Jonathan Cain, piano/songwriter
I moved from Chicago to Hollywood in the ’70s, but I had no money and had to borrow money from my dad. I felt bad and asked him, “Should I just go home and give up my rock and roll dreams?” He said, “No, stick to your guns. Don’t stop believing.” That was unheard of for a father back then. Most fathers would have said, “Get a job!”
I wrote it in my lyric book, and five years later, when I had joined Journey and singer Steve Perry was looking for new songs for the album Escape, I took my father’s advice and heard the melody in my head.
Steve and I put ourselves into this song. We both came from nightclub backgrounds and got our breaks with Journey, so we’re the “smoky room singers.” Sunset Boulevard was my early stage, when I was on the outside looking in to the music industry. The lyric is, “Strangers waiting all over the boulevard,” because that’s where I saw it all happening.
Much later I realized that my piano chords were almost identical to Let It Be, but at least I gave it a fresh try. As I always say, if you’re going to copy something, copy the best. I recently saw a video by the Australian group Axis of Awesome, where they play the chord changes from Don’t Stop Believin’ over about 30 songs.
We recorded “Don’t Stop Believin'” at Fantasy Studios, which had no windows. It was like a graveyard, and we didn’t know if it was light outside or dark outside, which drove us crazy. But when Neil and I were deciding the track order for the album “Escape,” we knew there was something about this song. We put the needle down, and the first thing we hear is the mystical piano and the lyrics, “Small town girl living in a lonely world.” It draws you in.
I think every song has a destiny. When it was first released in 1981, “Don’t Stop Believin'” didn’t get much radio play. It only got to number nine and then disappeared. But it’s remained popular ever since. It’s a song that allows you to dream. And there are still many country girls and city boys who wish they could get on a midnight train and go somewhere. Everyone is still searching for a window of hope, opportunity, and possibility. That’s a universal thing, and it will never change.
Neal Schon, guitar/songwriter
I had taken over this amazing studio in Oakland that belonged to Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone. It was a secluded spot that had become a clubhouse for bands to jam and write songs. One day John came in and played the piano part for “Don’t Stop Believin'” and we started working on this new song.
Before John and Steve wrote the lyrics, they came up with the guitar part – “Diddley Diddley Diddley” – so they could imagine a “midnight train” speeding down the tracks. In reality, there is no “South Detroit,” but Steve wrote the lyrics because he thought it would be easier to sing about than East or North Detroit.
The arrangement is really weird. If you’re going to play it on the radio, you want to play the chorus early. As they say, “Don’t bore me, get to the chorus.” The chorus of Don’t Stop Believin’ doesn’t come until the end. Steve loved that chorus, so I said, “I think the chorus melody should be played as a guitar solo,” and he turned to me and said, “You want me to play the melody before I sing it?”
We were so well rehearsed that we just walked into Fantasy Studios as if we were going on stage. We played that song in a couple of hours. That’s the beauty of having a real band of great musicians. We had great chemistry. I really miss the days when we were all in the same room.
When I first heard the finished song, I knew it was something special, but it took years for it to become a global anthem. Everyone has their own theory about why “Don’t Stop Believin'” exploded in the new millennium. First, the movie Monster with Charlize Theron. Then The Sopranos came on. I remember my phone was ringing and all my friends were asking, “Hey, did you see the last scene?” Then Glee came on. It was a teen show and I thought we weren’t very cool, so that freaked me out. Little did I know then that it would be the catalyst for a younger generation to discover our music. I’m a rocker and I like the blues, but I always joke that if it sounds sappy, it’s usually a big hit!
Fresh off a three-year run of sold-out arena shows, the band is on a roll right now, and playing “Don’t Stop Believin'” live feels like driving a Ferrari.
The UK and Ireland leg of Journey’s 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour begins on October 30th at Cardiff Utilita Arena.
