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.
I know I'm just a working man
Sometimes I need a helping hand
It's alright
They hardly ever notice me
They never raise my salary
It's alright
Maybe I don't seem so bright
And my future's looking dim
And I'm running in a rat race
That I'm never gonna win
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I'm a hero
Don't know technology
Not as smart as I wanna be
It's alright
But I know the recipe
And the terminology, for love
Sure enough
Maybe she'd be better off
With an educated man
But she's my inspiration
And I'm doin' the best I can
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman, sweet thang, yeah
I'm a hero
My baby loves me and she knows what I need
And when she holds me, I feel like a king
And if I ever lose her, oh what would I do
I might go crazy
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I may not be a soldier in the army
I don't have money, fortune or fame
There's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I'm a hero
I'm a hero
She thinks I'm alright, oh lord
She believes that I'm a hero
Sometimes I need a helping hand
It's alright
They hardly ever notice me
They never raise my salary
It's alright
Maybe I don't seem so bright
And my future's looking dim
And I'm running in a rat race
That I'm never gonna win
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I'm a hero
Don't know technology
Not as smart as I wanna be
It's alright
But I know the recipe
And the terminology, for love
Sure enough
Maybe she'd be better off
With an educated man
But she's my inspiration
And I'm doin' the best I can
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman, sweet thang, yeah
I'm a hero
My baby loves me and she knows what I need
And when she holds me, I feel like a king
And if I ever lose her, oh what would I do
I might go crazy
I may not be a soldier in the army
And I don't have money, fortune or fame
And there's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I may not be a soldier in the army
I don't have money, fortune or fame
There's nobody out there, stroking my ego
But when it comes to my woman
I'm a hero
I'm a hero
She thinks I'm alright, oh lord
She believes that I'm a hero
Lyrics submitted by bienc
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