David Foster was part of the group Skylark whose song "Wildflower" was a huge hit in 1972. He has worked with Clay Aiken, Josh Groban, Katharine McPhee, Céline Dion, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, The Corrs, George Harrison, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Filippa Giordano, Laura Pausini, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Luis Miguel, Chicago, Fred Norris, Richard Marx, Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Vanessa Williams, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Andrea Bocelli, Deborah Blando, Myriam Hernandez, Lara Fabian, Dolly Parton, Julio Iglesias, Gordon Lightfoot, Madonna, All-4-One, Al Jarreau, Yes, Peter Cetera and many others.
He composed the score for the film St. Elmo's Fire, which produced two hits, including the instrumental love theme. The other song, the #1 "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", recorded by John Parr, is better known in Canada for its original inspiration, the Canadian wheelchair activist hero, Rick Hansen, who was attempting a (ultimately successful) trek around the world in his chair for his cause.
David Foster is also the name of a South African singer-songwriter who released the album "Flat to Round" in 2003.
St. Elmo's Fire
David Foster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead you knew it all.
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain,
you'll find you're all alone; everything has changed.
Play the game; you know you can't quit until it's won.
Soldier of only you can do what must be done.
You know, in some ways you're a lot like me.You're just a prisoner, and you're tryin' to break free.
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky.
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher.
Gonna be your man in motion.
All I need is a pair of wheels.
Take me where the future's lying: St. Elmo's fire.
Burning up; don't know just how far that I can go.
Soon be home; only just a few miles down the road.
And I can make it, I know I can.
You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man.
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky.
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher.
Gonna be your man in motion.
All I need is a pair of wheels.
Take me where the future's lying: St. Elmo's fire.
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the widest sea.
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me, burning in me.
Just once in his life a man has his time.
And my time is now; I'm comin' alive.
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky.
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher.
All I need is a pair of wheels.
Take me where the future's lying: St. Elmo's fire.
I can hear the music playin'; I can see the banners fly.
Feel like a vet again. I hope I ain't high!
Gonna be your man in motion; all I need is a pair of wheels.
The lyrics of David Foster's "St. Elmo's Fire" describe the challenges of growing up and how the pain of change can leave one feeling alone. The song speaks of the importance of staying committed and persevering through tough times, and finding the strength to break free when necessary. The lyrics also express a sense of hopefulness and possibility, with the promise of a new horizon and the excitement of pursuing one's dreams.
The first verse suggests that when we are young, we often don't see the obstacles or challenges ahead of us. We move forward with confidence, believing we know everything there is to know. However, life has a way of surprising us, and we may find ourselves feeling isolated and alone when faced with difficult situations. The second verse tells us that despite these challenges, we must keep moving forward and not quit until we have won the game. It acknowledges that we are all prisoners of our circumstances to some extent, and it is up to us to find a way to break free and pursue our dreams.
The chorus of the song speaks of a new horizon and the excitement of reaching for a brighter future. The singer sees himself as a man in motion, fueled by the burning passion of St. Elmo's Fire. He expresses confidence in his ability to overcome any obstacle and make his dreams a reality. Finally, the third verse reinforces the idea that we should seize the moment and make the most of our time. It suggests that we should not let fear or doubt hold us back, but instead, embrace the excitement and adventure that life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Growin' up you don't see the writing on the wall.
When you're young, you're naïve and don't realize the signs of things to come.
Passin' by, movin' straight ahead you knew it all.
As you go through life, you feel confident and in control.
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain,
you'll find you're all alone; everything has changed.
When things go wrong, you can end up feeling isolated and lost.
Play the game; you know you can't quit until it's won.
You have to stick with challenges until you achieve your goals.
Soldier of only you can do what must be done.
You have to be self-reliant in order to succeed.
You know, in some ways you're a lot like me.
Others may be going through similar experiences as you.
You're just a prisoner, and you're tryin' to break free.
You feel trapped, but you're trying to overcome your obstacles.
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky.
The future is bright and promising.
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher.
I'll reach for my goals and soar to new heights.
Gonna be your man in motion.
I'll be proactive and take control of my life.
All I need is a pair of wheels.
I just need the tools to get where I want to go.
Take me where the future's lying: St. Elmo's fire.
Help me go where success and opportunity await.
Burning up; don't know just how far that I can go.
I'm pushing myself to my limit and beyond.
Soon be home; only just a few miles down the road.
Success is within reach - I just need to keep pushing forward.
And I can make it, I know I can.
I have confidence in myself and my abilities.
You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man.
Past struggles have made me stronger and more resilient.
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the widest sea.
I'm capable of achieving great things and overcoming obstacles.
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me, burning in me.
I have a drive and passion that keeps me moving forward.
Just once in his life a man has his time.
Opportunities can come at any time - you have to seize the moment.
And my time is now; I'm comin' alive.
It's my turn to succeed, and I'm ready to make it happen.
I can hear the music playin'; I can see the banners fly.
Success is like a celebration - you can feel the excitement building.
Feel like a vet again. I hope I ain't high!
Success can be exhilarating and surreal, like an out-of-body experience.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: David Foster, John Stephen Parr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lorenzosmith3112
You're so right, there will never be another decade like this, the 80's!
@rosariojimenez1008
oh yeah the best decade!!
@razatlab100
Fast forward to 2024 had no idea how good we had it back in the 80s.
@beths999
I graduated HS in 1981. The music in the 80’s was the best. School shootings were non existent and no cell phones or computers
@jl904404
Class of 85, what a fkng decade it was
@dollarjilt1
@@jl904404 class of 85 here too.... it still rocks
@clays1507
Class of 1980. Those were the best days
@christopherarner8322
Yep, had guns in the rack in school property. No metal detectors, no cops, and knives in our pockets.
@dollarjilt1
@@christopherarner8322 wow I forgot about that, so did we. Nobody thought much about it..... I used to even carry a blade in my front pocket in the early to mid 80s and when I entered govt buildings/court house etc in Savannah I just put it in the tray with my coins and keys upon entering and grabbed them back up again. Nobody gave it a second thought
@nrodriguez4509
We will never get another decade as great as the 80’s!❤