Eye of the Tiger
Various Artists Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Risin' up, back on the street
Took my time, took my chances
Went the distance
Now i'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip
On the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge
Of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the
Eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds
Still we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive

It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge
Of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the
Eye of the tiger

Risin' up straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance
Now i'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge
Of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night




And he's watching us all with the
Eye of the tiger

Overall Meaning

"Eye of the Tiger" is a song by the band Survivor that was written specifically for the movie "Rocky III" in 1982. The lyrics of this song relate to Rocky Balboa's story of resilience and strength, as he prepares for his battle with Clubber Lang, the film's antagonist. "Risin' up, back on the street/Took my time, took my chances/Went the distance/Now I'm back on my feet/Just a man and his will to survive" refers to the singer's fight to rise again after being defeated, inspiring listeners to take risks and fight for what they believe in. The verse "So many times, it happens too fast/ You trade your passion for glory/Don't lose your grip/On the dreams of the past/You must fight just to keep them alive" is a warning against giving up on your dreams and interests for the sake of glory.


The chorus, which is perhaps the most famous part of the song, is repeated throughout. It delivers a powerful message of perseverance and fighting spirit. It consists of the repeated phrase "It's the eye of the tiger/It's the thrill of the fight/Risin' up to the challenge/Of our rival/And the last known survivor/Stalks his prey in the night/And he's watching us all with the/Eye of the tiger." The "Eye of the Tiger" evokes an image of a predator and its hard, fearless, and relentless characteristics. Just like the tiger, the singer of the story fights to survive and come out victorious. Through the song, the audience is encouraged to embrace their inner strength and power, which will guide them through life's challenges.


Line by Line Meaning

Risin' up, back on the street
I'm getting up and back to my life after facing hardships


Took my time, took my chances
I didn't rush, I took my chances wisely


Went the distance
I traveled a long way, through thick and thin


Now i'm back on my feet
I've risen again and regained my confidence


Just a man and his will to survive
I am determined to live and overcome all obstacles


So many times, it happens too fast
Life is unpredictable and things can change quickly


You trade your passion for glory
Sometimes you let go of your dreams to achieve success


Don't lose your grip
Don't lose sight of your values and goals


On the dreams of the past
On the dreams you had earlier


You must fight just to keep them alive
You have to struggle and work hard to keep your dreams alive


It's the eye of the tiger
It's the fierce and determined spirit to succeed


It's the thrill of the fight
It's the excitement and energy of taking on challenges


Risin' up to the challenge
Rising to face new challenges


Of our rival
Against someone who wants to see us fail


And the last known survivor
Referring to oneself as a tough survivor


Stalks his prey in the night
Ready to take on challenges any time


And he's watching us all with the
He's determined and focused on his goals, watching others also


Eye of the tiger
With the spirit and mindset of a fighter who never gives up


Face to face, out in the heat
Directly confronting difficulties and challenges


Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
Determined and focused, never losing motivation


They stack the odds
The odds are against us


Still we take to the street
We take on the challenge anyway


For the kill with the skill to survive
To overcome the odds and emerge as a winner


Risin' up straight to the top
Taking the direct path to success without any detours


Had the guts, got the glory
Having the courage to take risks and succeeding in the end


Now i'm not gonna stop
I won't give up and will keep going


Just a man and his will to survive
Only the strong will survive and emerge successfully




Writer(s): Iii Sullivan Frankie M., Frank Sullivan, James Michael Peterik

Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions