What does Streets of Philadelphia mean?

Search Login

Bruce Springsteen: Streets of Philadelphia Meaning

Streets of Philadelphia Lyrics

I was bruised and battered and I couldn't tell
what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
Saw my reflection in a window I didn't know
my own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me
wasting away
On the streets of Philadelphia

I walked the avenue...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 18th 2019 report

    My son was STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS,& I SENT HIM THIS SONG SO HE COULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHERE HIS LIFE WAS HEADED!! AND HE LISTEN TO IT AND PULLED HIS SELF BACK OUT THE RABBIT HOLE OF DRUGS!! EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THIS SONG IT BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES CAUSE I BELIEVE IT SAVED MY SONS LIFE. THANK U BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!!! ( ITS A REALITY SONG) PS. MY SON DID A MUSIC VIDEO W/ BRUCE AT RITTEN HOUSE SQUARE WHEN THEY NEEDED EXTRAS FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL
    SINCERELY,L.G.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 30th 2018 report

    It's about the stigma of certain diseases and how it's lonely and hopeless...in particular, AIDS, HIV, drug addiction...

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 16th 2017 report

    Really nice song.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 13th 2016 report

    A song to influence people's conscience and awareness to honestly care, especially the power leaders on the perverted far left and the nut far right to come together and find a healthy middle path to give a helping hand to the ones who became unrecognizable, hollowed out and a shadow of their human selves, dying on ''the streets of Philadelphia'' and throughout the country from poverty, hunger,mental problems, homelessness,drugs, etc., and of course the plague of aids that thousands were dying from, being in need for support and love with whatever hope left in them to wish the political politicians would unite together and help the ones that are slowly perishing to find a cure for their disease caused by the aids virus that came into our culture.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 21st 2013 report

    It's a true story, also a move,Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks, and it tells the story of a Gay Attorney , Clarence Cain who was wrongfully fired when the company found out he had Aids, he won his legal battle in 1990, just before he died.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jan 3rd 2013 report

    Obviously it's about a guy dying of Aids. The non-obvious part are the several references to a 'friend'. 'It's just you and I my friend'. The 'friend' is the disease - Aids - itself. They are all alone together as the guy's life is ending sadly with no support.

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 27th 2012 report

    The guy telling the story is homeless, down on his luck and nobody wants him. It's set in Philly because it's big city.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

More Bruce Springsteen song meanings »


 


Latest Articles

 


Submit Your Interpretation

[ want a different song? ]





Just Posted

Hard Way Every Time anonymous
Hey Nineteen anonymous
Silence anonymous
Silence anonymous
Chicken Tenders anonymous
Full of Grace anonymous
Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car) anonymous
Sippy Cup anonymous
The Red Means I Love You anonymous
Feel So Numb anonymous
Nutshell anonymous
Intro anonymous
Money anonymous
Pass The Nirvana anonymous
The Divine Zero anonymous

Get a weekly email update

(We won't give out your email)

Latest Releases

Beat You There
Will Dempsey
Outskirts
Sam Hunt
Light On In The Kitchen
Ashley McBryde
Giving Up On That
Dalton Dover
Marry That Girl
Easton Corbin
Standing Room Only
Tim McGraw
Por Las Noches
Peso Pluma
Out Of That Truck
Carrie Underwood