As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me


Lyrics submitted by renathon

Working Class Hero Lyrics as written by John Winston Lennon

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Working Class Hero song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love both of them, they are almost two seperate songs.

    Lennon's version is sung by a man resigned to his fate without the ability to be really pissed about it anymore. He understands all the shit going on but can't get outraged, its just a fact that life works like this.

    Manson isn't resigned to this fate, he's pissed! A very angry version of it, making the song his own.

    I don't know if i prefer either, i just think they suit different moods.

    Nowheremanon February 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Just to make this clear to everybody. John Lennon wrote this. So don't give Manson any credit.

    cptchipjewon April 11, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    true, john lennon might have written it, but marilyn manson did it better.

    poisonXedgeon June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hahahhahahha poisonXedge, Manson has shit all over this song. John Lennon is much better.

    Philadelphia Eagleson October 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Both John Lennon and Marilyn Mansons's version of this song kick ass. Personally I prefers Manson's version but I'm also a die hard Manson fan and I prefer this style of music although i do really like John Lennon and the the Beatles.

    River Wolfon November 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song reminded me of the USSR and the book 1984

    dsgfsdgson March 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    LoL and then it is about our own society to the bone, ironic.

    JASGripenon April 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this version actually does a good job of capturing the anger that John Lennon didn't exactly fully reveal in his version.

    Philadelphia Eagleson June 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Shut up eagles

    Anti-Punkon January 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a little repetative. other than that its a pretty good song

    fletcha939on May 28, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.