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"Go the Distance" is the key song from Disney's 1997 animated feature film Hercules. It was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel and originally recorded by American actor Roger Bart in his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton recorded a pop version of the song for the film's end credits. In the Spanish version, the song is performed by Hercules voicer Ricky Martin, in both the movie and the credits; this version is included on Martin's album Vuelve. Both the song and its reprise featured in a stage production of Hercules performed upon the Disney Wonder during 2007-2008.

Summary

The song is sung by young Hercules about how his peers and cityfolk treat him in his teenage years. It also serves as Hercules's prayer to the gods, asking them to help him find where he is supposed to belong. His prayers are soon answered as he learns that he is the long-lost son of Zeus, king of the gods. He is also told that he must become a true hero on Earth if he wants to restore his godhood and rejoin the gods on Mount Olympus. The song is then reprised to where Hercules leaves the temple with Pegasus to go on a quest to become a hero and it shows that he is willing to "go the distance" to prove himself. Instrumental versions of "Go the Distance" can be heard at points afterwards in the film, including Hercules saving two boys (Pain and Panic in disguise) from under a boulder in front of a crowd of Thebans gathered in a gorge.

Lyrics

Hercules: I have often dreamed
Of a far-off place
Where a great, warm welcome will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I will find my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know every mile will be worth my while
I would go most anywhere to feel like I belong

(instrumental break)

I am on my way
I can go the distance
I don't care how far
Somehow I'll be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
I would go most anywhere to find where I belong

I will beat the odds
I can go the distance
I will face the world,
Fearless, proud and strong
I can please the gods
I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome,
Right where I belong!

I have often dreamed
Or a far-off place
Where a hero's welcome,
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer,
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying,
this is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday,
I can go the distance
I will find my way,
if I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance,
I'll be right where I belong

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
Till I go the distance,
and my journey is complete

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

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
Till I find my hero's welcome,
waiting in your arms

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

Awards and chart placings

The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Both awards, however, went to "My Heart Will Go On", a song from Titanic. "Go the Distance" peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went to #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, Bolton's ninth song to top this chart.

Music video

The music video for Bolton's version was directed by Dani Jacobs. It was filmed in New York, and features Bolton performing the song, intercut with scenes from Hercules.

Shooting Star

Go the Distance was one of two songs written for the film, the second being Shooting Star, performed by Boyzone, which failed to make the final cut. However, "Shooting Star" is included on the Hercules soundtrack CD. The score for the original version of the song can be found in the Alan Menken Songbook.

Ricky Martin version

Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish-language version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules soundtrack, called "No Importa la Distancia" (English: "No Matter the Distance"). It was released as a single on September 15, 1997. Later, it was included on Martin's 1998 album Vuelve. A music video was also released. The song reached number ten on the Latin Pop Songs in the United States.

Formats and track listings

European CD maxi-single

  1. "No Importa la Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:51
  2. "Já Não Há Distancia" performed by Ricky Martin – 4:45
  3. "Go the Distance" (Cast Version) performed by Roger Bart – 3:13

Charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
US Billboard Latin Pop Songs 10

Other notable covers

  • The most notable cover was Ricky Martin's "No Importa La Distancia" in the Spanish version of the film.
  • K-Ci & JoJo performs the song on DisneyMania 4.
  • Lucas Grabeel performs the song on DisneyMania 5.
  • Tim Driesen performed the song in a stage production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
  • Tarkan in the Turkish language version of the film.
  • Dionysis Schinas in the Greek language version of the film.
  • Alex Baroni in the Italian language version of the film.
  • Michael Bolton performed the pop-release of the song and features on the movie's soundtrack as well as over the title credits.
  • Fumiya Fujii performed this theme song in the Japanese language version of the film. A single was released on July 18, 1997.
  • Mannheim Steamroller covered the song on their 1999 album, Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse.
  • Norm Lewis, Broadway actor and singer, covered the song on his 2008 debut solo album This Is the Life.
  • Jed Madela performed the song in the "Christmas With The Voice" concert during December 2, 2007.
  • The Maccabeats, the all-male a cappella group of Yeshiva University recorded an a cappella version of the song on their 2010 album, Voices From The Heights.
  • Vocal Spectrum covered this song on their 2008 recording, Vocal Spectrum II.
  • Darren Criss
  • On 2012 album Disney – Koe no Oujisama, which features various seiyus covering Disney songs, this song was covered by Tomokazu Seki
  • David Bustamante in the concert/CD "Operación Triunfo canta a Disney" ("Operación Triunfo sings to Disney")
  • Matthew Morrison performs the song on his 2020 album, Disney Dreamin' with Matthew Morrison.

Disney Parks

The song appears instrumentally in Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams and was to appear in World of Color as part of a Hercules segment alongside a newly recorded version of "A Whole New World" before both tracks were replaced with the film versions of "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" for a greater Aladdin sequence. A rendition of the song also appears in Happily Ever After, as well as in Wondrous Journeys as part of a mashup with ”Belle (song)”, ”How Far I'll Go”, and ”Out There”.

