If you had to pinpoint when all this started, you could look back to when Ann was 12, growing up in a suburb of Minneapolis. She borrowed her brother's guitar (the one he bought with the $40 their grandmother had given him to buy a suit) and taught herself to play. The die was cast. Since then, there have been 15 albums, countless concerts, festival dates at world-renowned venues such as Bumbershoot and the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and television and radio appearances, including Good Morning America, A Prairie Home Companion, and Minnesota Public Radio's Morning Show, where she occasionally fills in as co-host.
She has been honored with enough awards to fill a couple of walls and a bunch of shelf space. These accolades from the likes of Billboard magazine, the National Association of Independent Recording Distributors, the Minnesota Music Academy, and the Girl Scouts reflect a satisfying career by anyone's measure—made even more so since Ann combines her artistry with community involvement. She donates about 25% of her time to the support of nonprofit groups that primarily benefit women and children.
It all boils down to this: Ann loves what she does. And the people who hear her music love what she does. Ann Reed — with the rich alto, the smooth guitar licks, the great songs, the sly wit — is having the time of her life.
Heroes
Ann Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your lifetime, in what you've been through
How'd you keep your head up and hold your pride
In an insane world how'd you keep on tryin'
One life can tell the tale
That if you make the effort, you can not fail
By your life you tell me it can be done
By your life's the courage to carry on
(chorus:)
Heroes
Appear like a friend
To clear a path or light the flame
As time goes by you find you depend
On your heroes to show you the way
What can I learn from you
That I must do the thing I think I can not do
That you do what's right by your heart and soul
It's the imperfections that make us whole
One life can tell the tale
And if you make the effort you can not fail
By your life you tell me it can be done
By your life's the courage to carry on
(chorus)
Sojourner Truth, Eleanor Roosevelt
Katherine Hepburn, Sally Ride
Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman
Annie Sullivan, Gertrude Stein
Coretta Scott King, Amelia Earhart
Lillian Hellman, Eartha Kitt
Sacajewea, Ella Fitzgerald
Golda Meir, Dorothy Dix
Louisa May Alcott, Billie Jean King
Emily Dickinson, Lucy Stone
Margaret Sanger, Clara Barton
Billie Holiday, Juliette Low
Elizabeth Blackwell, Rosa Parks
Lena Horne, Beverly Sills
Barbara Jordan, Helen Keller
Indira Gandhi, Agens DeMille
Corazon Aquino, Gloria Steinem
Rachel Carson, Joan of Arc
Babe Zaharias, Marlene Deitrich
Anne Frank, Simone de Beauvoir
The song "Heroes" by Ann Reed is an ode to the inspirational figures throughout history who have shown courage and determination in the face of adversity. Reed is curious about what she can learn from these extraordinary individuals, who have overcome incredible obstacles and left a lasting impact on the world. She admires their ability to hold their heads up and maintain their pride, even in an insane world. Reed believes that by following the examples set by these heroes, anyone can find the courage to carry on.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of heroes in our lives, as they appear as friends who can clear a path or light the flame to guide us in the right direction. Reed sees these figures as role models who can inspire us to be our best selves, and to do the things that we thought we couldn't do. She celebrates their imperfections as well, recognizing that it is these flaws that make us whole.
The verses of the song list a series of historical figures from various fields, including politics, activism, art, and literature. These heroes include Susan B. Anthony, Anne Frank, Amelia Earhart, and many others who have blazed trails and defied expectations. By highlighting the stories of these individuals, Reed hopes to show that anyone can be a hero, and that we can all learn something from their lives and legacies.
Overall, "Heroes" is a song about the power of resilience, determination, and hope, and how these qualities can be embodied by the inspirational figures of the past and present.
