The Measure of a Man Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Meteddica 

Cover art for The Measure of a Man lyrics by Elton John

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.