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Holding Out for a Hero
Bonnie Tyler Lyrics


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Where have all the good men gone and where are all the Gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight, in my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet, yeah

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear there is someone, somewhere watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood
(Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my blood)
(Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my, oh, oh)

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero

Overall Meaning

The song "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler is about a woman who is tired of waiting for the perfect man to come into her life. She wonders where all the good men have gone and where the heroes are. She dreams of someone who is strong, fast, fresh from the fight, and larger than life. She is looking for someone who will sweep her off her feet, someone who is like a superhero or a mythical figure.


The lyrics suggest that the woman has been waiting for a long time for this perfect man to come into her life. She is getting restless and needs him to come soon. She feels that he is somewhere out there, watching her, and waiting for the right moment to come into her life. Through the imagery of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain, the lyrics convey her sense of urgency and the intensity of her desire for the right man.


Overall, the song is a powerful and emotional plea for a hero to come into the woman's life and bring her happiness and fulfillment. It speaks to the universal desire in all of us for someone to come along who is strong, brave, and larger than life, and who can help us overcome the challenges that life throws our way.


Line by Line Meaning

Where have all the good men gone
Looking for genuine men


And where are all the Gods?
Where are the heroes who will protect us like gods?


Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
Where is a hero tough enough to face difficult situations?


Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
A hero who rescues with energy and speed


Late at night, I toss and I turn And I dream of what I need
When the world gets dark, I keep dreaming of what kind of hero I need.


I need a hero
I want a hero


I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
I will wait for a hero to come at any cost


He's gotta be strong
The hero has to be physically and emotionally strong.


And he's gotta be fast
He has to act quickly for me.


And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
He has to be someone who's used to fighting and emerged victorious.


I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
I don't want to give up hoping for the hero I need.


He's gotta be sure
The hero has to be confident and sure of his actions.


And it's gotta be soon
He has to appear as soon as possible.


And he's gotta be larger than life
He should be a hero with extraordinary powers who can protect me.


Somewhere after midnight In my wildest fantasy
In my imagination in the middle of the night.


Somewhere just beyond my reach There's someone reaching back for me
I feel like someone is waiting for me just beyond my reach.


Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet
He needs to be incredibly strong and powerful to attract me.


Up where the mountains meet the heavens above Out where the lightning splits the sea
A place where God can only reach.


I could swear there is someone, somewhere Watching me
I believe there is a hero who always has an eye on me.


Through the wind and the chill and the rain And the storm and the flood
Through all the adversities I face,


And I dream of what I need
I keep dreaming of the hero I desire.


I need a hero
I am in desperate need of a hero.


Woo, woo, woo, woo Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Musical chorus




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Dean Pitchford, James Richard Steinman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Philip Kassabian


on Straight From The Heart

Yet another excellent Bonnie Tyler song.

Philip Kassabian


on Holding Out for a Hero

A great and fantastic song by Bonnie Tyler.

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