Heroes & Villains
The Beach Boys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been in this town so long that back in the city
I've been taken for lost and gone
And unknown for a long, long time

Fell in love years ago
With an innocent girl
From the Spanish and Indian home
Home of the heroes and villains

Once at night, Catillian squared the fight
And she was right in the rain of the bullets
That eventually brought her down
But she's still dancing in the night
Unafraid of what a dude'll do
In a town full of heroes and villains

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Stand or fall
I know there shall be peace in the valley
And it's all an affair
Of my life with the heroes and villains

My children were raised
You know they suddenly rise
They started slow, long ago
Head to toe healthy, wealthy and wise

I've been in this town so long
So long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff
To ride in the rough
And sunny down snuff, I'm alright
By the heroes and

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys's "Heroes & Villains" is a complex song about love, violence, and the blurred line between heroes and villains. The first verse sets the scene as the singer describes being in a town for so long that he is "unknown" and "taken for lost and gone" in the city. This verse sets up a feeling of being stuck, trapped in place and time, which brings to mind the idea of living in a small town with little opportunity for escape or growth.


The second verse is where the true meaning of the song starts to emerge. The singer sings about falling in love with an innocent girl from the "Spanish and Indian home," home of the heroes and villains. The imagery here is striking, invoking a Wild West-style setting where heroes and villains are drawn in stark contrast. The line "Home of the heroes and villains" emphasizes that the singer is living in a place where these two ideas of good and evil coexist.


Then we get to the chorus, where the singer sings about the actions of heroes and villains: "Just see what you've done." The repetition of this line emphasizes the notion that heroes and villains are two sides of the same coin. The final verse brings in the idea of the next generation, with the singer's children rising "head to toe healthy, wealthy and wise." The final lines tie the song together: "I'm fit with the stuff to ride in the rough/ And sunny down snuff I'm alright/ By the heroes and." The singer is resilient and sturdy enough to face whatever comes his way, no matter if he's surrounded by heroes, villains, or both.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been in this town so long that back in the city
I've been living in this town for so long that in the city, I'm considered lost and forgotten. Nobody seems to know me anymore.


I've been taken for lost and gone
People think I've disappeared and left this town, but I'm still here.


And unknown for a long, long time
Nobody recognizes me after all these years, and I've been living in obscurity for quite some time.


Fell in love years ago
I fell in love many years ago with an innocent girl.


With an innocent girl
I fell in love with a girl who was pure and had not committed any wrongdoing.


From the Spanish and Indian home
She came from a place where Spanish and Indian cultures were intertwined.


Home of the heroes and villains
Her home was a place where heroes and villains were born and bred.


Once at night Catillian squared the fight
One night, a battle ensued and Catillian stood up for herself.


And she was right in the rain of the bullets
Despite being shot at, Catillian was in the right, and she knew that.


That eventually brought her down
Eventually, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away.


But she's still dancing in the night
Even though she's gone, Catillian's spirit lives on, and she continues to dance at night.


Unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full
Catillian was fearless, even in a town full of tough guys and rough characters.


Of heroes and villains
It was a town where heroes and villains coexisted.


Heroes and villains
The inhabitants of this town fell into two categories: heroes and villains.


Just see what you've done
People should look at themselves and see how their actions have impacted others, for better or worse.


Stand or fall I know there
Good or bad circumstances may come my way, but I'm confident that peace will prevail in the end.


Shall be peace in the valley
There will be harmony and tranquillity even in times of turmoil.


And it's all an affair
Everything is a matter of how we handle our personal relationships.


Of my life with the heroes and villains
My life has been shaped by both the good and bad people I've encountered.


My children were raised
I have children who have grown up and become adults.


You know they suddenly rise
Now, they have achieved success and earned respect from others.


They started slow long ago
My children had to begin their journey gradually and make progress over time.


Head to toe healthy, wealthy and wise
My children are now prosperous, healthy, and have gained knowledge and experience.


So long to the city
I have lived in this town so long that I've bid farewell to the city.


I'm fit with the stuff
I've got what it takes to handle challenges and obstacles.


To ride in the rough
I can withstand the difficulties and hardships that come with living in this town.


And sunny down snuff I'm alright
Even when times seem rough, I keep pushing forward and remain optimistic.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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