His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.
Go the Distance
Alan Menken Lyrics
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Of a far of place
Where a great, warm, welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
I will find my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
I would go most anywhere
To feel like I belong
I am on my way
I can go the distance
I don't care how far
Somehow I'll be strong
I knew very mile
Will be with my while
I would go most anywhere
To find where I belong
Alan Menken's song Go the Distance is a heartfelt and empowering ballad about following your dreams and finding your place in the world. The song, which was featured in the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules, was written by Menken and lyricist David Zippel. It is sung by the film's protagonist, Hercules, who is a demigod and has always felt like he doesn't fit in with the mortal world. In the song, Hercules expresses his desire to find a place where he belongs, where people will welcome him and cheer him on.
The opening lines of the song, "I have often dreamed of a far-off place where a great, warm, welcome will be waiting for me," set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. Hercules is searching for a place where he can feel accepted and loved, and he believes that he will know it when he sees it. As he sings about the cheering crowds and the voice that keeps telling him he's meant to be there, the listener can sense his determination and hope.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "I will find my way, I can go the distance, I'll be there someday, if I can be strong," is a powerful affirmation of Hercules' determination to succeed. He knows that the journey will be long and difficult, but he is committed to seeing it through. The final lines of the song, "I would go most anywhere to find where I belong," show that, even though he's not sure where his journey will take him, Hercules is willing to take risks and make sacrifices in order to find his true home.
Line by Line Meaning
I have often dreamed
I have frequently imagined
Of a far off place
Of a distant location
Where a great, warm, welcome
A friendly and enthusiastic reception
Will be waiting for me
Will Welcome me
Where the crowds will cheer
Where the onlookers will applaud
When they see my face
On seeing me
And a voice keeps saying
An inner voice repeats
This is where I'm meant to be
This is my rightful place
I will find my way
I will locate my path
I can go the distance
I have the capability to reach my goal
I'll be there someday
I will eventually arrive
If I can be strong
On the condition that I am determined
I know every mile
I am aware of every distance
Will be worth my while
Will justify my efforts
I would go most anywhere
I am prepared to explore every place
To feel like I belong
To get a sense of fitting in
I am on my way
I have started moving
I don't care how far
I am undeterred by the distance
Somehow I'll be strong
One way or another I will be mentally unyielding
I knew very mile
I understood every distance
Will be with my while
Will be of benefit
I would go most anywhere
I am prepared to go to any place
To find where I belong
To discover my suitable place
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alan Menken, David Zippel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Greek Samurai
absolute legend! what an honour to hear the composition played just the way he composed it
Jeremy Fauvel
One of the greatest Disney songs of all time. Michael Bolton’s version is pure power!
bruce lau
Alan Menken what a Disney Legend 🎹
WillDinoMaster55
So amazing Song ever and Alan Menken is the Best Composter for being this awesome song for Disney Hercules!, I love it! :D
David Newman
He's my favorite person. He's a genius.
BattleFrog
this was beautiful
Ashley Bohnert
Alan menken is my favorite composter
adminator
I know it's a typo, but 'composter' made me laugh so hard lol
adminator
He's one of my favorite composers as well :)
Noah Isuku
@adminator you mean 'composters'