(Mama, they try and break me)

The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms no matter where they've gone
They're off to find the hero of the day
But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way?

Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
Someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames
Do you feel your name?
Did you hear your babies crying?

(Mama, they try and break me)
(Still, they try and break me)

Excuse me while I tend to how I feel
These things return to me that still seem real
Now, deservingly, this easy chair
But the rocking stopped by wheels of despair

Don't want your aid
But the fist I make
For years can't hold or feel
No, I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I feel

But now the dreams and waking screams
That ever last the night
So build the wall, behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
So can you hear your babies crying now?

Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of the flames
Did you hear your names?
Did you hear your babies crying?

But now the dreams and waking screams
That ever last the night
So build a wall, behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
So can't you hear your babies crying now?

Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try
Mama, they try
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try
Mama, they try



Lyrics submitted by elmoz

Track duration: 04:50


Hero of the Day song meanings
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102 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I agree to those who said this is about children and their parents.

    Its about a mother who gives permission to her son to go out facing the world, to be a man. At the same time, she worried that her son cannot cope with the problems that he will encounter during the process. so, she will always be waiting for him to come back to her arms in case he failed.

    its a mothers instinct to know when their children are in problem. even from far away. (Did you hear your babies crying? 'Mama, they try and break me')

    Today is the day my mother passed away a year ago, due to breast cancer. during her life, she has been supportive to me to her last day. I have been listening to this song nonstop. I love you, mom. May you rest in peace.
    Flag almutakenon April 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is about a parent addicted to drugs who leaves their family and is consumed by guilt. they hears their kids crying for their parent and do more and more drugs to cope.

    But even after all that they have done, their family is waiting for them to return.
    Flag Deetroiton February 24, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Hero of the Day Interpretation: Personal victory is within our reach. Each person in this war is fighting not to win, but to find their honor.
    What if someone fighting, dies in vein?
    The fight is so long and hard, it's easy to become discouraged. Keepers of these inner flames that thirst for honor, can you acknowledge
    the ones who care about you, praying for your safe return from your journey? Your loved ones want you with them, not your dream of
    personal conquest. Will the enemy break my will? They haven't relented. Now this fight seems so vein, remembering the reason I was brought here.
    It seems I can relax now, I've remembered the reason for the fight, I shall deservingly sit on the chair of righteousness. But it's too late, I can't return
    back to the way things were because I now live in shame for my vanity. I've made these mistakes, and now I have to reconcile them without confiding
    in the ones I've loved, I have to do it myself(or with God). I've become a hardened person fighting this war. I've lost the ability to feel.
    Please excuse me while I fight my inner demons so that I can save myself from making anyone else a hardened person. So I seek emotional shelter while
    I recover from the trauma of fighting, until I've cleansed myself of the demons(little metal things coming out of the kid's ear, unconsciousness is the
    wall in this case). The war in my mind continues, I have to fight these demons before it's too late and I can never feel emotion again. Mama, they try
    and break me while I cleanse myself of these inner demons. They try, but I will put up my best fight. Even if I fail, at least I've tried. The metal
    demons are expunged from the kid's mind, the inner battle will eventually die down and peace will be restored.
    Flag theronon December 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Being a fan of Metallica's since the early days-I think this is my favorite of all...
    Flagged Thia007on November 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This Song is talking About how Teens call one person hero for a short while and then in a year or so almost completely forget about it and hence the name hero of the day
    Flag metallicaftwon October 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:If anyone has had to deal with PTSD (or anyone with PTSD for that fact) the song kinda brings on a new meaning. Hetfield is famous for referencing the Vietnam War. But I'll tell you the song speaks to several of us...we used to listen to Hero of the Day as our pre-mission song. My reasoning:

    (Mama, they try and break me)
    (Still, they try and break me) - Both are about combat and the stress of never quite letting go of it.

    Excuse me while I tend to how I feel - Drinking to remember or forget what has been done in conflict.
    These things return to me that still seem real - PTSD symptoms...can't let go.
    Now, deservingly, this easy chair - You've made it home and think things will be better now.
    But the rocking stopped by wheels of despair - Sorrow for what was done in wartime.

    I know this was long, but this song speaks volumes anyone who's been in combat.
    Flagged js1980on August 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I believe this song is about looking up too someone your whole life... but when you need them the most there not there for you.
    Flag clthedudeon March 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:You people are getting to deep into it, its about a guy on drugs, his friends are trying to help him get off but he doesnt care about his "Hero Of The Day" hence he says 'Now excuse me while I tend to how I feel" & "Dont Want Your Aid". "Mamma they try & break me" well thats obvious, he talking about every1 trying to get him off the drugs & hes pleading to her to make them stop.
    Flag MFenix26RTIon January 20, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning:First, this is a fantastic song because it can mean so many different things to so many different people. That said, let me give what it means to me.

    The first part of the song is a reference to soldiers going off to war and how there thoughts are always on home. The line "if they should fall by someone's wicked way" is about falling in battle.

    The second part is about how so many soldiers continue to fight the war after they come home. "no, I'm not all me" is about how a soldier is forever changed into a different person by war, while "things return to me that still seem real" is a clear reference to PTSD, along with "but now the dreams and waking screams that ever last the night".

    I think the song refers to how a soldier going off to war is "the hero of the day" and then how different it is when they come home. Even things like "don't want your aid", clearly about how a lot of soldiers try to deal with PTSD themselves instead of seeking help.
    Just my 2 cents worth.
    Flagged tigsdadon August 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:It sounds like the life of someone who bullied all through growing up and their mother ignores them, and is so angry that they forget what is right and wrong and which path they truly want to go in.
    Flag GrandmaTuffitson July 06, 2010   Link

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