Hero of the War
Scott Walker Lyrics
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All the neighborhood is talkin' 'bout your son
Mrs. Reiley get his medals
Hand them 'round to everyone
Show his gun to all the children in the street
It's too bad he can't shake hands or move his feet
He's a hero of the war
Mrs. Reiley seems the girl next door is nowhere to be found
Once you couldn't keep that boy from hangin' 'round
Never mind dear, you're with your mum once more
He's a hero of the war
Like his dad he gave his life the war before
It was tragic how you almost died of pain when he was born
With no husband there beside you through it all
Ring the bell if you get hungry or you fall
You're a hero of the war
Why those teardrops on your cheek? it's so absurd
Feelin' empty it's the emptiness of heroes like your son
And what made him leave his mother for a gun
Driven forward driven back and nothing more
He's a hero of the war
The lyrics to Scott Walker's "Hero of the War" portray the aftermath of war on a family who has lost their son. The first stanza describes how the neighborhood holds the son in high regard and the mother gathers all his medals to show them off proudly. The neighborhood children are fascinated by his gun, but it's revealed that the son cannot move or shake hands. The second stanza highlights how the son's name is in the local news, but the girl who was once close to him is nowhere to be found. The mother is left to mourn her son, feeling empty and alone.
The final stanza switches focus to the mother, who is told that she too, is a hero of the war. However, the song questions why she is shedding tears, ultimately concluding that the emptiness of losing her son surpasses any heroic title. The line "And what made him leave his mother for a gun" hints at the tragedy of war, where young men are taken from their families to fight wars that ultimately leave them dead or wounded.
Overall, "Hero of the War" presents a bleak view of war and its impact on individuals and society. It explores the complexity of heroism and the cost of sacrifice, making it a poignant and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a hero of the war
He is considered a hero for his service in the war.
All the neighborhood is talkin' 'bout your son
His son is the topic of conversation in the neighborhood due to his heroic deeds.
Mrs. Reiley get his medals
Mrs. Reiley is responsible for collecting his medals.
Hand them 'round to everyone
She shares the medals with everyone in the neighborhood.
Show his gun to all the children in the street
The children of the neighborhood are shown his gun.
It's too bad he can't shake hands or move his feet
He is either injured or deceased, unable to physically interact or move normally.
You can see his picture in the local news
His picture has been featured in the news.
Mrs. Reiley seems the girl next door is nowhere to be found
The girl next door is missing and Mrs. Reiley appears to be looking for her or inquiring about her whereabouts.
Once you couldn't keep that boy from hangin' 'round
The boy was very close to the family before he left for the war.
Never mind dear, you're with your mum once more
The boy's mother is comforting him after his return from the war.
Like his dad he gave his life the war before
He followed in his father's footsteps and lost his life during a previous war.
It was tragic how you almost died of pain when he was born
The boy's birth was a difficult and painful experience for his mother.
With no husband there beside you through it all
His father was not present during his birth.
Ring the bell if you get hungry or you fall
The boy's mother will assist him if he needs help.
You're a hero of the war
The boy's mother is also considered a hero for her contributions to the war effort.
Why those teardrops on your cheek? it's so absurd
Someone questions why she is crying when she is considered a hero.
Feelin' empty it's the emptiness of heroes like your son
The emptiness she feels might be a result of the sacrifice and loss associated with being a hero.
And what made him leave his mother for a gun
Someone wonders why the boy chose to leave his mother and join the military.
Driven forward driven back and nothing more
The boy's experience in the war consisted of being pushed forward and pushed back, with no real progress being made.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: SCOTT ENGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yoshiko Cockerham
Thank you for putting up this video. This is one of the coolest songs that Scott Walker has ever made. The strong anti-war message is conveyed from this song
Al
Great song.....pity it is anti-war.
Jerry Weber
My stocks are suffering. We need a new war please.
Buildings On Fire
The best anti-war song ever written.
Terry Eggett
Great lyrics. Scott Walker nails the truth.
Ryan The Great
To be born in the same world where this Man exists is a True Gift
Anthony Mead
Totally brilliant. He had some vision this guy. With a superb way of getting it over.
Declan Stylofone
I love the way this goes with "The Old Man's Back Again", it sums up a lot of the 20th century.
wellandtruly joshed
Beautiful man beautiful voice ❤️ RIP Scott 💔 My Hero 😢👏
Flat Attack
Beautiful, sad, Jesus! We ❤️ you Scott