In the past, band members dressed in outlandish makeup and costumes, and engaged in intentionally shocking behavior both onstage and off. Their lyrics often received criticism for their anti-religious sentiment and references to sex, violence and drugs, while their live performances were frequently called offensive and obscene. On several occasions, protests and petitions led to the group being blocked from performing, with at least three US states passing legislation banning the group from performing at state-owned venues. They released a number of platinum-selling albums, including Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998). These albums, along with their highly stylized music videos and worldwide touring, brought public recognition to Marilyn Manson. In 1999, news media, infamously, falsely blamed the band for influencing the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.
As this controversy began to wane throughout the 2000s, so did the band's mainstream popularity. Despite this, Jon Wiederhorn of MTV, in June 2003, referred to Marilyn Manson as "the only true artist today". Marilyn Manson is widely regarded as being one of the most iconic and controversial figures in rock music, with the band and its lead singer influencing numerous other groups and musicians, both in metal-associated acts and also in wider popular culture. VH1 ranked Marilyn Manson as the seventy-eighth best rock band on their 100 Great Artists of Hard Rock. They were inducted into the Kerrang! Hall of Fame in 2000, and have been nominated for four Grammy Awards. In the U.S., the band has seen ten of its releases debut in the top ten, including two number-one albums. Marilyn Manson have sold in excess of 50 million records worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson_(band)
Studio albums
Portrait of an American Family (1994)
Antichrist Superstar (1996)
Mechanical Animals (1998)
Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000)
The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003)
Eat Me, Drink Me (2007)
The High End of Low (2009)
Born Villain (2012)
The Pale Emperor (2015)
Heaven Upside Down (2017)
We Are Chaos (2020)
Working Class Hero
Marilyn Manson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
The song "Working Class Hero" by Marilyn Manson is a cover of the original song by John Lennon. The lyrics speak about the struggles of being a working-class hero and the societal pressures that come with it. Throughout the song, Manson talks about how the system is rigged against people born into lower classes, how they are made to feel small from the start and are hurt at home and school, and how they are doped with religion, sex, and TV to keep them in their place. The song also touches upon the idea of the American Dream, where everyone believes they can make it to the top, but in reality, those on top expect people to do whatever it takes to get there, including smiling as they kill.
The song speaks to the frustration of the working class and how the idea of being a hero is just another unreachable fantasy. Manson's interpretation of the song adds a weight to the lyrics, making them sound more personal and desperate. It's a song that speaks to those who have been given a hand of cards that they can never play, and the frustration that comes with that.
Line by Line Meaning
As soon as you're born they make you feel small
Right from birth, society wants to keep you under control
By giving you no time instead of it all
You're conditioned to remain busy and not have time for yourself
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
Eventually, you become numb to the pain and oppression around you
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
You're abused both at home and school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Society looks down on both the smart and the unintelligent
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
The pressure society puts on you can drive you insane
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
After years of mental torture, society then expects you to figure out your life
Then they expect you to pick a career
After years of suffering, society puts the burden of success on your shoulders
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
Years of pressure makes it difficult to make rational decisions
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
Society uses distractions, such as religion, sex, and TV to keep you content
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
Despite feeling content, you're still just a member of a lower class
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
Despite feeling like you're not part of the working class, you really are
There's room at the top they are telling you still
Society still tells you that you can achieve success and rise above your station
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
However, in order to do so, you must learn to be ruthless
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
In order to succeed, you must become like those who are already successful
A working class hero is something to be
Despite all the hardships, being a working class hero is an admirable thing
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to become a hero, follow my example and rise above the oppression
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marilia Mestas
As soon as you're born, they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
'Til you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function, you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me
If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me
riverotter100
Nothing but respect and admiration for Marilyn Manson.
Stephanie Hinchliff
You do know the song was written by John Lennon, right? Marilyn Manson is a poor copy of another man's genius.
Brooky Brooky
@Stephanie Hinchliff yet manson reiterates the song in a cover and makes it even better.
merster
@Stephanie Hinchliff give credit to Manson dude, guy puts so much pain and sadness in this song. And this fucking voice is amazing ...
G Smith
This song is awesome no matter who sings it, the words are truly heart felt
Kelly Brown
Will always love John Lennon's version - forever. But...Manson's voice is that edge that puts such a great emotion it it.
Daniela Costa
This version has so much feeling, it´s wonderful, one of the best covers I ever heard
Embers Omega
When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years... and then they expect you to pick a career. But you can't really function, you're so full of fear.
No matter which version is best, this is a very poignant song. I just happen to appreciate this version over all the other ones out there.
Laura Schlieselhuber
I kind of understand those lyrics. I've been bullied for a lot of reasons and I'm still a little bit alone. This is what those lyrics means to me.
Embers Omega
Indeed. :(