I have always thought it means people walking and hanging out by the streetlights... anyway... DON´T STOP BELIEVING !!!!!!!! ^^

This song is about people who are desperate and lonely for love, excitement, and some emotion and thrill in their lives. The part about the singer in the smoky room to me is about people using lust to fulfill their desire for real emotion.

Sounds like some dirty dudes! :P

Guys, only one thing is correct: Streetlight people, are people who are outside in the middle of the night, they are out, cause they are focused on their lifes, they need change, but it doesn't come out, so they are still on streets walking around, they are like piece of light in the mind. like this flash of new idea, which you just understand. And they are walking around with closed minds only on negative things. And when you look at them all, you see the map of shady buildings with small lights between them: streets.

If you look at the lyrics, they say Streetlights, people NOT streetlight people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feeling Streetlight people Oh-oh-woah Don't stop believin' Hold on Streetlight people Oh-oh-Woah [Instrumental Interlude] Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train Goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train Goin' 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 waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching 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 will win Some will lose Some were born to sing the blues Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching In the night Streetlights, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin', somewhere in the night [Instrumental Interlude] Don't stop believin' Hold on to the feelin' Streetlights, people Don't stop believin' Hold on Streetlights, people