I recorded the song Boulevard of Broken Dreams back in 2005.  It was written 15 years ago in 1990.  In fact, before Green Day put out their version in 2004, there had been 5 other songs with the same title in the years of 1954, 1958, 1957, 1984 and 1989.  In my version, there is mention of Marilyn (Monroe), James Dean and Elvis, referring to the painting by  Gottfried Helnwein also titled Boulevard of Broken Dreams.   My version of the song is basically about our the ‘irrational rationality’ we take for granted in affluent Western societies.

BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS. By Donna Williams. Copyright 1990

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams,

Buy the latest trend and don’t listen to the screams.

Fill yourself on cigarettes, speed in your fast car.

Dying to be heroes, we don’t know who we are

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams,

Always good, always bad, there are no in-betweens.

Haven’t got a tragedy? Just buy someone else’s.

Marilyn , James Dean, maybe even Elvis,

and board the train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

In the madness sanity, seeks the word humanity,

Sees the world in a grain of sand, living life on the edge of your promised land.

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams,

Mr Welfare took survival out, we’re going to extremes,

Conformist non-conformity has got you in a noose,

trapped as those who judge you, dying to get loose.

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

All on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams,

Life served on a platter, could you tell me what it means,

There has to be a something more, but clever as I am,

Maybe that’s the reason why I just can’t understand.

We’re all on a train to the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

Of your promised land.

Of your promised land.

Of your promised land.

Of your promised land.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com