Carmen's first solo single "All By Myself" was penned by Carmen based on a classical theme by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It was subsequently covered by Celine Dion and also used in the opening scene of the movie 'Bridget Jones' Diary'.
Besides his successful solo career, Carmen is remembered as one of the rock'n'rollers behind the Cleveland, Ohio-based band The Raspberries. As lead vocalist and co-songwriter, he helped the group gain big popularity in the 70s through arena-ready hits such as "Go All the Way" and "Tonight", with the band becoming a cult figure among power pop fans. Carmen reunited with Raspberries producer Jimmy Ienner to be a part of the 'Dirty Dancing' soundtrack, a commercial juggernaut that achieved massive success and was RIAA certified multi-platinum. Carmen's song "Hungry Eyes" reached the top 40 charts in Canada, Germany, the U.S., and elsewhere while attracting critical acclaim. Over the years, Carmen's work has been praised by many of his fellow musicians including Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr among others.
On 24 December 2013, the first new recording in over 15 years by Carmen titled "Brand New Year" was released.
Marathon Man
Eric Carmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to find out who I am
Endless nights and Olympian dreams
Of a race I never ran
Someone's callin' my name (someone's callin' my name)
It's the crowd in the stands (it's the crowd in the stands)
Don't know how I becameWhat I suddenly am
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
I've been searchin' so long
But the answer is finally at hand
I'm a marathon man
Wind is gone and my head's in a haze
But I must keep up the pace
Got to think about strategy here
If I hope to win the race
Someone's callin' my name (someone's callin' my name)
It's the crowd in the stands (it's the crowd in the stands)
Concentrate on the pain
Put the soul in command
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
I've been searchin' so long
But the answer is finally at hand
I'm a marathon man
Wasting my youth
Chasing dreams, testing truthTaking turns being deceived
And deceivin'
Bound with a rope
Made of heroes and hope
Till I found nothin' left
To believe in
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
I've been searchin' so long
But the answer is finally at hand
I'm a marathon man ha!
I've been searchin' so long
But the answer is finally at hand
I'm ha!
I'm a marathon man
Ha! Marathon man
The first stanza of Eric Carmen's "Marathon Man" suggests that the singer has been studying for two decades to understand himself. Despite devoting endless nights to it, he has still not found that understanding. He has had dreams of an Olympian race he never ran while spending multiple years trying to understand himself.
The second stanza reveals that the singer is in a footrace, and his focus is on winning. However, his head is foggy, and the wind is gone, which is not ideal for a race. His focus must be sharp, or he will lose. Additionally, the crowd in the stands is calling his name, but the singer needs to concentrate on the pain and put his soul in command.
Overall, the song tells the story of a marathon runner, but also has an argument that pertains to life. The marathon runner's focus must be unwavering to win a race, and this can be applied to life's challenges. Life can feel like a marathon, where one must run a long enough distance, whether enjoyable or not, to succeed. Eric Carmen concludes the song by repeating the line, "I'm a marathon man" suggesting he has finally found the understanding he had been searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
Twenty years with my brain in a book
I have spent two decades trying to figure out my identity by reading a lot.
Tryin' to find out who I am
I am searching for my real self.
Endless nights and Olympian dreams
I've had countless long nights and ambitious aspirations.
Of a race I never ran
Unfortunately, I have never run a race before.
Someone's callin' my name (someone's callin' my name)
I hear someone shouting my name aloud.
It's the crowd in the stands (it's the crowd in the stands)
The spectators in the grandstand are cheering me on.
Don't know how I became
I don't know how I reached this point.
What I suddenly am
I am confused about my current situation.
Marathon man, keep a-runnin'
Calling myself Marathon Man, I continue to run.
I've been searchin' so long
I've been searching for quite a while.
But the answer is finally at hand
Finally, I have found the answer to my search.
Wind is gone and my head's in a haze
I am exhausted and confused.
But I must keep up the pace
Despite the tendency to slow down, I must keep running fast.
Got to think about strategy here
I need to devise a plan to win the race.
If I hope to win the race
I can only hope to succeed if I follow this strategy.
Concentrate on the pain
I should focus on the discomfort and try to overcome it.
Put the soul in command
I should let my spirit guide me.
Wasting my youth
I've been squandering my youth on this seemingly fruitless pursuit.
Chasing dreams, testing truth
I have been pursuing certain goals and challenging their validity.
Taking turns being deceived
Sometimes I am tricked, other times I deceive myself.
And deceivin'
Similar to the above line, sometimes it is me who is deceptive.
Bound with a rope
I am tied up with beliefs and aspirations.
Made of heroes and hope
These dreams are based on ideals and aspirations.
Till I found nothin' left
Until now, I still feel like a shell of what I once was.
To believe in
I have lost faith in myself and my pursuits.
I'm ha!
I am brimming with excitement, exhilaration, and pride.
I'm a marathon man
I am a long-distance runner and have finally found my true identity.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC CARMEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind