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.
Well I met an old man dying on a train
No more destination, no more pain
Well he said one thing: "Before I graduate
Never let your fear decide your fate"
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry we love you more than you know
Well the sun one day will leave us all behind
Unexplainable sightings in the sky
Well I hate to be the one to ruin the night
Right before your, right before your eyes
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry we love you more than you know
Well I met an old man dying on a train
No more destination, no more pain
Well he said one thing: "Before I graduate
Never let your fear decide your fate"
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry, we love you more than you know
(I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly) baby don't cry
Don't you worry 'cause, everybody will die (die, die)
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry, we love you more than you know (know, know, know)
No more destination, no more pain
Well he said one thing: "Before I graduate
Never let your fear decide your fate"
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry we love you more than you know
Well the sun one day will leave us all behind
Unexplainable sightings in the sky
Well I hate to be the one to ruin the night
Right before your, right before your eyes
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry we love you more than you know
Well I met an old man dying on a train
No more destination, no more pain
Well he said one thing: "Before I graduate
Never let your fear decide your fate"
I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry
No need to worry 'cause, everybody will die
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry, we love you more than you know
(I say you kill your heroes and fly, fly) baby don't cry
Don't you worry 'cause, everybody will die (die, die)
Every day we just go, go, baby don't go
Don't you worry, we love you more than you know (know, know, know)
Lyrics submitted by LPodyssey07, edited by jakester88, zephar26
Kill Your Heroes Lyrics as written by Aaron Bruno Brian West
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
My take is that this song was written as an litany against apathy and inaction. The foundational argument made here is that ultimately, our decisions are of no consequence, because the universe is greater than us and moves along entirely unaffected by the choices we make, and that there is much we will never know no matter how hard we search for answers. (Well the sun one day will Leave us all behind. Unexplainable sightings In the sky. Well I hate to be The one to ruin the night) He's sorry to bring it up, since its kind of a bummer of a statement, but ultimately the sun will swallow up the earth, and everything will be extinguished and irrelevant. This realistic outlook is freeing, and it informs his perspective and the point he is trying to make. This point is that you should strive to achieve your dreams and fulfill your passions, because in the long run there are no consequences to your decisions. (No need to worry, cuz everybody will die.) At worst, you and everyone you know will be gone and forgotten forever, and best case scenario, you fulfill your full potential and leave some of a legacy. But either way, in the sense of the big picture, the pressure of failure is off. So just go for it. Kill your heroes. Disregard the bar set by the people you hold up on a pedestal, and in doing so remove the power they have over you. Achieve all you can, regardless of what those who came before you have achieved. The pressure imposed by the successes of others only serves to limit your potential if you dwell on it. (I say ya kill your heroes and fly, fly, baby don't cry) (Everyday we go, go, baby don't go, Don't you worry we love you more than you know) So fly, reach new heights, go your own way, and don't be upset by the change. But don't go so far that you're out of reach, and know that you always have a grounding in the care that our loved ones have for us.
As for the old man on the train: (Well I met an old man dying on a train. No more destination, no more pain. Well he said one thing, before I graduate "Never let your fear decide your fate.") A dying old man has no hopes or aspirations, and has only the present and his past to reconcile himself with. He's not in pain, and he has nothing to gain or lose, regardless of what he says. So he can say with 20/20 hindsight and complete neutrality that you should never let your fear decide your fate. Don't be limited by what is challenging and alien, because everything is temporary. Including the suffering induced by taking risks that don't pay off.
Achieve your full potential, because no matter who you are, you truly have nothing to lose.
Very good meaning to this song, and I think you pretty much hit it spot on! :) Awesome song.
I agree that this is a great interpretation, but I want to offer another perspective on the old man on the train. When he grew up life was way different and perhaps more difficult than that of the song writer, so he is trying to share his wisdom. He has a lot of wisdom to share, because he went through his own hardships in life. This elder is wiser and has been through a lot more life than the songwriter and I think the song writer appreciates that and recounts the life lesson of "never let your fear decide your fate." This is a phrase spoken by someone who has truly lived life and now understands it. I love this song!!
@splainer I would agree with everything you said but add something:<br /> as children we are "shoehorned" into these roles that society and our parents push upon us. I think the reasons why they bleep out the occupations is that he doesn't want to make anyone feel bad for whatever role they choose. BECAUSE it's OK to be whatever you want to be so long as YOU want to do that. AND you might choose a shitty role, but at least if YOU chose that role,.....you can accept responsibility for choosing that role and deal with the consequences. IF SOMEONE ELSE chose that role for you then you will always be off-kilter because of that.