Elton John is a prolific singer/songwriter as well as collaborator with a decidedly emotional voice… sometimes sad and even more often reflective and at times lighthearted. Beyond the quality of his voice, Elton John and his collaborator’s lyrics are arguably some of the best…at least to me. If success can truly be measured by the impact of one’s voice, then Elton John is a resounding success.

Measure of a Man, written by Alan Menken, Bernie Taupin and Elton John was featured in the Rocky V movie. Elton John’s rendition of Measure of a Man has been described as powerful and classic. I think that I had never listened close enough to the lyrics until now.

 

 

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Measure of a Man

These battered hands are all you own

The broken heart has turned to stone

Go hang your glory on the wall

There comes a time when castles fall

And all that’s left is shifting in the sand

 

You’re out of time, you’re out of place

Look at your face

That’s the measure of a man

 

This coat that fits you like a glove

These dirty streets you learned to love

So welcome back my long lost friend

You’ve been to hell and back again

God alone knows how you crossed that span

 

Back on the beat, back to the start

Trust in your heart

That’s the measure of a man

 

It’s the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand

It’s the things you understand

Permanent ties from which you once ran

That’s the measure of a man

 

You’ve come full circle, now you’re home

Without the gold, without the chrome

And this is where you’ve always been

You had to lose so you could win

And rise above your troubles while you can

 

Now you can love, now you can lose

Now you can choose

That’s the measure of a man

It’s the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand

It’s the things you understand

Permanent ties from which you once ran

That’s the measure of a man

 

You’ve come full circle, now you’re home

Without the gold, without the chrome

And this is where you’ve always been

You had to lose so you could win

And rise above your troubles while you can

 

Now you can love, now you can lose

Now you can choose

That’s the measure of a man

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These significant lyrics…what do they mean to you?

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/measure/