Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger (Official HD Video)
Inspiration Behind Eye of the Tiger:
Eye of the Tiger was written for Rocky II, featuring the rematch between Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa. Slyvester Stallone worked with Survivor to ensure that the lyrics fit into the theme’s resilience and triumph. The concept of developing the Eye of the Tiger became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980’s as athletics went into strict training to obtain this mental edge.
Biblical Application:
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come, 1 Timothy 4:7-8.
Exegesis of Eye of the Tiger:
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
In Rocky I, Rocky went the distance but lost the judge’s decision to Apollo. Once the date for a rematch was set, Rocky went into strict training to prepare for this title bout.
So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
Once you reach a certain level in sports, don’t let glory steal your passion. Stay hungry, don’t settle for anything less and develop a mental toughness to keep your dreams alive.
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger
Trainers are looking to give their boxer the mental edge, void of any fear. This is where athletics are tested to push their body to the limits. The goal is to out prepare your opponent and acquire the Eye of the Tiger, waiting to pounce on your opponent at the moment they show signs of weakness.
Face to face, out on the heat
Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry
They stack the odds still we take to the street
For the kill, with the skill to survive
This stanza speaks to the competitive nature, drive and hunger that elite athletes possess.
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger
This chorus highlights the mindset that Rocky adopted going into this title fight. The Eye of the Tiger is associated with a refusal to lose, despite what the odds may be.
Risin’ up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive
Rocky is trying to repeat his incredible feat in Rocky I, but this time wanting to end this bout walking home with the title belt.
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger
The Eye of the Tiger was adopted by some sports psychologists, wanting their client to develop this edge, a mental toughness unlike any other competitive.
The eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger
The Eye of the Tiger is the goal, a mindset that will often become the deciding factor between winning and losing.
Final Thoughts:
I ran cross-country and swam in high school. Before any race or swimming event, I would be listening to my Walkman, getting pumped up before this competition. While I never reached my full potential due to a major ankle reconstruction surgery, music pushed me to reach new heights Listening to Eye of the Tiger lead me to reach personal records running and swimming. This is the impact that Eye of the Tiger had on my life.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 