Heroine
Wild Strawberries Lyrics


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The first thing I remember you were walking away
You were singing something gentle in the fade
The next thing I remember I nearly pushed you off the stage
I pretended not to be afraid

I played the fool
I played the drowning man
I will play your heroine
I know the rules
You wrote them on my veins
I will play your heroine

I'm calling from the border of another nameless state
I am sitting on the steps of our mistake
I will bring you postcards of everything that's gray
I will draw your smile on my slate

I said I loved you
I said I needed you but baby I was wrong
Well that was Sunday
And now it's Wednesday and I'm feeling strong

Memory's a lover trying to tell you that she's late
Memory's a silent second take




She will drink the poison if you put it in your cup
She will touch your eyes and never stop

Overall Meaning

The Wild Strawberries song "Heroine" is a poignant and introspective look at the memories of a failed relationship. The opening lines describe the singer's first memories of their partner. They were walking away while singing something "gentle in the fade." However, the next thing the singer remembers is almost pushing their partner off the stage. The singer pretends not to be afraid, but this is a clear indication that they already know that the relationship will lead to trouble.


The lyrics then turn to the singer's role in the relationship. They admit to playing the fool and the drowning man. However, they also show their commitment to their former partner by saying they will play their heroine. The singer knows the rules of the relationship and is willing to play their part to make it work. The chorus offers a profound insight into the singer's mindset as they repeat the phrase, "I will play your heroine." This repetition shows the illusion of control in a relationship that has already gone sour.


The subsequent verses of the song continue to build on the singer's experiences. They are now calling from the "border of another nameless state," and they remember the past relationship with pain and sorrow. However, they commit to drawing their partner's smile on their slate and bringing postcards of everything that's gray. The song ends with a powerful metaphor that memory, like a lover, can poison someone and never let go.


Line by Line Meaning

The first thing I remember you were walking away
I recall the first moment with you when you were leaving my sight


You were singing something gentle in the fade
You were humming a soft tune that faded away with you


The next thing I remember I nearly pushed you off the stage
I recollect that time when I almost shoved you from the stage


I pretended not to be afraid
I acted like I wasn't scared


I played the fool
I acted foolishly


I played the drowning man
I acted like a man struggling to stay afloat


I will play your heroine
I will act as your hero


I know the rules
I am aware of the regulations


You wrote them on my veins
You inscribed them into my veins


I am calling from the border of another nameless state
I'm reaching you from a different state without a name


I am sitting on the steps of our mistake
I am seated on the stairs of the error we committed


I will bring you postcards of everything that's gray
I will deliver you letters or postcards containing everything that's dull and lifeless


I will draw your smile on my slate
I will sketch out your smile on my slate


I said I loved you
I expressed my love for you


I said I needed you but baby I was wrong
I stated I required you, but I was mistaken, baby


Well that was Sunday
That was last Sunday


And now it's Wednesday and I'm feeling strong
It is Wednesday, and I'm feeling powerful


Memory's a lover trying to tell you that she's late
Memory is a lover who is struggling to inform you she's behind schedule


Memory's a silent second take
Memory is a quiet second attempt


She will drink the poison if you put it in your cup
She will have the poison if you place it in your cup


She will touch your eyes and never stop
She will touch your eyes and never withdraw




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUFFY SAINTE MARIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@whoatimikit659

I heard this song on the radio cross-country from Vancouver to Banff, and this was before smart phones... Do you how hard it was to memorize lyrics on the fly --- going at 120mph and with the top down, trying to snatch a coherent enough verse to Force myself to remember while I white knuckled the steering wheel all the way to Banff?! When I got there, I ran into my hotel lobby like a madman repeating to myself "I'll play the fool, I'll play it here on in.... I will play, i will play yours here on it" ...again and again, the concierge thought I was mad😂😂😂 ( very concerned hotel security was there to help me find a seat at the lobby and gave me water) and i asked for paper and tried to write it down before i forget everything... I look afright with my hair subjected to the winds and reversed racoon- eyed (from getting a face-tan with my driving sunglasses) and madly scribbling on 😅. I finally got on the internet after checking in but I can't find the song -- obviously. It drove me near mad for almost a year until 3years later, I heard the final bits on the radio again as I walked into a café, I heard the radio jingle and knew it wad on the station QMFM, I noted down the time, and I called the station, the receptionist was helpful in getting the DJ that slotted your song to call me back, a little deck-sleuthing finally yielded the song title and your band name!! I was over the moon!

Got to the Chapters Bookshop on Robson with the CDs section and I had to special ordered your CD in -- such a torturous waiting process!! But I finally got it!!

Egads, and that was way back in 1999!

But your song has an unearthly staying power in my mind and so it is in all (and I mean ...ALL....) of my roadtrip playlists, even till today on my YouTube playlist and as an ancient MP3 converted from your CD;

I have been to every continent of this planet, and your song is still playing whereever I go... As of now, I am moving from the Strait of Malacca and onwards into Oceania. If there are mermaids, they,'d pause in the deep to listen through the hulls, I am sure of it.

Thank you for this song, and please keep writing hauntingly beautiful songs like this. I will always remain a fan!

