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Broken Heroes Lyrics
They came to fight for glory in their thousands
Young men with their dreams
They died before the guns for their country
A book of faded pictures, broken dreams
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
Uncle Sam is waiting with the draft card
He says you've got to fight the Vietcong
The stations full of flags and rule Britannia
The engine pulls you out towards the Somme
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The pipes are calling young men back to Belfast
The general says you march to Stalingrad
You rode into the valley with the hundred
Seven lonely graves on Goose Green
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
Where are they now
(Repeat to end)
Young men with their dreams
They died before the guns for their country
A book of faded pictures, broken dreams
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
He says you've got to fight the Vietcong
The stations full of flags and rule Britannia
The engine pulls you out towards the Somme
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The general says you march to Stalingrad
You rode into the valley with the hundred
Seven lonely graves on Goose Green
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
The broken heroes
(Repeat to end)
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I think this song is trying to express the bottom line of the futility of war. "Where are they now" saying that at the end of the day, they are not here. Thats how I see it anyway.
This song is talking about the casualties of war, how people have plans for their future but then they go to war and die for their country remaining forgotten. The 2nd and 3rd verse bear historical references to famous battles and wars such as the Vietnam War, The Battle of Somme, The Battle for Stallingrad and the The Battle of Goose Green.
In his memoir, frontman Biff Byford said it was inspired by the Falklands War, although it contains references to other conflicts, particularly the Vietnam War and World War I. In the UK it is believed to be true that the Falklands War of 1982 was fought principally at the behest of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the ignoble purpose of securing her re-election, a tactic that proved successful. Byford made it clear in his book that he hated Thatcher for reasons related to domestic policy, in particular the way she smashed the power of the miners and (in his view) decimated mining communities. His father was a miner who had lost an arm in an industrial accident, and Biff himself served a short stint in a coal mine. This song talks about the casualties of war, and how people have plans for their future but then take the call to war and die fighting for their country; remaining forgotten. The song leaves a lasting impact as it laments the forgotten soldiers, emphasizing the human cost of war, and calls attention to the physical and emotional wounds inflicted upon the brave individuals who fought while encouraging reflection on their current whereabouts and the legacy they left behind.