Line by Line Meaning
What can I learn from you
There are important things to learn from others
In your lifetime, in what you've been through
Life experiences have valuable lessons that one can learn from
How'd you keep your head up and hold your pride
How did you stay strong and confident in difficult situations
In an insane world how'd you keep on tryin'
What motivates you to keep going despite the madness around you
One life can tell the tale
Each person's life story is unique and valuable
That if you make the effort, you can not fail
With effort comes the potential for success
By your life you tell me it can be done
You inspire others through the way you live your life
By your life's the courage to carry on
Your life story can give others the courage to persevere
Heroes
Those who inspire and lead the way
Appear like a friend
They come to our aid like a trusted friend
To clear a path or light the flame
They help us find our way or inspire us to take action
As time goes by you find you depend
We come to rely on these figures as we grow
On your heroes to show you the way
They guide us and give us direction
That I must do the thing I think I can not do
We should push ourselves to achieve what we think is impossible
That you do what's right by your heart and soul
True heroes act on their values and beliefs
It's the imperfections that make us whole
Our flaws and quirks make us unique and complete
Sojourner Truth, Eleanor Roosevelt
Women who challenged the status quo and fought for equality
Katherine Hepburn, Sally Ride
Groundbreaking women who excelled in fields dominated by men
Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman
Advocates for civil rights and activists against discrimination
Annie Sullivan, Gertrude Stein
Women who broke barriers in education and literature
Coretta Scott King, Amelia Earhart
Pioneers who fought for justice and broke new ground in aviation
Lillian Hellman, Eartha Kitt
Women who challenged gender roles and spoke out against injustice
Sacajewea, Ella Fitzgerald
Trailblazers who excelled in male-dominated fields and explored new territory
Golda Meir, Dorothy Dix
Leaders who charted new paths and dedicated their lives to service
Louisa May Alcott, Billie Jean King
Women who overcame obstacles to achieve success in literature and sports
Emily Dickinson, Lucy Stone
Champions of female education and advocates for women's rights
Margaret Sanger, Clara Barton
Trailblazers in healthcare and women's reproductive rights
Billie Holiday, Juliette Low
Women who broke barriers in music and devoted their lives to service
Elizabeth Blackwell, Rosa Parks
Medical pioneers and civil rights icons
Lena Horne, Beverly Sills
Women who rose to fame in the entertainment industry and challenged racial barriers
Barbara Jordan, Helen Keller
Trailblazers in politics and advocates for disability rights
Indira Gandhi, Agens DeMille
Women who shattered gender barriers and made their mark in politics and dance
Corazon Aquino, Gloria Steinem
Champions of democracy and women's rights
Rachel Carson, Joan of Arc
Women who fought for the environment and religious freedom
Babe Zaharias, Marlene Deitrich
Women who excelled in athletics and entertainment, and challenged gender norms
Anne Frank, Simone de Beauvoir
Writers who left a lasting impact on literature and philosophy
Contributed by Bentley F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sherrilundberg
She is truly amazing. I love this song and has seen her in concert many times.
325spring
I have learned so much from you Ann Reed... You are a fountain of wisdom, inspiration and encouragement ! Thank You !!!
Patti Rogness
I've seen Ann sing this many times but it's wonderful to be able to watch it here. Thanks for sharing it!
Debi Cline
I love this song! I put music on a USB for my vehicle, set it to random but when this song plays I set it to repeat about 10 times!
Benjamin Riggs
This was such an amazing concert.
Terri Menke
A one in a million voice. Thank you.
Nancy Reuter
I have worked at a camp for children with learning disabilities for over 25 years and this song has become somewhat of an anthem. The lines, "What can I learn from you, that I must do the thing I think that I cannot do", fills the campers, counselors, and me with inspiration every single year. I sang it to my children when they were babies, and still do as they grow into young adults. I just found this on youtube when my nephew asked me to give him a title of a song that means the most to me and that he could learn more about me from. This is the first song that came to mind.
Ann Reed
Nancy Reuter ... thank you so much for telling me this. Blessings to you and your past, present and future campers!
Maria Cristiana de Carvalho Pfeifer
Voice and guitar..... perfect... amazing.... sweet in my ears.....
janiepug
It has been several years since I have heard the song Heros written and performed by Ann Reed. With the passing of hero Sally Ride I thought of this song. The song is a fitting tribute for Ms Ride and other women who have lived boldly and affected change.