This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
A world without heroes
Is like a world without sun
You can't look up to anyone
Without heroes
And a world without heroes
Is like a never ending race
Is like a time without a place
A pointless thing devoid of grace
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
In a world without dreams
Things are no more than they seem
And a world without heroes
Is like a bird without wings
Or a bell that never rings
Just a sad and useless thing
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
There's nothing to be
It's no place for me
Is like a world without sun
You can't look up to anyone
Without heroes
And a world without heroes
Is like a never ending race
Is like a time without a place
A pointless thing devoid of grace
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
In a world without dreams
Things are no more than they seem
And a world without heroes
Is like a bird without wings
Or a bell that never rings
Just a sad and useless thing
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
There's nothing to be
It's no place for me
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
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Considering Kiss is my favorite, I love everything by them. But this is a really odd song for Gene Simmons to do but it is great and very meaningful.
This is an awesome Gene Simmons ballad which was co-written by Lou Reed also.
I love Paul Stanley's guitar solo on this track.
In the music video, Gene cries.
the final nail in KISS'S coffin
phrrt. Really? He cries in the vid? wow Gene, although he is the most stubborn, greedy fucked up bastard whos shagged more people than you can count. He is a fun guy, likes to have a laugh and is...well...the Demon
This song was part Kiss' attempt at a concept album. The idea was it was to be the soundtrack to a movie called The Elder, hence the name of the album. The album is about a young man chosen to go on quest to fight the forces of evil. He decides that the quest is to much for him to take on and it seems the evil character , Mr. Blackwell, will be victorious as there is no hero to fight against him. That's where the song A World Without Heroes comes. In the end he accepts the path laid in front of him and is victorious in defeating Mr. Blackwell.
Is it a cheesy story...Yes Was it one of Kiss' worst albums...Yes Was it the end of Kiss...No
But it was the first album to feature Eric Carr on drums
Urfantasy is right, this is an odd song for Kiss, in fact the whole album is odd for Kiss. But having said that I have always really liked it but I have always been a sucker for their gentler songs. Wolfpac2007 is also correct, it was supposed to be the soundtrack for a movie that never got off the ground. If you think about the concept of Kiss ie. based on comic book type characters, I guess it isn't that outlandish. And I don't know about it being their worst album, just different. Guess it depends on your taste.
One of my favorite guitar solos in this song
this song was reaaly good my dad and grandma love this song