When I was a little kid, Robin Hood patrolled the wood With feats too brave and daring To believe.
And in the dark of summer nights, Sir Galahad was all I had To show what strength and purity Should be.
The heroes I read about - What a man should be. The heroes I dreamed about - Were all replaced by me. I thought the villain saved the maids And turned the tide of war ... But now, I'm all grown up - I don't believe in heroes anymore.
When I was a boy of ten, JFK had shown the way To push the Russians back From firing range.
And, in my teens, a man called Che Spread word of Marx and Mao to say The world must change through Harsh and violent means.
I sat before my TV set And watched my heroes die. I read the rags and papers Showing proof my heroes lied. WIth early death their only wreath To pass through Heaven's door ... I see their contradictions - I don't believe in heroes anymore.
Oh, it'd just be nice to live in a dream To have someone to believe. Oh, why can't life be clean? To just win one for the team? It's not as simple as it seems.
When I left the college scene, We made our peace out in the East And scratched the countless dead On polished walls.
And now I hear the country cry For good old days when flags were raised On God was on our side Against them all!
I wonder why the heroes we clamored for The men from past romance, The heroes who we gathered for Perform a puppet's dance.
We're fools if we can't see the fools Who fooled us all before. Except when I read books and dream - I don't believe in heroes ... anymore.