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The Measure of a Man Lyrics
These battered hands are all you own
This broken heart just turned to stone
Go hang your glory on the wall
There comes a time when castles fall
And all that's left is shifting in the sand
You're out of time, you're out of place
Look at your face
That's the measure of a man
This coat that fits you like a glove
These dirty streets you learned to love
So welcome back my long lost friend
You've been to hell and back again
God alone knows how you crossed that span
Back on the beat, back to the start
Trust in your heart
That's the measure of a man
It's the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand
It's the things you understand
Permanent ties from which you once ran
That's the measure of a man
You've come full circle, now you're home
Without the gold, without the chrome
And this is where you've always been
You had to lose so you could win
And rise above your troubles while you can
Now you can love, now you can lose
Now you can choose
That's the measure of a man
It's the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand
It's the things you understand
Permanent ties from which you once ran
You've come full circle, now you're home
Without the gold, without the chrome
And this is where you've always been
You had to lose so you could win
And rise above your troubles while you can
That's the measure of a man
Now you can love, now you can lose
Now you can choose
That's the measure of a man
This broken heart just turned to stone
Go hang your glory on the wall
There comes a time when castles fall
And all that's left is shifting in the sand
Look at your face
That's the measure of a man
These dirty streets you learned to love
So welcome back my long lost friend
You've been to hell and back again
God alone knows how you crossed that span
Trust in your heart
That's the measure of a man
It's the things you understand
Permanent ties from which you once ran
That's the measure of a man
Without the gold, without the chrome
And this is where you've always been
You had to lose so you could win
And rise above your troubles while you can
Now you can choose
That's the measure of a man
It's the things you understand
Permanent ties from which you once ran
Without the gold, without the chrome
And this is where you've always been
You had to lose so you could win
And rise above your troubles while you can
That's the measure of a man
Now you can choose
That's the measure of a man
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I think this one is saying that, it's not about what you accomplish in life that makes you a man, it's who you are. The song seems to be about some guy who's been on a long journey, maybe fame, and now he's back where he started. It's saying that it's what's inside that guy that makes him a man, not where's been. He's returned to where he came from and he's a lot older now, but he's still the same man he's always been.
There was really no better song choice to use for the ending credits of Rocky V. This song pretty much tells the story of the first 5 Rocky films. How he came from nothing, rose to fame, and even though it was taken away and he ended up back on the streets where he came from, he was still the same man he was all those years ago. That's the real test of a man.
Meteddica got it spot on, thats exactly how I interpreted this song as well.
And yeah, there couldn'tve been a more fitting song for the Rocky V credits.
I tear up everytime i listen to this song during the credits showing the previous rocky films in B&W