Much love! Keep safe! And thanks Again!!❤



@jmdnelson4891

This is my absolute favorite song of theirs, along with 'I Don't Want to Think About It' and 'A Thousand Kisses.'

I remember the day when I saw them performing at The Calgary Stampede, back in 95 or 96. (I think it might've been 96, but I'm not too sure, as I was still a young kid at the time!!) They were at the Coca-Cola stage, and Roberta (the lead singer) was dancing with these 2 bald people. (They both might've been female, cause I think one was wearing a dress and boots.) But they were doing a can-can style dance, with her arms around the both of them.

Anyway, me and my family were passing by them, and when I heard the song, I begged my mom to stop so I could watch/hear the rest of the performance. (As I loved the song since first hearing it on Calgary's own Light 96 FM) My mom agreed, but my siblings left to play some of those carnival games. (Y'know? Those rigged ones that no one ever wins?) Anyway, me and my mom stood in the large crowd, applauding the band at the end of the song.

That's one of my favorite childhood memories, with one of my all time favorite songs as a nice, beautiful bonus. I wish I could've met Roberta back then, complimented her in person and gave her a hug.

I will cherish that memory forever!!



All comments from YouTube:

@septicbrainfluid

Only 19 comments? F@ck that... This is one of the most underrated bands of all time. This song is golden. What a classic Canadian Band... I wish I could travel back in time...

@iUnderstand

What if I told you I had access to a time machine?

@whoatimikit659

I heard this song on the radio cross-country from Vancouver to Banff, and this was before smart phones... Do you how hard it was to memorize lyrics on the fly --- going at 120mph and with the top down, trying to snatch a coherent enough verse to Force myself to remember while I white knuckled the steering wheel all the way to Banff?! When I got there, I ran into my hotel lobby like a madman repeating to myself "I'll play the fool, I'll play it here on in.... I will play, i will play yours here on it" ...again and again, the concierge thought I was mad😂😂😂 ( very concerned hotel security was there to help me find a seat at the lobby and gave me water) and i asked for paper and tried to write it down before i forget everything... I look afright with my hair subjected to the winds and reversed racoon- eyed (from getting a face-tan with my driving sunglasses) and madly scribbling on 😅. I finally got on the internet after checking in but I can't find the song -- obviously. It drove me near mad for almost a year until 3years later, I heard the final bits on the radio again as I walked into a café, I heard the radio jingle and knew it wad on the station QMFM, I noted down the time, and I called the station, the receptionist was helpful in getting the DJ that slotted your song to call me back, a little deck-sleuthing finally yielded the song title and your band name!! I was over the moon!

Got to the Chapters Bookshop on Robson with the CDs section and I had to special ordered your CD in -- such a torturous waiting process!! But I finally got it!!

Egads, and that was way back in 1999!

But your song has an unearthly staying power in my mind and so it is in all (and I mean ...ALL....) of my roadtrip playlists, even till today on my YouTube playlist and as an ancient MP3 converted from your CD;

I have been to every continent of this planet, and your song is still playing whereever I go... As of now, I am moving from the Strait of Malacca and onwards into Oceania. If there are mermaids, they,'d pause in the deep to listen through the hulls, I am sure of it.

Thank you for this song, and please keep writing hauntingly beautiful songs like this. I will always remain a fan!

Much love! Keep safe! And thanks Again!!❤

@srshenoy

I just came across this song few days back in a karaoke app, and am just loving it ! What a beautiful track, surprised that its mostly unknown...

@garthquapp6370

I remember when this song had a big impact in my life. Sadly over 20 years have past until I was reminded of this song. What a beautiful voice.

@jmdnelson4891

This is my absolute favorite song of theirs, along with 'I Don't Want to Think About It' and 'A Thousand Kisses.'

I remember the day when I saw them performing at The Calgary Stampede, back in 95 or 96. (I think it might've been 96, but I'm not too sure, as I was still a young kid at the time!!) They were at the Coca-Cola stage, and Roberta (the lead singer) was dancing with these 2 bald people. (They both might've been female, cause I think one was wearing a dress and boots.) But they were doing a can-can style dance, with her arms around the both of them.

Anyway, me and my family were passing by them, and when I heard the song, I begged my mom to stop so I could watch/hear the rest of the performance. (As I loved the song since first hearing it on Calgary's own Light 96 FM) My mom agreed, but my siblings left to play some of those carnival games. (Y'know? Those rigged ones that no one ever wins?) Anyway, me and my mom stood in the large crowd, applauding the band at the end of the song.

That's one of my favorite childhood memories, with one of my all time favorite songs as a nice, beautiful bonus. I wish I could've met Roberta back then, complimented her in person and gave her a hug.

I will cherish that memory forever!!

@joelmcrorie2975

Love this album! Wish I could find "Cymbaline" on here so I could share it with my friends.

@RandyMcDonald80

What a beautiful song this is.

@wildstrawbmusic

Thanks Randy! Should we include it in our 2020/2021 IT BEARS REPEATING project?

@RandyMcDonald80

@@wildstrawbmusic of course!

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