St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)

John Parr

Growin' up you don't see the writing on the wall
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 on, 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 a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire, ooh

Burning up don't know just how far that I can go
Soon be home, only just a few miles down the road
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 a 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 wildest 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 hear the music playin' I can see the banners fly
Feel like a man again
I'll hold my head high

Gonna be a man in motion
All I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where the future's lying St. Elmo's fire

I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be a 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 wildest sea
I can feel St. Elmo's fire burning in me
Burning, burning in me
I can feel it burning, ooh burning inside of me


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by alpineinc

St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) Lyrics as written by John Stephen Parr David Foster

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

16 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    General Comment
    The song is about growing up, keeping your head high and do what needs to be done, no matter what. Fulfilling your dreams, don't stop believing. I listen this song every time I get the feeling I can't do something. When I feel like giving up, this one is the right cure. When I got news that would've made sure my dreams would never come true this one came on the radio the following morning and I just couldn't stop crying.... Great song.
    Tamsimon January 21, 2011   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    This song, I believe is about RIck Hansen. He is a Canadian who suffered a terrible accident and was rendered parlyzed from the waste down. He has 'wheeled' himself all over the world (over 40,000km) to raise money and awareness for spinal chord injuries. The song was written two years after Rick's Man In Motion tour began (1985). There are lines like "All I need is a pair of wheels" And "Growing Up, You Don't See The Writing On The Wall" Great Song Brian
    bfurtadoon September 15, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Fun fact: St. Elmo's Fire is a weather effect usually witnessed as a nimbus of light around the mastheads of sailing ships. Usually taken as the Saint watching over your ship. Most motivational song in history. I have never managed to listen to this and stay in anything but a really energetic cheerful mood.
    traviswrdunbaron July 22, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think its about the movie St.Elmo's Fire.....not mountain climbing
    DrFeelgood03on April 09, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    About determination, strength, gumption
    Smokleron August 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i loved the movie st. elmo's fire. it was greatt :]] i love this song too.
    koolestlozerevaon July 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Play the game, you know you can't quit until it's won Soldier on, only you can do what must be done Some of the greatest lyrics I've ever lived by. Never surrender the fight, never give up. Whether its a person, a dream, a belief, a conviction, what you stand for at your core. Fight in this world to hang onto it. Because damnit people give up too easily.
    The_natural31on March 15, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I got no idea what the true meaning behind this song is, but to me, it's a song about being determined to do anything -- to prove yourself to the world in a way.
    KattHikarioftheTurkson October 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    DrFeelgood03: John Parr said in an interview that this song was about a man in a wheelchair and he was just fine with SEF the movie using it.
    limoon March 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is about the strength and determination that people can have. It was also used very appropriately in the movie St. Elmo's Fire to show Emilio Estevez and his companion's struggles with transition,, but still trying to make it better.
    Hydra2on April 24, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!