Robert Tepper (born Antoine Roberto Teppardo) is a singer, best known for h… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Tepper (born Antoine Roberto Teppardo) is a singer, best known for his hit Rocky IV soundtrack song, "No Easy Way Out".

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Tepper moved to New York where he became a staff writer until he paired up with fellow singer Benny Mardones. Together they wrote Mardones' pop hit "Into the Night" which earned the pair a Grammy Awards nomination.

In 1985, Tepper signed with Scotti Brothers and moved to Los Angeles. Actor/Director Sylvester Stallone was taken with Tepper's song "No Easy Way Out" which subsequently led to its inclusion into the movie Rocky IV.

"No Easy Way Out" skyrocketed to the Top 30 reaching 22 in 1986, momentarily putting Tepper in the public eye.

No Easy Way Out
Robert Tepper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We're not indestructible
Baby, better get that straight
I think it's unbelievable
How you give in to the hands of fate
Some things are worth fighting for
Some feelings never die
I'm not askin' for another chance
I just wanna know why

There's no easy way out
There's no shortcut home
There's no easy way out
Givin' in can't be wrong

I don't wanna pacify you
I don't wanna drag you down
But I'm feelin' like a prisoner
Like a stranger in a no-name town
I see all the angry faces
Afraid that could be you and me
Talkin' about what might have been
I'm thinkin' about what I used to be

There's no easy way out
There's no shortcut home
There's no easy way out
Givin' in can't be wrong

Baby, baby, we can shed this skin
We can know how we feel inside
Instead of goin' down an endless road
Not knowin' if we're dead or alive
Some things are worth fightin' for
Some feelings never die
I'm not askin' for another chance
I just wanna know why

There's no easy way out
There's no shortcut home
There's no easy way out
Givin' in, givin' in can't be wrong, no
(There's no easy way out) there's no easy way out
(There's no shortcut home) there's no shortcut home
(There's no easy way out) there's no easy, no easy
No easy way out
(There's no easy way out) there's no easy way out
(There's no shortcut home) there's no shortcut home
(There's no easy way out) there's no easy, no easy
No easy way out
(There's no easy way out)

(There's no shortcut home)
(There's no easy way out)

Overall Meaning

Robert Tepper's "No Easy Way Out" is a song about perseverance in the face of adversity. The lyrics describe the struggle of trying to overcome obstacles and fight for what one believes in. Tepper sings about the fragility of human life, reminding the listener that we are not indestructible and that we need to appreciate and fight for the things that matter most. He pleads for an understanding of the value of holding onto our feelings, even when things seem difficult.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the difficult truth that there is no easy way out of life's struggles. We cannot simply take a shortcut home, we cannot give in to the pressures of fate without a fight. The lyrics express an intense desire to know why things are the way they are and to be understood, to not feel like a prisoner or a stranger in one's own life. The song ends on a positive note as Tepper suggests that fighting for what we believe in is worth it, even when the road seems endless and uncertain.

Overall, "No Easy Way Out" is a song about resilience and determination. It encourages the listener to stand up for what they believe in and not give up in the face of difficulty. Despite the darker themes of the song, there is an underlying optimism that suggests that with perseverance and belief in oneself, anything is possible.

Line by Line Meaning

We're not indestructible
We are vulnerable and subject to the forces of life, just like anyone else.

Baby, better get that straight
It's important to face reality and not shy away from difficult truths.

I think it's unbelievable
It's difficult to comprehend how people can give up control of their lives to chance.

How you give in to the hands of fate
It's a mistake to let things happen without taking an active role in shaping one's own life.

Some things are worth fighting for
There are values and principles that are worth sacrificing for and working towards despite the difficulties.

Some feelings never die
Certain emotions are so deeply ingrained that they can continue to affect a person for a long time even after the event that caused them.

I'm not askin' for another chance
I don't want to undo past mistakes, but rather understand their impact on the present.

I just wanna know why
I'm seeking an explanation or understanding of my life circumstances and choices.

There's no easy way out
It's difficult to escape the consequences of one's actions or to change one's life circumstances without significant effort and sacrifice.

There's no shortcut home
There's no easy way to get to where we want to be in life without putting in the hard work and effort required.

Givin' in can't be wrong
It's sometimes necessary to compromise or accept less than perfect outcomes, as long as it doesn't violate one's core values.

I don't wanna pacify you
I don't want to deceive you into thinking everything is fine and not confront our problems.

I don't wanna drag you down
I don't want to bring you into my struggles or keep you from living your own life goals.

But I'm feelin' like a prisoner
I feel trapped or constrained by my life circumstances or choices.

Like a stranger in a no-name town
I feel isolated and disconnected from my surroundings or people around me.

I see all the angry faces
I am aware of the negative emotions and reactions of people around me.

Afraid that could be you and me
I worry that we could be caught up in the same negative patterns and outcomes as others around us.

Talkin' about what might have been
Reflecting on missed opportunities or things that could have gone differently in the past.

I'm thinkin' about what I used to be
I'm considering how my past actions and behavior have led me to my present circumstances and identity.

Baby, baby, we can shed this skin
We can change and transform ourselves by making different choices and taking different paths in life.

We can know how we feel inside
We can gain greater self-awareness and understanding of our own emotions and motivations.

Instead of goin' down an endless road
Rather than remaining in our current situation, we can choose to pursue a different life path.

Not knowin' if we're dead or alive
Feeling lost and uncertain about our place in the world or our purpose in life.

Givin' in, givin' in can't be wrong, no
Although it's sometimes necessary to compromise or accept less than perfect outcomes, it's important not to give up on our values or beliefs entirely.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Tepper

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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