Time for Heroes
The Libertines Lyrics
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Shoveled up like muck and set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
But there's a rumour spread nasty disease around town
You caught round the houses with your trousers down
A head rush in the bush
Oh, how I cherish you, my love
Tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows it's eating, it's chewing me up
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And it's all up the walls
Well the stale chips are up and the hope stakes are down
It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down
And I sighed and sunken with pride
Well, I passed myself down on my knees
Yes, I passed myself down on my knees
Now tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
But that's a class of our own, my love
A class of our own, my love
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shoveled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
Yeah, I cherish you, my love
The Libertines' "Time for Heroes" is a song that reflects on a sense of disillusionment and decay amidst the UK's culture at the time. The lyrics celebrate the stylish kids who rebel and stir things up in the face of authorities, but also critique the unhealthy and destructive excesses they often give in to. The first verse specifically describes the bravery of these stylish kids who get involved in riots and clash with the police, and the second verse shifts its focus to the "nasty disease" that spreads rumors and harms relationships. The song then continues to bring in a sense of hopelessness and inevitability, as well as a sense of pride and ownership over one's own class and birthplace, epitomized by the refrain "A class of our own, my love."
The imagery that The Libertines use to convey these emotions is evocative and thought-provoking. The reference to the Wombles, who were a fictional group of characters that collected and recycled rubbish, highlights the wastefulness and messiness of society that the stylish kids are challenging by setting things "on fire." The reference to "Bill Bones" is likely a nod to the character in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, a pirate who ultimately loses his life. This creates a sense of hopelessness and foreboding for the song's protagonist, who seems to be struggling with addiction or health issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Did you take note of the fashionable young people who were involved in the violent protest?
Shoveled up like muck and set the night on fire
They were picked up like dirt and caused chaos during the night.
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
The police and protesters clashed, resulting in violent injuries with the use of batons and shields.
You know I cherish you, my love
I love you and want you to know it.
But there's a rumour spread nasty disease around town
There is a vicious gossip about that is affecting the town.
You caught round the houses with your trousers down
You were caught in a compromising situation behind closed doors.
A head rush in the bush
A drug-induced feeling of euphoria in a private space.
Oh, how I cherish you, my love
I really, really love you and want to make sure you know it.
Tell me what can you want now you've got it all
What more can you possibly desire when you already have everything?
The whole scene is obscene
The entire situation is offensive and wrong.
Time will strip it away
The passage of time will eventually erase it from our memories.
A year and a day
A figurative time period that represents how long it will take for things to change.
And Bill Bones knows what I mean
Bill Bones understands the issue I'm talking about.
He knows it's eating, it's chewing me up
It's consuming and damaging me emotionally.
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
It's unacceptable for young people to be experiencing severe consequences as a result of the situation.
And it's all
Everything is connected and part of the problem.
It's all in my hands
I have the power to change things.
And it's all up the walls
Everything is falling apart and getting out of hand.
Well the stale chips are up and the hope stakes are down
Gloom and doom are pervasive, while potential for improvement is diminishing.
It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down
Uninformed people are contributing to the downfall of the community.
And I sighed and sunken with pride
I am burdened with regret and a feeling of worthlessness.
Well, I passed myself down on my knees
I found myself in a state of despair and submission to the situation.
Yes, I passed myself down on my knees
I was truly humbled by the turn of events.
There's fewer more distressing sights than that
Few things are as upsetting as seeing an Englishman in a baseball cap.
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
It is seen as an unconventional and strange sight to see a person from England wearing a cap associated with American sports.
And we'll die in the class we were born
We will remain in the socioeconomic class we were born into until we pass away.
But that's a class of our own, my love
Despite our circumstances, we are unique and exceptional in our own way, and I still love and cherish you.
A class of our own, my love
We are remarkable in our own way.
Yeah, I cherish you, my love
Again, let me repeat how much I love and value you!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl Barat, Peter Doherty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mandyhoney4176
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot
We were shovelled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you my love
But there's a rumour spread nasty diseases around town
Caught round the houses with your trousers down
A headrush in the bush
You know I cherish you my love
How I cherish you my love
What can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones he knows what I mean
Yes it's eating no it's chewing me up
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
Oh it's all
It's all in my hands
And it's all up the walls
Well the stale chips are up and the hopes stakes are down
It's these ignorant faces that bring this town down
Yeah I sighed and sunken with pride
I passed myself down on my knees
Yes I passed myself down on my knees
What can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I really mean
There are fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
Well that's a class of our own my love
A class of our own my love
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot
We were shovelled up like muck
Then set the night on fire
Wombles bleed truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you my love
Oh how I cherish you my love.
@paulquisperodriguez6181
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot
Shovelled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you my love
But there's a rumour spread nasty disease around town
Caught around the houses with your trousers down
A head rush in the bush
You know I cherish you, my love
Oh, how I cherish you, my love
Tell me what can you want
Now you've got it all I've seen is obscene
Time will strip it away, a year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
No, it's eating, it's chewing me up
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
It's all up the walls
The stale chips are up and the hopes stakes are down
It's these ignorant faces that bring this town down
Yeah, I sighed and sunken with pride
You know passed myself down on my knees
Yes I passed myself down on my knees
Now, tell me what can you want
When you've got it all I've seen is obscene
Time will strip it away, a year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
There are fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
That's a class of our own my love
A class of our own my love
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot
Shovelled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you my love
And I cherish you my love
@benayers7063
One of the most underrated bands ever.
@JLG629
JoKro That’s why I’m so happy to know them here and I don’t want to share either. Their music is very personal to me all of Pete’s music too
@Laurent_08
@JoKro Hispters know them very well. Pop-rock fans know them.
@danielwilson6529
Ben Ayers I didn’t underrate them !
@matthewadams1874
Lyrics were brilliant
@sahirnambiar45
This video has literally millions of views dude
@DemeaningUnreal
We will die in the class we were born, but it's a class of our own my love. What a fucking lyric
@Lib94
18 years old today. Still a tune!
@meggymoo5496
It’s fantastic tune 💗
@mikeFolco
Fuck.