The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Jesus, Jesus, what's it all about?
Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape
When I was their age, all the lights went out
There was no time to whine and mope about
And even now part of me flies over Dresden at angels one five
Though they'll never fathom it behind my sarcasm
Desperate memories lie
Sweetheart, sweetheart, are you fast asleep? Good
That's the only time that I can really speak to you
There is something that I've locked away
A memory that is too painful
To withstand the light of day
When we came back from the war
The banners and flags hung on everyone's door
We danced and we sang in the street
And the church bells rang
But burning in my heart
The memory smolders on
Of the gunner's dying words on the intercom
Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape
When I was their age, all the lights went out
There was no time to whine and mope about
And even now part of me flies over Dresden at angels one five
Though they'll never fathom it behind my sarcasm
Desperate memories lie
Sweetheart, sweetheart, are you fast asleep? Good
That's the only time that I can really speak to you
There is something that I've locked away
A memory that is too painful
To withstand the light of day
When we came back from the war
The banners and flags hung on everyone's door
We danced and we sang in the street
And the church bells rang
But burning in my heart
The memory smolders on
Of the gunner's dying words on the intercom
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by digitalmanMKII
The Hero's Return Lyrics as written by George Roger Waters
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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it IS about the Schoolmaster. This album was actually supposed to be the 3rd part of The Wall. This is one of the major things that the band fought about prior to the break-up. The rest of the band didn't like these songs because they felt that it delt to singularly to Roger Water's past (his father died in WWII, or at least was in it). The band refused to use this as part of The Wall, so Roger Waters released it after the break-up. If you don't believe me, go to the Pink Floyd web site (pinkfloyd.co.uk/theFinalCut/) and watch the movie. It includes only a few of the songs from the album though. And SURPRISE! Who stars in this short film? Oh yes, The Schoolmaster!
The Schoolmaster also stars in Fletcher Memorial, I do believe...
Anywho, "The Final Cut" was ultimately a tie up album. Not really "The Wall, pt. 3", seeing as at the end of the Wall Pink's problems are resolved, but they do tie up a few loose ends.
Bashyou, yeah, the teacher was insecure because his wife was abusive, as said by "The Wall".
But what ho? "Sweet-heart, sweet-heart, are you fast asleep? / Good, that's the only time that I can really speak to you?" Hey! What do you know! IT'S THE WIFE!
Anywho, I felt like pointing that out.
Back to the main focus, this song is part of a story-line regarding the teacher. One that, in my opinion, includes "Your Possible Pasts", "One of the Few", this song, "The Gunner's Dream", and "Paranoid Eyes".
Notice that these were all sequential songs in the initial publishing of the album.
Wait a sec. If I thought The Wall and The Final Cut were related I would call The Final Cut "The Wall part 2." So why did you call it Part 3? Hmm...
The Gunner is a soldier who served in an airplane during WW2. Could have been a tail gunner or he could have been the guy who manned the nose turret. In the bombers of WW2 the guys communicated with each other (navigator, pilots, gunners, bombadiers) over headphones or intercoms. Between firefights they'd talk about their families, girls, dreams, what they would do after the war, the usual subjects you'd expect.
The Hero made it back and the gunner didn't. The gunner was in a plane that was shot down and he (the Gunner) now sleeps in the corner of some foreign field.
It's chilling and brings tears to your eyes when you think of this song while visiting the military cemetaries of Belgium or France. These guys gave their all, and those who survived to come home had a hard time reintegrating into normal society. How the hell do you come home and live a normal life when 2 weeks ago you were paid to kill people and there were professional killers on the other side doing their best to kill you first?
What really links this to the teacher from the wall are the lines:
Sweetheart, sweetheart, are you fast asleep? Good Cos that's the only time that I can really speak to you
referring to "The Happiest Days Of Our Lives" where the last lines let us know that the teacher's wife is psychopatic and not at all sympathetic, so the traumatized teacher can only speak to her when she's asleep, otherwise she would just thrash him within inches of his life.
guessin its about world war 2.
2nd verse, mentions dresden, dresden was virtualy wiped out by British bombers in the war. +he regrets it
3rd verse, sorta straightforward...
4th sums it all up. no winners in war, +hes saddend by the crowds of cheering people who think its a victory.
Once again, this makes more sense if you understand that the titular 'Hero' is the teacher from the Wall (see the Gunner's Dream). The little ingrates are his pupils, who are growing up without the pressures of war.
Never thought of that before - it just put a whole new light on it.
There is an alternate version that has additional lyrics placed at the end of the song, immediately after "...on the intercom"
I can't decipher them, buy the version (called The Hero's Return Parts 1&2) can be found on "allofmp3.com".
I will try to decipher the lyrics here:
Jesus Christ I might as well be dead I can see how dangerous it must feel to be Training human corps for the machine Without some shell-shocked lunatic like me
But burning their still soft-shells With sticks and stones that were lying around In the pile of unspeakable feelings I'd found
And I turned back the stone Turned over the stone Of my own disappointment back home
I think this is right, except for the burning (But burning their still soft-shells).
It's about training up more people for the war.
I created a pandora.com radio station that has this song on it's playlist. Can't wait to see if it hits one of Pink Floyd's epics. Still hoping.