One Shining Moment by David Barrett (1986)

The ball is tipped
and there you are
you’re running for your life
you’re a shooting star
And all the years
no one knows
just how hard you worked
but now it shows…
(in) ONE SHINING MOMENT, IT’S ALL ON THE LINE
ONE SHINING MOMENT, THERE FROZEN IN TIME

But time is short
and the road is long
in the blinking of an eye
ah that moment’s gone
And when it’s done
win or lose
you always did your best
cuz inside you knew…
(that) ONE SHINING MOMENT, YOU REACHED DEEP INSIDE
ONE SHINING MOMENT, YOU KNEW YOU WERE ALIVE

Feel the beat of your heart
feel the wind in your face
it’s more than a contest
it’s more than a race…

And when it’s done
win or lose
you always did your best
cuz inside you knew…
(that) ONE SHINING MOMENT, YOU REACHED FOR THE SKY
ONE SHINING MOMENT, YOU KNEW
ONE SHINING MOMENT, YOU WERE WILLING TO TRY
ONE SHINING MOMENT….

Source: davidbarrett.com

Analysis

I absolutely love the lyrics of this song. It was originally written about March Madness--the college basketball championships, held every year in March. The song can be used to describe any athlete who has ever competed in a big moment. For me, when I hear this song, it reminds me of wrestling in the state championships and playing soccer in district/regional championships. It reminds me of working so hard to get there, and it being over just like that. This is the case of any sport as the season comes to a close—one either wins it all or tries his/her best only to lose. Thus, the theme is to always try your hardest so that afterwards, win or lose, you can say you did your best. 

The major literary technique used in this song is imagery, The author uses imagery to make the listener feel as if he is really there. For example, "Feel the beat of your heart/ feel the wind in your face" is used to describe someone running. However, as an athlete, it quickly brings you back to the moment in time where you were there. The song uses repetition to take the listener to that moment, where everything was on the line. The most important moment in all of sports. The moment where you "win or lose". Additionally, metaphors, like calling the listener a shooting star, are used to really pull the you into the story. Finally, the theme of the song is a representation of the theme of sports. One works as hard as he can, for a very long time, to experience one moment. This one moment will test every bit of work that you have ever put in and define you as an athlete. In the end, you will either win or lose.