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Great White Hope Lyrics
When I was a young man, I had to kick and scratch and claw
Now it's like top gun in the Old West, everybody wants me to draw
If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought
But if someone had told me to give it up, it's a line that I wouldn't have bought
Look at me
I'm the great white hope
Can't you see
I'm up against the ropes
Don't you know
It's so hard to cope
When you feel
Like the great white hope
Now you've paid your money you're sitting in your ringside seat
And I know that some of you out there, might wanna see the champ get beat
If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought
But real life sure isn't like school, there's some lessons that just can't be taught
Look at me
I'm the great white hope
Can't you see
I'm up against the ropes
Don't you know
It's so hard to cope
When you feel
Like the great white hope
Now it's like top gun in the Old West, everybody wants me to draw
If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought
But if someone had told me to give it up, it's a line that I wouldn't have bought
I'm the great white hope
Can't you see
I'm up against the ropes
Don't you know
It's so hard to cope
When you feel
Like the great white hope
And I know that some of you out there, might wanna see the champ get beat
If I had known it would be like this I might have given it a second thought
But real life sure isn't like school, there's some lessons that just can't be taught
I'm the great white hope
Can't you see
I'm up against the ropes
Don't you know
It's so hard to cope
When you feel
Like the great white hope
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
its about boxing.
Well, first of all, kevin left out some of the lyrics. At the beginning of the song, you hear someone shouting "Ladies and gentelemen! Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please! In this corner, wearing white, from the city of the big shoulders (not entirely sure about that part), the number one contender,in a ten round exhibition for your entertainment. So when the bell sounds, prepare yourselves for the main event"
As to the meaning, you could say it's about boxing, Oberheim345, but i think it goes deeper than that. It's about living out your dreams, despite what everyone else tries to tell you, and not listening to the people who want you to fail.
"The city of the big shoulders" is Chicago, a city known for heavy work, and brawling.