Video

External links

v - e - d
Hercules logo
Media
Films: Hercules (video/soundtrack) • Hercules: Zero to HeroHercules (live-action film)

Shows: TV seriesHouse of MouseChibi Tiny Tales
Video games: Hercules Action GameAnimated Storybook: HerculesHades ChallengeKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts Birth by SleepKingdom Hearts coded Kingdom Hearts χ Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χKingdom Hearts IIIDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
Disney Animation BuildingIt's a Small WorldSorcerers of the Magic KingdomHercules in the Underworld

Entertainment: Animazment: The MusicalDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDisney's WishesFantasmic!Hercules: The Muse-icalMickey's Gift of DreamsOnce Upon a MouseVillains Tonight!
Parades: Disney Stars and Motor Cars ParadeHercules Victory ParadeThe Hercules Electrical ParadeThe Wonderful World of Disney Parade
Fireworks: Happily Ever AfterHarmoniousMomentousWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationWondrous Journeys
Summer: Stitch and Friends Summer Surprise
Halloween: Disney's Not So Spooky SpectacularDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularHouse of De Vil-lainsMaze of Madness: The Nightmare Experiment ContinuesMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeRock on With The Disney VillainsScream and Shout Halloween ParadeThe Villains WorldVillains Night Out!World of Color: Villainous!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Characters
Original: HerculesHadesPegasusPhiloctetesMegaraPain and PanicFatesMusesZeusHeraHermesHephaestusAthenaAresPoseidonAphroditeArtemisApolloOlympian GodsThebansDionysusTitansCerberusHydraMinotaurSthenoNemean LionNessusNymphsAmphitryon and AlcmeneHarpiesCetusCaledonian BoarCharonBob the NarratorGriffinsCupidDemeter

TV Series: ChipaclesHestiaIcarusCassandraAdonisHelen of TroyTempestCirceTritonGalateaPandoraMedusaEchidnaTyphonEchidna's ChildrenFuriesHecateCanis and LupusNemesisMr. ParenthesesHomerFear and TerrorIbidAntaeusPrometheusDaedelusMorpheusKronosGaiaAmphitriteAchillesTheseusOrionNestor & MeleagerKing MidasMelampusLavinaAndromedaSyrinxMr. GriffTiviusOrthosQueen HippolyteMomalusArachneCaucasian EagleSphinx MartindaleGegeneisOtus

Episodes
Season One: "Hercules and the Apollo Mission" • "Hercules and the King of Thessaly" • "Hercules and the Secret Weapon" • "Hercules and the Assassin" • "Hercules and the Big Kiss" • "Hercules and the River Styx" • "Hercules and the Techno Greeks" • "Hercules and the World's First Doctor" • "Hercules and the Pool Party" • "Hercules and the Prince of Thrace" • "Hercules and the Tapestry of Fate" • "Hercules and the Living Legend" • "Hercules and the Return of Typhon" • "Hercules and the Owl of Athena" • "Hercules and the Girdle of Hippolyte" • "Hercules and the Bacchanal" • "Hercules and the Underworld Takeover" • "Hercules and the Comedy of Arrows" • "Hercules and the Hostage Crisis" • "Hercules and the Disappearing Heroes" • "Hercules and the Argonauts" • "Hercules and the Drama Festival" • "Hercules and the Phil Factor" • "Hercules and the All Nighter" • "Hercules and the Song of Circe" • "Hercules and the Trojan War" • "Hercules and the Dream Date" • "Hercules and the Big Games" • "Hercules and the Jilt Trip" • "Hercules and the Falling Stars" • "Hercules and the Golden Touch" • "Hercules and the Minotaur" • "Hercules and the Son of Poseidon" • "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods" • "Hercules and the Griffin" • "Hercules and the King For a Day" • "Hercules and the Pegasus Incident" • "Hercules and the Big Sink" • "Hercules and the Big Lie" • "Hercules and the Prom" • "Hercules and the Spartan Experience" • "Hercules and the Complex Electra" • "Hercules and the Long Nightmare" • "Hercules and the Arabian Night" • "Hercules and the Aetolian Amphora" • "Hercules and the Romans" • "Hercules and the Yearbook" • "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" • "Hercules and the Grim Avenger" • "Hercules and the Spring of Canathus" • "Hercules and the Big Show" • "Hercules and the Tiff on Olympus"

Season Two: "Hercules and the First Day of School"" • "Hercules and the Visit from Zeus" • "Hercules and the Driving Test" • "Hercules and the Parent's Weekend" • "Hercules and the Prometheus Affair" • "Hercules and the Hero of Athens" • "Hercules and the Caledonian Boar" • "Hercules and the Epic Adventure" • "Hercules and the Poseidon's Cup Adventure" • "Hercules and the Muse of Dance" • "Hercules and the Kids" • "Hercules and the Gorgon" • "Hercules and the Green-Eyed Monster"

Songs
Original: The Gospel TruthGo the DistanceOne Last HopeZero to HeroI Won't Say (I'm in Love)A Star is BornShooting StarI Can't Believe My Heart

TV series songs: Send My Boy to SchoolMy TownPericles of AthensPromethean DittyThe AgoraThe BacchanalThe Man That I LovePucker Up or Let Him SnoozeThat's How the Story GoesAphrodesia DanceLove Is In The AirSince the Light Went AwayAin't Life a BeachCan-Do KingKronos StoneWhat's a Mother to Do?Sreamin' Grecian Teenage BluesLethe Water on the Brain!One Good ManYou're My Hero

Locations
Ancient GreeceMount OlympusUnderworldPhil's IslandThebesPrometheus AcademyAtlantis City
Objects
Skull PacifierArmageddon BowLightning BoltsMortal PotionTrident
Miscellaneous
Disney Sing Along Songs: From HerculesMusical
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