Go The Distance

Album

Hércules

Label

Columbia Records

Genre

Stage & Screen

Media Type

AC

Duration

4:42

Composer(s)

Alan Menken; David Zippel

Entered Chart

Jun 7, 1997

Peak Date

Jul 12, 1997

Released

May 20, 1997

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Columbia 78554

"Go The Distance" is the big song from the 1997 Disney movie Hercules, sung by the lead character as he's trying to figure out why he doesn't fit in - after all, he has super-human strength. He gets his answer when his parents explain that they didn't birth him: They found him and raised him as their own. When they discovered him, he had the symbol of the gods around his neck. As he sets out on his journey, Hercules is determined to "go the distance" to find out who he really is: the son of Zeus. Typical of Disney movies, the version first heard in the film is sung by an actor, in this case Roger Bart, who is the singing voice of Hercules. The version that plays in the end credits and was released as a single is by a brand-name singer, in this case Michael Bolton. The song was a solid hit, going to #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. It appears on both the Hercules soundtrack and on Bolton's album All That Matters. "Go The Distance" was written by Alan Menken and David Zippel. Menken is a Disney music stalwart who had written "Beauty And The Beast" and "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)." Zippel was new to Disney but had experience writing for Broadway productions. According to Zippel, it was over three years between when they first started working on the song and when it finally made it to the screen. Just as Disney has a formula for their films, they also make sure the lead song from each movie is broad enough to work on its own so it has hit potential. That's the case here, as the song relates to Hercules' journey, but is universal in theme, appealing to anyone trying to find their place in the world. There's nothing too specific in the lyric. This was nominated for the Best Song Oscar, but lost to the Titanic powerhouse "My Heart Will Go On." Michael Bolton performed it as the ceremony. Bolton's hit-making days were on the wane when he released this song. It was his last showing on the Hot 100 until 2011, when he teamed with The Lonely Island for "Jack Sparrow." Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish version of the song ("No Importa la Distancia") for the Spanish-language version of Hercules. His version appears on his 1998 album Vuelve.

Down an unknown road to embrace my fate
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you
And a thousand years would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime but somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back, I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track, no I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope, 'til I go the distance
And my journey is complete, oh yeah

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart, oh


Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its harms
I don't care how far, I can go the distance
'Til I find my hero's welcome waiting in your arms

I will search the world, I will face its harms
'Til I find my hero's welcome waiting in your arms