voice especially magical.
Enjoy!