In many of her songs, she incorporates humor into a narrative, some tracks ultimately becoming catchy anecdotes. Generally, her songs are unconventionally folk-like, using horn arrangements not found in tracks recorded by mainstream artists. Sobule also uses both satire and experience to sing about sexuality, depression, war, abandonment, and creed.
Heroes
Jill Sobule Lyrics
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Why do they always bring me down
Why are all our heroes so imperfect
The statue in the park has lost his crown
William Faulkner drunk and depressed
Dorothy Parker mean, drunk and depressed
And that guy in Seven Years in Tibet turned out to be a nazi
The Old Testament God can be so petty
Paul McCartney jealous of John, even more so now that he's gone
Dylan was so mean to Donovan in that movie
Pablo Picasso cruel to his wives
My favorite poets took their own lives
Orson Welles peaked at 25, ballooned before our eyes
And he sold bad wine
Why are all our heroes so imperfect
Why do they always bring me down
Heard Babe Ruth was full of malice
Lewis Carroll I'm sure did Alice
Plato in the cave with those very young boys
T.S. Eliot hated Jews, FDR didn't save the Jews
All the French joined the resistance after the war
Raymond Chandler drunk and depressed
Tennessee Williams drunk and depressed
I think I'll just get drunk and depressed.
Jill Sobule's song "Heroes" is a commentary on the flawed nature of the cultural figures we idealize as heroes. The lyrics question why we continue to elevate individuals who are not without their faults, some of them being drunk, mean, cruel, or oppressive. The chorus expresses the sentiment of disappointment towards these flawed heroes, suggesting that they always bring us down. Even the statue in the park, a representation of a hero, has lost its crown, perhaps suggesting that even the physical representations of our heroes are not perfect.
Throughout the song, Sobule references a number of famous individuals who we might call heroes, but whose imperfections are brought to our attention. William Faulkner and Dorothy Parker, both writers who are often lauded for their literary achievements, are mentioned as being drunk and depressed. The lead character of the movie Seven Years in Tibet is revealed to have been a Nazi. The founding fathers of the United States are recognized as slave owners, and the explorers who discovered the Americas are accused of slaughtering the natives. There are even other cultural icons like celebrities and poets, who took their own lives, showed envy, cruelty towards women, and other concerning behaviors. The chorus repeats the question, why are all our heroes so imperfect?
Sobule's song is a thoughtful commentary on the nature of hero worship and the disappointment that comes when the flaws of our heroes are revealed. It forces the listener to question why we hold individuals up to impossible standards and to consider what our own personal values are when choosing who we celebrate as heroes.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are all our heroes so imperfect
The people we admire are often flawed
Why do they always bring me down
Their imperfections can be disappointing
The statue in the park has lost his crown
Even statues of our heroes may have lost their luster
William Faulkner drunk and depressed
Famous writer William Faulkner had issues with alcohol and mental health
Dorothy Parker mean, drunk and depressed
Author Dorothy Parker struggled with alcoholism and depression and was known for her sharp tongue
And that guy in Seven Years in Tibet turned out to be a nazi
The real-life person who the movie was based on was discovered to have been a member of the Nazi party
The founding fathers all had slaves, the explorers slaughtered the braves, The Old Testament God can be so petty
Even the people we deem as heroes can have questionable actions and beliefs
Paul McCartney jealous of John, even more so now that he's gone
Even among the Beatles, there was jealousy and rivalry
Dylan was so mean to Donovan in that movie
Folk singer Bob Dylan was portrayed as being unkind to fellow musician Donovan in a documentary
Pablo Picasso cruel to his wives
Famous artist Pablo Picasso was known for his mistreatment of the women in his life
My favorite poets took their own lives
Some of the poet's favorite writers struggled so much that they decided to end their own lives
Orson Welles peaked at 25, ballooned before our eyes, And he sold bad wine
Actor and filmmaker Orson Welles had a meteoric rise, but his career and personal life eventually took a nosedive
Heard Babe Ruth was full of malice
Even sports legends like Babe Ruth may have had darker sides
Lewis Carroll I'm sure did Alice
The relationship between author Lewis Carroll and Alice, the inspiration for his famous work, has aroused suspicion
Plato in the cave with those very young boys
Greek philosopher Plato's moral character has been called into question over some of his activities
T.S. Eliot hated Jews, FDR didn't save the Jews, All the French joined the resistance after the war
Even people who did great things can have shortcomings, and some who failed in certain areas may still have redeeming qualities
Raymond Chandler drunk and depressed, Tennessee Williams drunk and depressed
Even acclaimed writers like Raymond Chandler and Tennessee Williams struggled with addiction and mental illness
I think I'll just get drunk and depressed.
The realization of our heroes' imperfections can be disheartening and lead to negative feelings
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JILL SOBULE, ROBIN EATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind