No Hero
♫The Offspring [1993 - Ignition] Lyrics

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Once you said you'd stick to it until the end
I guess you lied, they call it suicide
Now you're gone
What was so wrong that you couldn't find a way to carry on?
Second guess
Did I do my best
There was a friend I had

[Chorus]
Johnny was a weirdo
So what did you expect?
I ain't no fucking hero
I'm just trying to survive myself

I should have known you went through it alone
I wonder why did you even try?
You could have come to me
I would have helped you see
You could have found a way to carry on
Second guess
Did I do my best
There was a friend I had...

[Chorus]

'Johnny's strange behavior was a tip-off,' they say
But I ain't no fucking savior
I'm just living day by day

Little things, little lives hanging 'til the end
I say it doesn't really mean nothing
Telling truth, telling lies
I used to have a friend
I say it don't really mean nothing
And I can't let this feeling go

Let this feeling go
Let this feeling go

Overall Meaning

The Offspring's song "No Hero" is a reflection on the regret and guilt felt by the singer after the suicide of a friend. The verses express the confusion and pain felt by the singer as he tries to understand why his friend couldn't "find a way to carry on." The chorus highlights the fact that neither the singer nor his friend were heroes, but rather just trying to survive in their own lives. The line "Johnny was a weirdo, so what did you expect?" implies that outsiders often judge those who are different and overlook their struggles.

The lyrics are also a commentary on mental health and the lack of support available for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. The singer mentions that his friend could have come to him for help, but didn't. This suggests that there may be a stigma around mental health and seeking help, which can prevent people from getting the support they need. The last line, "I can't let this feeling go," demonstrates the lasting impact of losing someone to suicide and the importance of remembering them and the need for greater understanding and awareness around mental health.

Line by Line Meaning

Once you said you'd stick to it until the end
You promised to see something through till the end

I guess you lied, they call it suicide
You ended your own life, breaking the promise and the act is classified as a suicide

Now you're gone
You have passed away

What was so wrong that you couldn't find a way to carry on?
What was the reason that led you to take your own life, leaving no way to continue living?

Second guess
Question oneself

Did I do my best
Did I put all the effort I could?

There was a friend I had
You had a friend before you took your own life

Johnny was a weirdo
People referred to Johnny as an odd individual

So what did you expect?
What could be expected of him then?

I ain't no fucking hero
I'm not a hero, nor do I intend to be

I'm just trying to survive myself
I'm merely trying to ensure my own survival

I should have known you went through it alone
You dealt with the problem all by yourself, and I should have realized that

I wonder why did you even try?
What makes me wonder is why you even attempted it?

You could have come to me
You had the option to approach me

I would have helped you see
I would have assisted you in understanding things better

You could have found a way to carry on
You could have discovered a method to continue with your life