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.
Stare in wonder
Who's here to bring you down?
Find your martyr
I'm sure you've made the crown
So light a fire under my bones, so when
I die for you, at least I'll die alone
Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
There's no comparing me this time
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
Dark devotion in a vacant Paradise
Shows no emotion to a willing sacrifice
You can put a man on trial, but you can't make the guilty pay
And you can cage an animal, but you can't take away the rage
Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
There's no comparing me this time
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
They're all dead and gone
Who's here to bring you down?
Find your martyr
I'm sure you've made the crown
So light a fire under my bones, so when
I die for you, at least I'll die alone
Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
There's no comparing me this time
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
Dark devotion in a vacant Paradise
Shows no emotion to a willing sacrifice
You can put a man on trial, but you can't make the guilty pay
And you can cage an animal, but you can't take away the rage
Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
There's no comparing me this time
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
All my heroes have now become ghosts
Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
All my heroes are dead and gone
But they're inside of me
They still live on
They're all dead and gone
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song bears more than just a passing resemblance to Sounudgarden......
And it is more than just the way Brent is emoting his voice....
The verse riff sounds so much like Spoonman,
I think that Brent was a huge Soundgarden/90's Grunge music fan......
He is singing about how all of his idols either Died ( Cobain Staley ) or simply gone, ( as much as I HATE to admit it, Vedder, and To an extent, Cornell who's voice is aptly shot for in this song,)
He's basically saying Grunge is dead, but it will live on inside of him......
The greatest decade of music will live on inside us all......
or at least anyone who gives a shit...
I heard it was highly inspired by Dimebag. Its about remembering "heros" and keeping them alive in your heart. Great song great band, one of my favorite tracks on the CD.
Dimebag would make more sense Chronologically actually, I didn't even think of it... even though brents biggest influence is otis reading, the band is heavily rooted in classic rock and metal....
Perhaps you are both right. Now that Dimebag has passed, ALL Brent's heroes are dead or gone. That makes sense to me, as there aren't a whole lot of guys worth admiring still making music as good as they used to.
aight this is wut i think, while the above answer may be right, and i could be wrong, this is what i think. perhaps its a political song. from the lines...
You can put a man on trial, but you can't make the guilty pay And you can cage an animal, but you can't take away the rage
...its like he is talkingabout trials such as OJ simpson and michael jackson. you can acuse the vilins of things and put them on trial, but theyll get out of it. and then hes saying that even if you put a criminal in prison, when he gets out he gona be jus tthe same. then there are the lines..
All my heroes have now become ghosts Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
..soundslike all the "heros" (the lawyers and judges who are suposed to be helping and saving people in this country), are getting payed off to make the wrong decisions...these are jus tmy thoughts...let me know what yall think. either way it is an awesome song
i completely disagree with that, man. lawyers are his heroes? no way.
I completly agree with "iforgot"
First of all, lawyers? Second of all, Michael Jackson???
What shit were u smokin and where can i get it
i agree with Code on this one, about all his early "heroes" and favorites are all not dead and gone...several lines throughout the song make me feel that this is what he was trying to convey... as for the line "sold their sorrow, to the ones who paid the most"...how many bands will sell the rights to their songs, their devotion and everything, just to make a few more bucks at the time, and with all the original writers and singers of the songs dead, that's all it's all about with some of Brent's favorite songs and bands, it's all about the money made for the record labels
well, i don't think it necessarily has to be about someone famous or well-known... some people consider their families and friends heros-- he could be talking about a friend that betrayed him or someone he loved selling out....
I was listening to an interview on the radio, and they pretty much said. Musicans that were pretty well known and who people admired as well as presidents and leaders in that matter.