This song is from Disney’s 1997 animated feature film Hercules. It was written by Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel. It is the only song in the film that made the final cut. American singer Michael Bolton released a pop version which was generally considered to be a much better production than the film soundtrack. In 1998 it was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, but lost out both times to the song My Heart Will Go On from the film Titanic.

The song expresses the young Hercules’ increasing difficulty in fitting in with his peers. He prays to the gods to help him find where he truly belongs. He is told that he must become true hero in order to be able to join his father Zeus on Mount Olympus. Go the Distance is seen as a motivational song to inspire greater achievement.

Here it is sung by Charlie Macdonald.