Alicia stands behind me
Ties black ribbon in my hair
The sound of heavy boots
Slowly pounding up the stairs
The organ pours out slow and soothing
Old and rugged hymns
I long to find some comfort
But my sorrow won’t give in
This is the coldest winter
In a thousand freezing years
And if I started crying
I could never stop the tears
You don’t know what you’ve done
Not here to see the repercussions of your love
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero anymore
Time is slowing down
Like a river clogged with mud
People gather round me
Some friends and others blood
The trumpeter starts playing taps
The soldiers fire their guns
The folding of the flag
Makes the tears come in a flood
You don’t know what you’ve done
Not here to see the repercussions of your love
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero anymore
No one would say you were an easy man
No, you are hard and stubborn and vain
And I’m tired of being held back at arms length
Tired, tired
And something’s gotta change
You don’t know what you’ve done
I didn’t break, no, I’ve grown strong
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero
You’re not my hero anymore
Anymore
Anymore
You’re not my hero anymore
Not here to face the consequences of your love
You’re not my hero anymore
Anymore
Anymore
Ties black ribbon in my hair
The sound of heavy boots
Slowly pounding up the stairs
The organ pours out slow and soothing
Old and rugged hymns
I long to find some comfort
But my sorrow won’t give in
This is the coldest winter
In a thousand freezing years
And if I started crying
I could never stop the tears
Not here to see the repercussions of your love
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero anymore
Like a river clogged with mud
People gather round me
Some friends and others blood
The trumpeter starts playing taps
The soldiers fire their guns
The folding of the flag
Makes the tears come in a flood
Not here to see the repercussions of your love
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero anymore
No, you are hard and stubborn and vain
And I’m tired of being held back at arms length
Tired, tired
And something’s gotta change
I didn’t break, no, I’ve grown strong
You don’t know what you’ve done
You’re not my hero
You’re not my hero anymore
Anymore
Anymore
Not here to face the consequences of your love
You’re not my hero anymore
Anymore
Anymore
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i'm disappointed that there aren't any comments yet. all of her songs are so pretty but this one's my favorite for the meaning, especially in the simple sad statement of the chorus.
i was, like you disappointed about the lack of comments.. so i did abit of research! On kate earls myspace page she talks alot about her family. Her father dropped out of 6th grade and in order to survive the great depression, he picked cotton for bowls of beans, then eventually lied about his age so he could serve in the Korean war to earn money to support his parents. He was a self made man. He eventually settled with a wife (Kates mother) and built a gas station with his own hands. Kate admired her father and he...
i was, like you disappointed about the lack of comments.. so i did abit of research! On kate earls myspace page she talks alot about her family. Her father dropped out of 6th grade and in order to survive the great depression, he picked cotton for bowls of beans, then eventually lied about his age so he could serve in the Korean war to earn money to support his parents. He was a self made man. He eventually settled with a wife (Kates mother) and built a gas station with his own hands. Kate admired her father and he often taught her to persue her dreams. Unfortunately though, Kate's dad died the day before her 16th birthday after a long battle with cancer...
After i had read this, the lyrics in this song were much clearer. hope this helps!
i agree. kate earl is such an underrated artist. she's better than a lot of who's out there, which is such a shame.
I think it's a boy that she used to care about, except he is "hard and stubborn and vain" and that she doesn't look up to him anymore.
it sounds as if he was a soldier (that's why he is a hero for everybody) and died leaving her with all the grief and that's what makes her angry (and what makes him not being her hero anymore) or maybe is too easy interpretation, but that's what comes to my mind when i first heard it
I totally agree with your interpretation. i did a little research and the soldier was her father, a self made man : dropped out of school to earn money for his parents, then lied about his age to serve in the korean war.. He then met Kate's mother, another self made woman, and together the built a gas station in alaska. Kate's father often encouraged her to believe and persue her own dreams. He was a hero in her eyes. Unfortunately though, after a long struggle with cancer, her father died the day before ther 16th birthday.. knowing this, i think...
I totally agree with your interpretation. i did a little research and the soldier was her father, a self made man : dropped out of school to earn money for his parents, then lied about his age to serve in the korean war.. He then met Kate's mother, another self made woman, and together the built a gas station in alaska. Kate's father often encouraged her to believe and persue her own dreams. He was a hero in her eyes. Unfortunately though, after a long struggle with cancer, her father died the day before ther 16th birthday.. knowing this, i think the song is a representation of her grief and anger at her father's passing. I thought knowing the background, the lyrics are easier to understand.. hope it helps :)
The first time I heard this I shuddered, it is the way I felt when my brother took his life. That is what I thought it was about. That is why I am looking it up.
I've read the comments about Kate's father, but I personally get the feeling this song is about a man who commit suicide. The whole chorus (and the bridge) sounds very accusatory, and I'd like to think that she wouldn't talk (sing) about her father this way if he lost his battle with cancer. That's not something people have much control over.