☝️ Key Points
- The protagonist feels uncomfortable in the role of the hero and wants to be like everyone else, not elevated or singled out
- There is a rejection of the societal mask and a desire for equality and equal opportunities for all
- The protagonist longs for a simple and humble life, where he works hard and spends time with his partner
- He has intimate dreams and hopes, but also needs to protect his partner and emphasizes that he must take responsibility despite his young age
- The repetition of the lines at the end of the song once again underscores his rejection of the role of the hero
Interpretation
The song 'Hero' by
Family of the Year is about a protagonist who feels uncomfortable with the role of hero and leader. 'Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero, I don't wanna be a big man, Just wanna fight like everyone else' - These lines indicate that the protagonist doesn't want to play an extraordinary role. They just want to be like everyone else and not be put on a pedestal.
In the lines 'Your masquerade, I don't wanna be a part of your parade, Everyone deserves a chance to, Walk with everyone else' it's about rejecting the facade and appearance often displayed in society. The protagonist wants to be part of the crowd, they strive for equality and want everyone to have the same chance to move forward in life.
The next paragraph 'While holding down, A job to keep my girl around, And maybe buy me some new strings, And her and I out on the weekends' shows the simple and modest life the protagonist desires. They want to work hard to keep their girl by their side, buy new strings for their guitar, and spend time with her on weekends.
The last paragraph 'And we can whisper things, Secrets from my American dreams, Baby needs some protection, But I'm a kid like everyone else' hints at the intimate relationship between them and their partner and shows that despite their young age, they have to take on responsibilities. They have dreams and hopes, but they also have to protect their partner. However, they emphasize once again that they are just a kid, like everyone else.
The repeated lines at the end 'So let me go, I don't wanna be your hero, I don't wanna be a big man, Just wanna fight with everyone else' underline their rejection of the hero role. They want to be free, they don't want to be seen as a hero or a big man, they just want to fight and live like everyone else.