The demo for the song is entitled "Mouldy" due to the main riff of this song being on a demo tape for many years. The demo was recorded on December 8, 1994, one of the earliest demo recordings for the Load sessions.
The song was played live with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen), which is recorded on the album S&M.
Hero of the Day
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms no matter where they've gone.
They're off to find the hero of the day
But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way?
Still the window burns, time so slowly turns
Someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames
Do you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
Mama they try and break me
Still they try and break me
'Scuse me while I tend to how I feel
These things return to me that still seem real
Now deservingly this easy chair
But the rocking stops by wheels of despair
Don't want your aid
But the fist I've made for years won't hold or feel
No I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I fell
But now the dreams and waking screams that ever last through the night
So build the wall behind it crawl and hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now? (I can't hear you)
Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames, can't you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
But now the dreams and waking screams that
Ever last the night
So build a wall behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now?
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try
Mama they try
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try
Mama they try
The lyrics of Metallica's song Hero of the Day tell a story of a person who is going through a tough time, feeling like people are trying to break them. The opening line, "Mama, they try and break me," echoes the sentiment of someone who is exhausted and frustrated with trying to hold it all together. The window burning to light the way back home symbolizes hope, a beacon urging the singer to keep going even when things seem bleak. The line "A light that warms no matter where they've gone," speaks to the idea that hope is something that can never truly be extinguished.
As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that others are looking for a hero, someone to save the day. This puts pressure on the singer, wondering what will happen if the potential hero gets taken down by someone "wicked." The pressure to be a hero, when they feel weak and vulnerable, is further compounded by the pleas of "Can't you hear your babies crying?" which could be interpreted as the singer's inner child, their dreams and hopes that have been pushed to the background.
The song concludes with the singer acknowledging that they are not at their best, saying "No, I'm not all me." They want to deal with their emotions and struggles on their own but also recognize that they may need help, saying "Don't want your aid, but the fist I've made for years won't hold or feel." The final repetition of "Mama they try and break me" sounds more defiant, as if the singer is standing up to those who are trying to tear them apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama, they try and break me.
I feel like the world is trying to break me down.
The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms no matter where they've gone.
The light from the window shows the way home and provides comfort.
They're off to find the hero of the day
But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way?
People are searching for a hero, but what will happen if they encounter evil?
Still the window burns, time so slowly turns
Someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames
Do you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
The window continues to burn, time passes slowly, people sigh and babies cry for help.
These things return to me that still seem real
Now deservingly this easy chair
But the rocking stops by wheels of despair
I remember things that still feel real, even though I am now in a comfortable chair, but I am still trapped by my despair.
Don't want your aid
But the fist I've made for years won't hold or feel
No I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I fell
I don't want your help, but the anger I've held for so long has left me feeling numb and lost.
But now the dreams and waking screams that ever last through the night
So build the wall behind it crawl and hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now?
My dreams and fears continue to haunt me through the night. I want to hide until the morning comes and I can no longer hear the cries of those in need.
Mama they try and break me
I feel like the world is trying to break me down.
Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames, can't you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
The window continues to burn, time passes slowly, people sigh and babies cry for help.
But now the dreams and waking screams that
Ever last the night
So build a wall behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now?
My dreams and fears continue to haunt me through the night. I want to hide until the morning comes and I can no longer hear the cries of those in need.
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try
Mama they try
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try
Mama they try
I feel like the world is constantly trying to break me down, and it just keeps happening over and over again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ALAN HETFIELD, KIRK L. HAMMETT, LARS ULRICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GordonZJ
No parents... what he knows about life...
😢 😔
.
Hey!!! People!!!!! Stop been a bunch of stupidmfkrs and TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN!!!
.
Today is
March 30rh 2021
In the middle of a pandemic chaos
Do you know where they are!!!???
@jonathanperez3951
Mama, they try and break me.
The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms no matter where they've gone.
They're off to find the hero of the day
But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way?
Still the window burns, time so slowly turns
Someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames
Do you feel your names?
Do you hear your babies crying?
Mama they try and break me
Still they try and break me
'Scuse me while I tend to how I feel
These things return to me that still seem real
Now deservingly this easy chair
But the rocking stops by wheels of despair
Don't want your aid
But the fist I've made for years won't hold or feel
No I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I fell
But now the dreams and waking screams that ever last through the night (echoed between James and Jason)
So build the wall behind it crawl and hide until it's light
Can you hear your babies crying now?
Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames, can't you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying?
But now the dreams and waking screams that
Ever last the night
So build a wall behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
So can't you hear your babies crying now?
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try mama they try
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try and break me
Mama they try Mama they try
@michaelcordero5588
The older I get, the more I appreciate Load and Reload.
@MrChozo-tg7rk
Same bro, two amazing underated albums
@jeremyhardin4321
Same here but I've always loved both. They just get better and better with time
@gingertoffee2256
Nice 1 bud😎
@MarioA_
extremely underrated albums
@rodolfosilva8974
Me acuerdo cuando salió load tenía 16 años estaba furioso por el disco decía que era una mierda hoy con 40 me encanta
@Guizeira80
Someone in 2024, listening to this huge massive song by the band Metallica and pure NOSTALGIA...⚡🔥❤️🔥
@MikeGray-fv4eg
It's 5:45a.m. here, and I just listen to this great song again, It's one my favorite, Long Live Metallica!
@whitetiger85_60
I think the music video shows that the guy is the "Hero of the Day" because he doesn't truly give up. He lives poorly and he doesn't really have anyone that cares for him, and the girl that he has come to his apartment leaves right away rather than staying. He's not happy, and at the end he does try to kill himself, but ultimately he decides to stop. He's the Hero of the Day, even if no one realizes what he's going through.
@joannezip1
I hope things are going better for you now. <3