Top News

Song lyric of the day: '​Risin' up, back on the street, did my time, took my chances. Went the distance now I'm back on my feet..' ; lessons on survival from Eye Of The Tiger song
ET Online | May 24, 2026 10:38 PM CST

Synopsis

The song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor became an anthem for resilience, detailing the struggle for survival in harsh environments and poverty. Its powerful lyrics, like "Risin' up, back on the street," symbolize overcoming setbacks through sheer determination and the human spirit's triumph over adversity. The hit song served as the theme for Rocky III, achieving massive chart success.

Survival can be brutal, especially if you have grown up in a very risky environment when human life is not considered sacrosanct, or have a career where risking your life and limb is commonplace, surviving becomes a day-to-day struggle. This is also applicable for people who have little to no financial stability and are living in abject poverty. Years ago, American rock band Survivor came up with a chartbuster Eye Of The Tiger which spoke about how, for some people, living to see another day is a matter of luck and how there are men who risk everything to survive.

Lyrics Of The Day

One of the hardest-hitting lyrics of the song are: “Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive..”

Decoding The Lyrics

The lyrics from Eye Of The Tiger are ultimately an anthem about resilience in the face of crisis, and the triumph of the human spirit. The lyrics speak about a man who has refused to bend, break or surrender even when he has faced one setback after the other. “Back on the street” symbolizes returning to life’s battles after defeat, while “did my time” suggests enduring pain, sacrifice, or difficult experiences. The phrase “took my chances” reflects courage — the willingness to risk failure in pursuit of growth and success.

The line “Just a man and his will to survive..” is ultimately about the importance of determination and perseverance and how essential these virtues are not just for survival but also for achieving goals.

About The Eye Of The Tiger

Eye Of The Tiger is a song performed by the American rock band Survivor. A synthesis of hard rock and post-disco beat, Eye Of The Tiger was the theme song of the 1982 Sylvester Stallone film Rocky III. Upon release, the song became an overnight sensation, reaching number one position on Billboard Hit 100 where it stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. In the US, the song sold two million copies.

In the UK, the song was a major hit too selling 956K copies. It also topped UK Singles chart for four weeks.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK