My Hero
Stan Van Samang Lyrics

The opening lines of Stan Van Samang's My Hero set a tone of urgency and discomfort. The singer seems unwilling or unable to discuss something that is too overwhelming, too "alarming" to talk about. This sense of unease is reflected in the lyrics that follow: "Take my pictures down and shake it out," as if the singer is trying to rid himself of some sort of burden, perhaps even a sense of shame. The repetition of the phrases "truth or consequence," and "use that evidence," suggest that there is some sort of reckoning at hand.

But then the chorus comes in, and the mood changes. The singer sings about his hero, someone who is "ordinary" but also deserving of respect and admiration. The repetition of the line "There goes my hero, watch him as he goes," creates a sense of motion and momentum, perhaps even celebration.

What is interesting about this song is that it seems to be about two different things at once. On the one hand, there is the unnamed, unspoken problem that is too "alarming" to talk about. On the other hand, there is the figure of the hero who is celebrated and respected. Perhaps these two things are related: perhaps the singer's heroism is connected to his ability to face difficult truths and consequences. Or maybe they are two separate things, and the singer is simply trying to distract himself from whatever is troubling him by focusing on a more positive figure.

Regardless, what comes across in this song is a sense of complexity and ambiguity. The singer seems to be grappling with something, but he is also able to find a sense of hope and inspiration in the figure of his hero.