Heroes
Waylon Jennings; Willie Nelson Lyrics
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I know I said I'd take you to the lake today
But I'm going to have to break those plans, and it really hurts
Every time I go fishin' it'd always start me wishin'
That I could be a child again
Take my 50 cents and go down to the local picture show
To watch my heroes rope and ride
Most times they'd win but when they'd lose it always made me cry
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
Well I guess the fish just ain't bitin' just as well I don't feel like fightin'
All in all it just ain't that great a fishin' day that old newspaper headline
Kind of wrapped around this old heart of mine another big one got away
And I can't count the times he's made me laugh
But this time he's made me cry
There ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
The song "Heroes" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson speaks to the idea that heroes are a crucial part of the human experience. The singer reminisces about his childhood when he would go to the local picture show to watch his favorite cowboys rope and ride. He idolized these cowboys and would cry when they lost. As he grew older, he realized that his heroes were not invincible and would fall one by one. The loss of these heroes is heartbreaking and leaves him feeling a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.
The singer's decision to cancel the fishing trip with his son further emphasizes the theme of heroes. He recognizes that he is a hero to his son and feels guilty for not being able to live up to this role. He feels the weight of this responsibility and the inevitable truth that, eventually, he too will fall.
This song speaks to the universal experience of losing heroes, be it childhood idols or personal heroes. The idea that heroes are fallible is a difficult one, but it is also what makes them human and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Son you make me feel so proud I pop the buttons off my shirt
My son, you bring me such joy and pride that it's overwhelming.
I know I said I'd take you to the lake today
I had plans to take you fishing today, as I promised.
But I'm going to have to break those plans, and it really hurts
Unfortunately, something has come up and I can't fulfill my promise. It pains me to let you down.
Every time I go fishin' it'd always start me wishin'
Whenever I go fishing, I can't help but yearn for my childhood.
That I could be a child again
I long to experience the carefree and innocent days of my youth.
Take my 50 cents and go down to the local picture show
When I was a boy, I would take my small allowance and go to the nearby cinema.
To watch my heroes rope and ride
I would eagerly watch my favorite movie characters perform daring feats with ropes and horses.
Most times they'd win but when they'd lose it always made me cry
Usually, the heroes would emerge victorious, but sometimes they would suffer defeat, which would always make me emotional.
Ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
Seeing my role models meet their demise is one of the most heart-wrenching things I can imagine.
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
As my beloved heroes perish, there will come a time when there are no more left to look up to.
Well I guess the fish just ain't bitin' just as well I don't feel like fightin'
I suppose the fish aren't biting anyways, and I don't have the energy to struggle for them.
All in all it just ain't that great a fishin' day that old newspaper headline
To top it off, the newspaper headline I read earlier has also dampened my spirits, making this fishing outing less enjoyable.
Kind of wrapped around this old heart of mine another big one got away
The disappointment of failing to catch a big fish stays with me and weighs heavily on my heart.
And I can't count the times he's made me laugh
The hero I admired has brought me much joy and laughter in the past.
But this time he's made me cry
Unfortunately, this time his misfortune has brought me to tears.
There ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
The loss of a hero is an incredibly sorrowful experience.
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
As more and more heroes pass away or prove to be flawed, there will eventually be no one left who can embody the traits we admire and aspire to.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOBBY EMMONS, CHIPS MOMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind